Full-time FindingJoy.net blogger, speaker, marketer, podcaster, and single mom of seven, Rachel Marie Martin presents a rallying cry to anyone who believes the lie that she is “just a mom.”Over the years, you willingly pour everything you have into your family, but in the process, you lose the essence of who you are. In her characteristic raw and visceral style, Rachel teaches you how to rewrite … you how to rewrite the pages of your story, follow your passion, and discover the beauty of who you are.
Drawing on lessons from her own incredible journey–together with insight from conversations with thousands of other women–Rachel encourages moms to break cycles, take off masks, and prevent fear from taking control. She balances her “no excuses” approach with breathing room and grace for those messy moments in life and mothering.
Rachel reminds you there is always a reason to hope, to move forward, and to dare the impossible. You can make changes. You can pursue dreams, find yourself, and live a life of deep happiness and boundless joy. Stop waiting for “someday.” Take hold of the moment, and say yes to your dreams.
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I have been working on this book for a few weeks. Filled with wisdom for stressed out, downtrodden moms everywhere, this book is a lifeline. Where I typically read my books as fast as possible, this one I purposely slowed down and read it a little at a time to digest the truths Rachel is trying to teach us. This is one I will chew on for weeks and months to come, trying to make the changes my life needs to become the best mom and person I can be. Not only for my kids, my husband and those around me, but most importantly for ME! I love my kids but life gets hard and messy. I am in that space right now and it’s not the funnest. BUT I have hope that it will get better again, and I know what I need to do in part by reading this book. If you are a mama, or have a friend that is a mama, read this book!
I received this book from the author and publisher for my honest review. I was not required to post a positive review.
The Brave Art of Motherhood: Fight Fear, Gain Confidence, and Find Yourself Again is one book that all mothers should read. I think mothers would find a piece of themselves within pages. I found it to be inspiring and motivational.
I enjoyed reading the author’s personal journey, which I found relatable for me.
I give The Brave Art of Motherhood: Fight Fear, Gain Confidence, and Find Yourself Again five plus stars and one I highly recommend for all mothers. It would, also, make a perfect gift.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
I picked up Rachel’s book thinking I would read just a chapter or two to get started, but I couldn’t put it down. That is certainly not the case with most self-help books I read. So many things in her book resonated with me.
Rachel’s writing comes from a place of love, compassion, and strength. She’s like that friend who loves you unconditionally but won’t give you a “pass” just because things are difficult in your life.
The chapter, “The Future of Your Present Reality,” reminded me that if I want my life to be different in the future, it needs to start now. Rachel’s descriptions of excuses in “Exposing Excuses” were spot-on, and I recognized many of them because I’ve used them. Rachel then leads you through a process of overcoming your obstacles so that you can move forward.
I finished the book motivated and excited about MY future–the one I can control without excuses.
Although her book is called the Brave Art of Motherhood, it is definitely not just for mothers. Anyone who feels stuck, who wants a different reality, who wants to move forward in their lives will benefit from Rachel’s wisdom.
As soon as I started reading this book I knew it was going to alter my life. I also knew I was going to read it several times, and take notes, and highlight favorite parts and quotes. Its that type of book, the kind you do not part with. The kind you only lend to dear friends, or better yet just buy them their own copy so you can always refer back to yours. I love how this isn’t just experiences written down and ordered into chapters. It includes perspective on experiences, thoughtful introspection on cause and effect and the best part, there are actually solutions! There are steps anyone can take to create change in their own life. Despite what the title says, you don’t even need to be a mother to gain something from reading this book. Of course, mothers will relate so well to the situations that come up in the book, but honestly anyone can benefit from reading this which I really find to be quite remarkable. Because all of us have areas we want and need to improve in our lives. We all wear masks, use excuses and find fault with ourselves, when what we really need is grace. This book showed me I deserve to give myself that grace, and that I am worth so much more than just settling for “good enough”. I have big dreams, huge goals and I see them so much clearer now. I really hope I have conveyed just how significant this book is, I hope anyone wondering if it’s worth it, takes the opportunity to read it because I promise you wont be disappointed.
In “The Brave Art of Motherhood,” the author shares her story of overcoming life’s challenges by eliminating excuses and recognizing her strength and power. She is honest and open about her struggles, while maintaining a positive and encouraging voice throughout the book. I appreciated the practical steps she provided to making dreams a reality. It gave me the gentle (yet loving) kick in the pants that I needed to move forward with achieving a few goals I have set for myself. She took the fear out of taking that first step. I found her to be very inspiring! I took so much away from this book.
I was amazed at how connected I felt to her story, despite the fact that my challenges in no way resemble hers. More times than I can count, I felt as though she was speaking directly to me. She did a wonderful job of rallying readers together simply because we share the role of “mother.”
I would definitely recommend this to any mother who could use a little encouragement. It would be great for a book club or a mom’s group!
I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher.
I always love the idea of a self help book, and even when I love the ideas in the book, I sometimes have a hard time getting through the whole thing.
