Unconditional: Learning to Love Your Authentic Self - Paperback

by Annalisa Smithson (Author), Cory Derer (Illustrator)

Make self-love a new habit in this 21-day guide to reducing stress, practicing self-care, and increasing life satisfaction.

Building on the premise that self-love is the key element in breaking the stress cycle, Unconditional teaches a 21-day habit-forming program to practice self-care and create joy in our daily lives. The author expertly guides the reader through simple, daily exercises with a fresh, playful voice that makes it easy to forget these are evidence-based strategies rooted in the science of psychology. Written by a compassionate therapist drawing from the experiential nature of animal-assisted therapy, this accessible, empowering guide teaches how loving oneself unconditionally can free individuals from unnecessary pain.

WHY THIS BOOK IS IMPORTANT

Millions of Americans today are unnecessarily suffering from poor mental health: 17.3 million of us experience episodes of depression, and nearly 40 million have experienced anxiety. But you don't need a formal diagnosis to feel the crush of this problem. Gallup reports that Americans are among the most stressed out people in the world-and that was before COVID-19 shuttered our economy! This stress impacts every aspect of our daily lives: how we eat, sleep, move, work, and interact with the people we love. Most important, it affects how we feel about ourselves. Studies show that the worse we feel about ourselves, the more stressed we become. After a while, that sustained stress and low self-esteem crystalizes into depression and anxiety. It's a vicious cycle. And this cycle is preventable.

HOW THIS BOOK WILL HELP

Grounded in proven therapy techniques and written by an expert, Unconditional provides a 21-day program to break the stress, depression, and anxiety cycle for good. Based on the unique healing principles of animal-assisted therapy-and informed by classic CBT techniques-this book guides readers to living a healthier, happier life through science, skills training, and exercises that bolster the key element at the core of every goal: self-love. In this book, readers will learn how to:

• Overcome the cycle of stress, even when a situation is out of their control
• Create a habit of living the unconditional love they deserve
• Use daily journaling to explore thoughts, emotions, and behaviors Invalidate self-doubt and negative thinking
• Engage in daily acts of self-love
• Identify their strengths and values
• Meditate and use visualization to build self-compassion
• Incorporate essential self-care into daily routines
• Develop greater self-awareness
• Set values-based goals Incorporate mindfulness into daily activities
• Deal with setbacks
• Celebrate successes
• Find gentle, present-centered joy in everyday life