Beyond Beauty: A Guide to Self-Love, Self-Confidence, and Full Feminine Power

Life coach Abrego packs much wisdom into this brief debut on the importance of young women loving and valuing themselves and their bodies (no matter the shape) in an age of airbrushed perfection and exaggerated social media. She organizes the work into three general categories—awakening, enlightenment, and self-realization—that she views as the components of a well-balanced woman. She teaches women to enhance their sense of self-worth with tools and exercises. One of the most powerful exercises deals with overcoming negative childhood experiences in three steps: forgiving whoever has hurt or mistreated you; realizing that past experiences do not have to define who you are today; and replacing an old, negative statement about oneself with a new, positive one. She counsels women to meditate, practice gratitude, and never give up, even when a situation looks bleak. Rather than lecturing from a lofty perch, Abrego speaks frankly about the people and events in her own life that have shaped her philosophies, including a largely absent father and bad boyfriends. This strong, smart guide to self-esteem will instill self-worth in every woman who reads it. (Mar.)