But that’s not the case with this book. She weaved in her own story, making her message even more inspirational and easy to read. She has inspired me to look at my own “normal” and examine where I can get to the normal I want.
I could see pieces of my own story inside Rachel’s story. I actually had jumped into some of my own dreams recently, and I could say “hey, that’s where I am!” as I read her journey.
Beyond that, she has inspired me to be a better friend and to be open to letting better friends into my life.
This book is great. Even if you don’t think you need it, you need to read it.
I was given a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review… and WOW- was I caught off guard! Based on the title I wasn’t sure if I would connect with it, but from page 1 I was hooked.
My overall impression is that Rachel is a phenomenal story teller, teacher, and encourager. I read this book in TWO sittings.
What did I walk away with? A renewed confidence in the fact that I *can* both be a great mom AND pursue the dreams that God has put in my heart. The Brave Art of Motherhood also helped me recognize detrimental patterns in my life and provided practical steps to break free.
Literally the only criticism I could think of is this book needs to be marketed to a broader market than just moms– I know so many people who don’t fit that category who could benefit from Rachel’s phenomenal insights.
I plan to purchase several copies of The Brave Art of Motherhood for my friends– Great job, Rachel!
When I picked up The Brave Art of Motherhood for the first time I wasn’t sure what to expect but was gripped from the first few pages. Rachel is so down to earth that it feels like I am listening to a friend tell me about her life and trials.
When you read this book make sure you have a pen and highlighter handy. My copy is filled with colors, little nuggets of wisdom shining from the pages. The personal stories that Rachel includes throughout the book are relatable in so many ways and is comforting to know that we moms are not alone in this crazy thing called motherhood.
It’s so easy for us women to lose sight of who we are as a person because we give so much of ourselves to our children but The Brave Art of Motherhood is a call to action! To face your fears and find yourself again while still being the best mom you can be. While it is helpful in so many ways it is also easy to read. You can fly through this book but there is so much wisdom within these pages I suggest taking your time. It is a wonderful read and an incredible resource!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from WaterBrook Publishing in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. All opinions are my own.
I received a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for writing a honest review. Upon reading the first chapter, I wondered if I should review this book, being I am a grandmother. By chapter 3, I did not want to stop reading the book; found myself cheering for Rachel, and by chapter 5 wishing this book was around 30 years ago when I needed it most. This book encourages the reader to remove their own mask along with giving helpful ideas for handling situations we find ourselves in as young mothers. I recommend this book to all young mothers. If you can not find the time to read, keep a copy on the back of the toilet. Do not laugh, there were years that that was the only way I found a little time and peace to read.
I personally unearthed more about myself by reading this book than I probably could have accomplished in several sessions of therapy lol… thank you for the free therapy… it was uncomfortable but thank you.
I’m still trying to digest it. Kudos to you Rachel for such an incredible insight into truth and getting real…Now after the discomfort comes the growth and onto Building A New Reality.
To all the hard working Moms out there who have a tendency to put themselves last this book is good for your soul and a reminder that it’s not only ok to get on your own priority list it is necessary.
Phenomenal book that is trying to dispel the perfect parent myth. We all want to be the Pinterest mom, but the reality is that we cannot be. We create these masks to try to hide our true selves. Rachel Martin does a fantastic job getting real about what motherhood is really like and steps to be better. We cannot be a great mom when we are not being a great person. “Life doesn’t slow down when you have your ducks in a row. Our timeline doesn’t stop for the hard moments.” Life will never change until we make a DECISION to make a change. Rachel teaches us steps to take to make the changes we need to make to be a better person. We will never change until we take that first step. That should include reading this book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and am under no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions, therein, are solely my own.
To say that this book is life changing is an understatement. We all have the choice to read a book and just put it on the shelf without having been changed as a person, or to read a book, actually think about what is written and do something about it. THIS book can totally change the way you think about yourself and your life. I am so grateful to Rachel for sharing her story, so that I could find the courage to change mine.
In the first part of the book Rachel shares about her struggles and encourages you to see your own life and dreams in a new light. The second part of the book talks about the excuses we all have for not making changes. Then there is some real practical steps that we can all make to move forward, one step at a time. Throughout the book Rachel shares her personal life, stories, inspiration and give us HOPE.
I can not wait to share this book with others. Although the title says it is about motherhood, I have actually applied much of what she writes about with my boys at home, and my sister who has no children. I hope you too will be brave, jump in and discover how awesome it is to be the real you!
I have to say I have taken so much away from my time spent in this book. As I read, I found I did not want to speed through it. As Rachel talks about things in her life you find yourself thinking about things in your own life. We may not be having the same struggles, but we all have places in our lives, no matter the point in our mothering journeys that we are on, that we need to take time to pause and reflect on. What are we settling for or not making time for our own care and/or growth. What have we done that has been good for us as moms.
Rachel encourages the reader to take out a piece of paper and think areas through. There is something powerfully good and helpful when you write things down and think about them…not just worry about them.
I found it so refreshing that Rachel shares some of her struggles without placing all blame on one person. There is personal accountability as well, however she does not beat herself up or shame herself for choices made. She unmasks herself and in that challenges us to unmask and be real with each other, wherever we are in our journey.
