Scan barcode
A review by ambershelf
The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times by Michelle Obama
4.0
In this powerful follow-up to her memoir, BECOMING, Michelle Obama shares her strategies for remaining hopeful and staying active in uncertain times. Through her personal stories, Michelle Obama offers readers a toolbox divided into ten chapters to build enduring relationships and stay connected with our causes by finding the light within us, cultivating that light, and spreading it to discover truths and make progress.
I thoroughly enjoy hearing more stories about Michelle Obama and learning how these strategies have helped her and those around her weather difficult situations. Michelle is a fantastic storyteller; I don't think I'll ever tire of her stories. Plus, the author herself narrates the audiobook, and it feels like Michelle is giving me personal life advice. Overall a wonderful experience.
1. Don't let great become the enemy of good. Find something active that uses my mind and body and claim the small victories.
2. Be comfortably afraid. Don't allow my world to narrow because of fear. Ask myself: Am I scared because I'm in actual danger, or is it because it's something different?
3. Redirect self-criticisms. Real growth begins with how glad I’m able to see myself. Show myself kindness first and dial back my judgment.
4. Don't waste my energy trying to please everyone. No one can make me feel bad about myself if I’m comfortable with who I am. Recognize that I’m not always going to belong and learn to let go sometimes.
5. Build my social envoy. Don't be scared to reach out and find friends. Be open to making room for new friends and letting go of old ones.
6. Build a strong partnership. A long-term relationship is an act of stubborn fate. When faced with disagreements, contextualize our differences with different family upbringing or personal history rather than present blame.
7. Home is where I will always find gladness. Cultivate my family, biological or chosen, and build a place to lift others and spread the light.
8. Create space for who we are. Be comfortable with sharing my vulnerabilities in safe spaces. Use my "despites" as a training ground and embrace my differences.
9. Wear my armor. Recognize that as a BIPOC person, I might have to do extra work to get half as far.
10. When they go low, we go high. Always operate with integrity. This is not a call to be complacent or accept oppression, but how I fight rather than burn out. My power doesn't lie with my hurt and rage; it's where I take that and what I do with those feelings that make a difference. Ask myself: Am I reacting or responding? Am I making noise or making change?
I thoroughly enjoy hearing more stories about Michelle Obama and learning how these strategies have helped her and those around her weather difficult situations. Michelle is a fantastic storyteller; I don't think I'll ever tire of her stories. Plus, the author herself narrates the audiobook, and it feels like Michelle is giving me personal life advice. Overall a wonderful experience.
1. Don't let great become the enemy of good. Find something active that uses my mind and body and claim the small victories.
2. Be comfortably afraid. Don't allow my world to narrow because of fear. Ask myself: Am I scared because I'm in actual danger, or is it because it's something different?
3. Redirect self-criticisms. Real growth begins with how glad I’m able to see myself. Show myself kindness first and dial back my judgment.
4. Don't waste my energy trying to please everyone. No one can make me feel bad about myself if I’m comfortable with who I am. Recognize that I’m not always going to belong and learn to let go sometimes.
5. Build my social envoy. Don't be scared to reach out and find friends. Be open to making room for new friends and letting go of old ones.
6. Build a strong partnership. A long-term relationship is an act of stubborn fate. When faced with disagreements, contextualize our differences with different family upbringing or personal history rather than present blame.
7. Home is where I will always find gladness. Cultivate my family, biological or chosen, and build a place to lift others and spread the light.
8. Create space for who we are. Be comfortable with sharing my vulnerabilities in safe spaces. Use my "despites" as a training ground and embrace my differences.
9. Wear my armor. Recognize that as a BIPOC person, I might have to do extra work to get half as far.
10. When they go low, we go high. Always operate with integrity. This is not a call to be complacent or accept oppression, but how I fight rather than burn out. My power doesn't lie with my hurt and rage; it's where I take that and what I do with those feelings that make a difference. Ask myself: Am I reacting or responding? Am I making noise or making change?