You Are a Badass, by Jen Sincero

Are you ready for a totally irreverent tour around the metaphysical universe — written by a gal who once played guitar and sang for a punky girl band named (!) Crotch? We thought so! And so were we, as it turns now. We recently picked up a copy of You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life, by Jen Sincero, and guess what. We liked it. We really liked it. Shall we count the ways?

1. Did we mention it’s irreverent?

If you’re offended by, er, salty language, be forewarned. This is not the book for you. But to our thinking, Sincero’s back-alley-grab-ass approach to dishing metaphysical advice is a refreshing change. No solemn piety weighs down this book’s pages — Sincero may have moved on from her days as an aspiring punk rocker, but her sensibilities remain true to her counter-culture roots.

2. The advice matches the style.

Sincero believes very much in the “doing” part of the metaphysical journey. Yes, she has a chapter on meditation — “if you make a habit of it,” she writes, “your entire life will change.” But she also recognizes how important it is for us to stand up after the meditation session and start taking actual steps toward our dreams. We have to take risks. Not just for the sake of seeing some progress, but because outward action facilitates inner growth.

Most answers reveal themselves through doing, not thinking.

3. It’s very, very readable.

This is a book you will never find ponderous or obtuse. Sincero has an engaging voice, and the chapters are short without (for the most part) feeling too light.

4. The information is GOOD.

Ya know, there are a zillion metaphysical books out there (and we promise we’ll review every one of them, eventually! ha). And most of them cover the same ground. But that doesn’t mean all metaphysical books are the same. On the contrary: the best metaphysical writers find unique ways to approach and express universal truths. We found that to be true in You Are a Badass: Sincero brought a fresh angle to some of the tried-and-true metaphysical practices. We liked, in particular, the material she included about identifying limiting beliefs and using affirmations to change them. That advice has been around since the dawn of New Thought in the 19th Century. Then along comes Sincero with a chapter explaining how to identify the “stories” you tell yourself about yourself, and how to use those stories as the starting point for writing powerful new affirmations. That is different from anything we’ve ever stumbled upon before. Most metaphysical books that cover affirmations offer examples you can use, or suggest you write your own affirmations based on the outcomes you want to achieve. And that’s fine. But imagine if your affirmations were tailored, precisely, to the exact changes you most need to make, to get your life moving in in a particular direction? Starting right now? You Are a Badass is worth the price of admission for that chapter alone.

5. Love.

One of the reasons we’re such a fan of Louise Hay’s book You Can Heal Your Life is that Hays emphasizes how much you need to nurture yourself. So yay! Sincero has come to the same conclusion. Over and over in You Are a Badass, she reminds us that it all starts with self-love. Love yourself, and you’ll start to build the congruity and positive energy that you need, as a foundation, for everything else. Bottom line: if you’re new to metaphysical literature, You Are a Badass is a terrific introduction. And if you’re not, you’ll find material in Sincero’s work that will complement other metaphysical books in your library. Click here to buy yourself a copy of You Are a Badass. And enjoy!