My own losses are very different from Rachels, however that does not keep me from walking away without having done a lot of personal reflection on who I have become and where I am going in my journey in life.
When I met Rachel in 8th grade and being in school with her through high school, I always thought of her as a very strong person. I see I was right all those years ago. The strength it takes to unmask to the world is phenomenal. My struggles and the loss of my 8yo son to brain cancer 2 years ago is so different from her journey, but the encouragement to move on and take steps toward a better way is so encouraging and universal.
I highly recommend this book and suggest reading it when you can take it in and reflect.
Rachel Martin is a promoter of change and reclaiming yourself as a mother and woman in her new book, The Brave Art of Motherhood. As a full-time mother, blogger, author and entrepreneur, she understands how hard change can be. Yet through her own struggles, self reflection and encouragement from others, she has learned that you can fight the fear of excuses, to break the cycle of being stuck and wants mothers everywhere to know they can too. This book challenges you to find the courage to say yes to your dreams and find yourself in the midst of motherhood.
The Brave Art of Motherhood by Rachel Martin is simply amazing y’all! I have read a lot of good books but there have only been 2 that I would classify as life changing for me and this is one of them! You don’t even have to be a mom to get help from what Rachel shared in these pages. I have followed her blog for a couple of years and have always loved her style of writing. It’s like she’s having a genuine, authentic conversation with you. This book is the same way. She shares a raw emotion that resonates with so many women and I found myself feeling like she was literally writing about my life in some parts of the book. It’s so much more than just a bunch of inspirational quotes to make you feel good for a short time. She discusses how we get stuck in patterns that start all the way back in our childhood and exposes the excuses we make to justify staying in those patterns. Then she teaches how to break the cycle and gives you the tools needed to build your confidence. From the beginning where she bravely bares the hard, ugly parts of her past, to the practical action steps she provides to break free from the harmful cycles we find ourselves stuck in, Rachel has filled this book with good stuff from cover to cover! This is one that I will read and reference over and over again!
So many different things resonated with me in the book…the one line that really jumped out at me was “I tolerated life”. I can’t even begin to say how many times that was applicable to my life. I am glad I am not in that state now and hoping to not be in the future but oh man that just really got me tear-y last night when reading it.
I started it yesterday. I’m trying to pace myself to absorb the content and think about it. I usually plow through a book in 8 hours and only intellectually understand the teaching points. I’m sitting with each of Rachel’s teaching points and steeping in them for a couple of hours.
My first impressions of the book are.
Wow, it’s a different pace than her blog posts. I expected a fast read with frenetic family anecdotes.
What a gift to find it beautifully honest and warm.
I was expecting a cold can of coke and was surprised that it was a warm cup of tea… A refreshing shot of caffeine vs. a soothing hug of love and relaxation.
This is some of Rachel’s strongest writing.
You nailed part 2! That is the plight of mothers of this generation. It is a universal thread among the mothers I encounter. Woohoo! Great job!
Guess what all my mommy friends are getting for Christmas this year?
i’m reading this book. i read this book. i’m reading this book again. so many things to say but the most important is that we are not alone. each and every mom goes through some sort of emotion or stage that has been printed in this book and we all can relate. if you see the courage, determination and the self-worth, then you must read this book!
So… this book is awesome and amazing and wonderful. But. It rips your heart out and smashes it Into a million pieces and forces you to think about and pick apart all those deep down hidden parts that you don’t want to think about. It’s cleansing but oh my gosh it leaves you raw and broken but gives perspective. I love it, but I hate it, too. Not the book itself, just, this is really hard, because every part that I have read so far, I could put myself in your place Rachel Martin. Obviously, there were some differences but I had to stop every few pages and just reflect for a bit. I’m a voracious reader, and I read everything, but never has a book struck such a chord in my soul. Thank you for making me feel EVERYTHING… and thank you for writing the book that I very much needed, even if I didn’t know
Rachel Martin’s book, The Brave Art of Motherhood, is full of gold nuggets and lessons. What makes her book standout to me is that she has given me fresh new ways of thinking about things. Gratitude is one of those things. I always thought that having gratitude was enough, but Rachel explains how to use it to propel ourselves forward (in a way I never thought about before). Her stories are real and raw and most touching. An excerpt from her book that has stuck with me….”Can you hope? Just for a moment, for a second? It does not matter where you start.” I loved the stories of her children, their trials and tribulations and things that they said that resonate deeply. One especially: “My mind keeps stopping me.” Eli’s swimming challenges hit me smack dab in my heart – and then what Rachel told him to help him self-conquer his fears. There are so many examples like this throughout her book – the difference between having a belief and faith, the meaning of real friends (being one and having them), and the step-by-step lessons she gives to help us breakdown very emotional excuses into actionable steps to jump from our stuck places to the joyful things we want to do in life. Rachel’s book is helpful not just for Mom’s but for anyone wanting to push the reset button and get back on a path to a more happy, fulfilling life. Her writing is deeply personal and I appreciate her book.