Growing Up Powerful Journal: A Confidence Boosting, Totally Inspiring, Joyful Journal, by Nona Willis Aronowitz

 Publication October 10, 2023

I've fallen in love with this entire series of Rebel Girls' books. Even though this one struck me as a bit more of a workbook to guide growth than an actual journal, I felt the same with this one. Divided into five sections: What Is Confidence?, Take Action, Train Your Brain, Build Your Team, and Change the World, it guides the reader from discovering what confidence is to how to use it. 

I won't detail the process, those details are all inside the book, but found it an excellent guide for not only young girls but, quite frankly, something many of us not-so-young ones would find lots of food for thought within. In this day and age when confidence is often perceived as the ability to out talk, usually loudly, others, I loved how this guide takes your though recognizing what true confidence is, how to find it by finding your own strengths, or superpowers as the book dubs them, and then develop them fully. Note the name of the last section, hint hint. We all know how quickly the world and events about us can poke holes in our own confidence, so I appreciated the book's reminder that having confidence doesn't always mean you'll be successful. It empathizes that part of being genuinely confident in yourself and your goals is knowing and accepting that you might fail. Few are wonders at everything on their first try, let's face it. Sigh. If only. 

We need to celebrate even small steps forward, the book reminds us, acknowledging the courage it takes to try ... and try again and again ... to reach our goals. It provides a structured, systematic way to begin, find your own strengths, and work toward what we want as we build our personal support team. There's a great deal of advice shared, yes, but you'll also find various activities and writing prompts to help you find your way. It may lead you out of your comfort zone at times, but it's all part of the process. Oh, and did I mention there are even pictures you can color? Seriously, this book is wonderfully thought out and organized and should be on every young and maybe not-so-young bookshelf. Hmm, it'd make a great gift idea. Thanks #NetGalley and #RebelGirls for giving me this early peek at this powerful work. I wish you'd been around when I was one of those young, uncertain girls.