Publishers Weekly
03/08/2021
In this spirited guide, LeMieux (Born to Shine), founder of The Shine Project, a women’s empowerment organization, provides readers tools to help with difficult personal situations or times when one feels directionless. After a long court battle, the young children LeMieux and her husband had adopted and had been raising for four years were returned to their biological family, plummeting LeMieux into deep despair. Determined to lift herself out of depression, LeMieux developed a process for reframing thoughts she dubbed “clarity mapping,” which she outlines here and offers ways to redefine one’s thoughts, such as thinking of anger as passion or failure as growth, and suggests five questions to guide one’s daily routine: What is my intention? Why am I worthy? Who can I serve? What can I set down? Who is the truest version of myself? She wraps up by encouraging readers to cultivate inner strength by working through seven affirmations (such as “I am a fighter” or “I am free”) and learning to hope and trust. Readers who appreciate the work and perspective of Brené Brown will enjoy these confidence-building practices. (May)
From the Publisher
I truly related with so many aspects of Ashley’s life that she so beautifully shared in I Am Here. I’m so grateful to have read her powerful words and believe everyone can take something beneficial from them.” — Rachel Platten, Emmy Award winner, multiplatinum-selling recording artist, and author
"Ashley makes the process of moving from the rocky, uncertain side of our pain over to the expansive side of flourishing not only accessible but possible. She is a trustworthy guide who lives what she preaches. Let her grab you by the hand and walk you toward wholeness." — Jen Hatmaker, New York Times bestselling author, speaker, and podcast host
“If you are stuck and wanting to live a better life, I know from personal experience how powerful her Clarity Mapping tool is and how real her story is. I know this book will give you the jump start or the restart you need to start living intentionally!” — Mallory Ervin, author of Living Fully, founder of the Living Fully lifestyle brand, and host of the Living Fully podcast
“Ashley‘s words resonate so deeply in my heart, as I know they will in every woman’s heart. My story is different from hers, yet so similar and with the same challenges, fears, and questions we all have about ourselves. Her honesty, encouragement, and instruction are life-changing!” — Kimberly Schlapman, singer-songwriter of Little Big Town and author of Oh Gussie!
“A beautiful reflection on what it means to truly find yourself and a way forward in the midst of pain. Powerful.” — Amy Purdy, athlete and New York Times Bestselling author of On My Own Two Feet
"I Am Here is a must read! Ashley has taken life's darkest moments and transformed them into an honest and wisdom-packed guide for us all to quit living in fear and start living the life we've always dreamed!" — Desiree Hartsock Siegfried, host of the Heart of Purpose podcast
“Ashley has given us all the beautiful, raw words we need to trudge out of the mess and find beauty at the end of it. “I am here” is both the anthem and the whisper of “get back up” that everyone will find and exhale at the end of it.” — Arielle Estoria, poet, speaker, and author
"Ashley pours herself into cracking her soul open in order to help others heal, grow, and thrive.” — Jasmine Starr
“In this spirited guide, LeMieux provides readers with tools to help with difficult times when one feels directionless and encourag[es] readers to cultivate inner strength by working through affirmations. Readers who appreciate the work and perspective of Brené Brown will enjoy these confidence-building practices.” — Publishers Weekly
“LeMieux discusses her own pain and recovery with the goal of helping others to move forward, create meaningful lives, and get unstuck,… combining practical self-talk and motivational principles in a mentor/mentee format.” — Library Journal
Rachel Platten
I truly related with so many aspects of Ashley’s life that she so beautifully shared in I Am Here. I’m so grateful to have read her powerful words and believe everyone can take something beneficial from them.”
Arielle Estoria
Ashley has given us all the beautiful, raw words we need to trudge out of the mess and find beauty at the end of it. “I am here” is both the anthem and the whisper of “get back up” that everyone will find and exhale at the end of it.
Desiree Hartsock Siegfried
"I Am Here is a must read! Ashley has taken life's darkest moments and transformed them into an honest and wisdom-packed guide for us all to quit living in fear and start living the life we've always dreamed!"
Jasmine Starr
"Ashley pours herself into cracking her soul open in order to help others heal, grow, and thrive.
Mallory Ervin
If you are stuck and wanting to live a better life, I know from personal experience how powerful her Clarity Mapping tool is and how real her story is. I know this book will give you the jump start or the restart you need to start living intentionally!
Kimberly Schlapman
Ashley‘s words resonate so deeply in my heart, as I know they will in every woman’s heart. My story is different from hers, yet so similar and with the same challenges, fears, and questions we all have about ourselves. Her honesty, encouragement, and instruction are life-changing!
Amy Purdy
A beautiful reflection on what it means to truly find yourself and a way forward in the midst of pain. Powerful.
Jen Hatmaker
"Ashley makes the process of moving from the rocky, uncertain side of our pain over to the expansive side of flourishing not only accessible but possible. She is a trustworthy guide who lives what she preaches. Let her grab you by the hand and walk you toward wholeness."
Library Journal
06/01/2021
Social media influencer LeMieux (Born To Shine) discusses her own pain and recovery with the goal of helping others to move forward, create meaningful lives, and get unstuck. Defining "stuckness" as being tormented by unlived dreams, unanswered prayers, or fear that life will stay static forever, LeMieux offers three strategies—reframing thoughts, reimagining the future, and reclaiming power—that can open up the possibility of a new future. The reframing section teaches readers to change feelings of powerlessness into bravery, and failure into growth. The reimagining section focuses on "clarity mapping" (a graphic representation of goals and objectives). Finally, "reclaiming power" means affirming that one is a fighter, one is not alone, and one is free. VERDICT LeMieux combines practical self-talk and motivational principles in a mentor/mentee format. For public libraries updating holdings in this subject area.
