Woman's Book of Courage

As a psychotherapist for over twenty years, Sue Patton Thoele never envisioned actually writing a book. But at forty-five, a writing muse grabbed her by the scuff of the neck and would not let her go. By the time her first book was published, a passion for writing had taken root in her heart. Now, she is a successful mentor, speaker, and author of over a dozen encouraging and empowering books that deal with issues similar to those both she and her psychotherapy clients deal with every day. Sue is a mother, stepmother, grandmother, wife, and emeritus hospice chaplain. She is a lover of dogs who finds great joy in swimming with dolphins in the wild. Sue’s titles include Strength, The Courage to Be Yourself, The Woman's Book of Courage, and The Woman's Book of Confidence.Learn more about Sue and her work at www.suepattonthoele.com.

• ContentsIntroductionI. A Woman Has the Courage to Acknowledge Her Strength and Set LimitsImagining Ourselves StrongActing in Spite of FearKnowing We Are Not the TargetChewing Bite-Size PiecesPutting Our White Horse out to PastureCrediting Our Life's AccountKISSING Our LifeSaying “No” without Feeling GuiltyRetiring Aunt JemimaTeaching Others How to Treat UsII. A Woman Has the Courage to Love and Be LovedLoving Our Inner ChildDeserving LoveProtecting Our Inner ChildAsking to Be NurturedCreating a Safe PlaceFilling Ourselves FirstLoving from OverflowReceiving from OthersForgiving for Our Own GoodForgiving OurselvesAdding a Dash of KindnessLoving Another's Inner ChildIII. A Woman Has the Courage to Create Peace of MindPausing in the Oasis of SilenceSpending Our Moments WiselyCleansing Our Emotional BodiesCreating Peace of Mind through ForgivenessForgiving the Mother WeWereBeing Ourselves TodayResting in Unseen ArmsEliminating SHOULD, HAVE TO and CAN'TImitating The Little Engine That CouldCalming the Monkey-MindChoosing “That's Good!”Reprogramming Our Inner MindAvoiding the Future HoleKeeping Afloat through ForgivenessAccepting the UnacceptableIV. A Woman Has the Courage to Tame and Transform Her DragonFacing the Dragons of FearRejecting the Rejection DragonKnowing We CanSacking the Bag LadyOwning Our Own ExcellenceRefocusing Our BinocularsHealing through FeelingRechoosing How We Want to BeUprooting “Rootless” FearsEscaping the Depression PitChirping Up by Looking UpFeeling WorthwhileV. A Woman Has the Courage to Be Her Own Good FriendDisrobing the Inner JudgeTending Our Inner GardenEmpowering Ourselves through PraiseAccepting the Beauty of Our ImperfectionsWaking Up to Self-LoveReceiving ValidationReplenishing through Rest and RelaxationDiscovering Our Personal DiamondAsking for What We Want and NeedVI. A Woman Has the Courage to Make Her Own ChoicesCruising with High-Altitude AttitudesUncovering What We WantGrowing Up EmotionallyInquiring WithinStopping Borrowed TroubleDaring to RiskSidestepping Others' NegativitySelecting Positive PeopleVII. A Woman Has the Courage to Care for Her BodyStimulating Our Natural HealingEncouraging Our BodyPaying Attention to Our Body WisdomBalancing and Harmonizing OurselvesAppreciating Our BodiesBeing the Right WeightAging as an AttitudeHighlighting the Positives of AgingOiling Our Apparatus AerobicallyVIII. A Woman Has the Courage to Communicate LovinglyPausing to Really HearListening Often Equals LovingAnswering Silent PleasBlowing Up, Not AtGiving Roses without ThornsAgreeing on the Right TimeSpeaking Gently and Carrying a Soft FeatherKissing a FrogHonoring Ourselves by Speaking OutIX. A Woman Has the Courage to Develop Healthy RelationshipsDrying out the Responsibility SpongeAllowing Ourselves LimitsJuggling the Balls of MotherhoodDragging Someone Else's Leg IronsMothering, Not SmotheringBreaking the Coffee-Fetching CycleEnjoying Self-ConfidenceBecoming Friends with Our LoverDefanging Our Expectation DragonX. A Woman Has the Courage to Take Risks and ChangeBecoming Response-ableUnraveling Old MessagesReleasing the Pain, Retaining the MemoryUndergoing an Attitude AdjustmentExploring Our ShadowsLeaving a Legacy of AuthenticityExposing Secrets to the LightPutting Superwoman out to PastureXI. A Woman Has the Courage to Recognize RainbowsRecognizing RainbowsOpening to MiraclesFocusing on BeautyReaching through the VeilSeeing with the Eyes of InnocenceEmulating ButterfliesLaughing with Our KlutzPutting a Little Play in Our DayDetaching Compassionately through PlayNestling in the Arms of NatureXII. A Woman Has the Courage to Claim the Goddess WithinTraining the Priestess in UsAccepting Our CredibilityDethroning the VirginTapping Invisible PowerMaking a DifferenceAssimilating Both Saber and ScepterServing as a VesselTransforming and Transmuting CircumstancesGleaning Wisdom from SilenceTranscending the Trojan HorseAdopting a Mentor-MomDoing No HarmPersonal NoteAuthor's Biography