So, in the beginning of the year I took a picture of a big pile of books that I wanted to try and get through, throughout 2017. Some are personal growth related, some are comedies, some are romance, etc. I like to mix it up from time to time to keep me interested (;
Now, being in grad school it can be challenging to actually have time to just read for the heck of it. I literally have like sometimes 8 articles that are 20 pages each to read for just ONE class..I'm in three total. Who do these professors think we are?! Superheroes...?
Because honestly that is just not the case and I barely skimp by on getting that reading done on top of written homework and actual office work. So, even though it's challenging as you can see from above explanations (lol, secretly dying) my goal is to read a book a month. and I'm a little behind because I finished my first book a month behind, but that's not terrible. I was expecting worse, so I think it's possible for me to keep this goal in place (for now) (;
My first book on the list was called,
Uninvited
Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely
by: Lysa TerKeurst
My sister recommended this book to me and said the it was a great read for her so I was very excited to give it a shot. I mean just from the title, it's pretty easy to connect to it. I can think of many times in my life where I have felt uninvited, unwanted, lonely, unworthy... you get the picture.
There are instances in our lives that make us feel so insecure. And I think it is important to know that you aren't alone in this. We all feel this things and have these thoughts run through our minds that make us go... "Am I enough?" / "Do they want me?". Reading this book really shed light onto some internal feelings and emotions that I needed to let go and work through, so if you are like me, I think this book is worth giving it a read!
Honestly, there was so many monumental moments in this book but I just want to highlight a few that jumped out at me and made me bend the page so I would remember it. Now you KNOW it's good if I did that, because my biggest pet peeve is bent up books :/ Chapter 10 is titled, Her Success Does Not Threaten Mine. Man, can we just repeat that for a second. Her success does not threaten mine.
Wow, when I read this chapter, I stopped what I was doing and I had to send texts to some of my girlfriends and apologize right then and there for not always being super happy for them when they did something amazing. You see, I struggled with this insecurity for awhile, and I'm not going to say I'm completely over it, but whenever someone would get something I wanted or a job that I wished I would have applied for I would instantly get this serge of jealousy. It clouded everything and it was terrible.
Basically it comes from living in a scarcity mentality. Thinking there is only so much goodness the world has to offer so if someone gets something great they are taking away the opportunity for you to have something wonderful happen to you as well. THIS IS SO NOT TRUE. Buttttt, sometimes when your mind takes over it's hard to tell it to stop.
To fix this problem we need to live in the abundance mentality. When you do this you are operating out of a deep knowing of your immeasurable worth. You are living loved. The Bible even supports this. God's way is an abundant way. In Genesis, God said, "Be fruitful and multiply". Nothing is limited in God's way, not the plants, the animals, nor people were limited. There was always seeds for more. Just like there is always an abundance of opportunities for everyone to seek and thrive and leave a lasting impact on this world.
Another part that stuck out to me was in Chapter 11 when it was talking about rejection. Heartbreak and rejection are a part of life and when you are rejected it isn't a personal attack and you must know that you are never alone. "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34: 18). God doesn't pull back in your time of need, he pulls you close so be open to Him and let Him pull you close.
These are just a few excerpts from this that made me fall in love. I felt connected, I felt loved, and I felt like I was enough. If you want to get some of that then this is the book for you!
With love,
Kenzie