The Pandemic has been a time of self-discovery for me. As a mom of young athletes, after working all day, I was only home long enough to grab supper from the crockpot and head out to practice or a game. This quarantine time of peace is so unusual, and I found myself searching for new inspiration. I am a mom, and many times I feel defined by that role in the most wonderful way. However, because my family had no more obligations outside of school, I found three audiobooks that helped me identify with the other side of myself: the woman-side.
Instead of bleachers and carpool lanes, I found myself plugging in my headphones and taking off for walks around my neighborhood, running around local lakes, and cleaning sprees around my home.
These audiobooks were great for self-discovery.
Untamed by Glennon Doyle
Untamed was named as Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine Book Club’s choice for April, and wow did I see why. From the prologue, Doyle had me nodding along and feeling empowered as I walked for miles. Doyle narrates her own audiobook on Audible, and her passion pours through the earbuds. She tackles topics affecting women today. She explains that there is an expectation for women to be good and selfless. Women should be good wives, good mothers, and good daughters. She exposes the pressure for women to be the martyrs of their family by sacrificing happiness and freedom in the name of our children. She adds that this is not necessary, and it’s quite exhausting to maintain. She advocates that the worst thing we can do for our kids is not live a full life and that selling ourselves short only tells our children that that’s how women should live. By following our dreams and finding true happiness, our kids will see what living fully looks like, and that is a gift to them. 
Her audiobook’s title comes from a trip to the zoo where her family witnesses a cheetah, tamed. She and her kids notice the cheetah looking off into the distance during the zoo’s presentation of her, seemingly dreaming of the wild. The comparison she makes between this cheetah and women caught my interest instantly. She motivates her readers to live the life they’ve always wanted for themselves and their children. I loved this audiobook and the truth I found in it. I would recommend this audiobook to anyone who is looking for motivation to start living a fuller, more exciting life.
Get Out of Your Head by Jennie Allen
Readers who enjoy a Jen Hatmaker or a Rachel Hollis book would like Get Out of Your Head by Jennie Allen. In Allen’s audiobook, she examines the negative effects of over-thinking and the dangerous cycle of negative thinking for women. She adds the research she has done on the brain and what negative thinking does to stress levels. Allen is a Christian writer who quotes the Bible while talking about making choices that suit women instead of hurting them. She urges women to give their lives and thoughts over to God and promotes trusting him to relieve the pressure we feel.
Readers would like this audiobook if they are looking for a religion-heavy read. She quotes Bible verses that inspire her, and she talks about her self-discovery journey away from Christ before giving all of her thoughts over to him. This audiobook takes a different approach to living than Untamed. Still, it is similar in how she tries to help relieve women of the burden of being everything to everyone.
More Myself by Alicia Keys
The first two audiobooks were lovely, but my absolute favorite of the three would have to be Alicia Keys More Myself. Alicia intertwines her audiobook narration with her music. She walks readers through her journey to become more herself after years of being someone else for everyone else. She discusses her early success and quest to find an answer to the question, “Why am I here?” and “What is my purpose on Earth?”
Alicia credits meditation and her search for her inner truth for giving her the peace she feels now. She describes her writing process and how she goes about creating the art that we love so much. Like the first two authors, Alicia promotes listening to your body when you are taking on too much or turning too much power over your life to other people. Her writing is beautiful, and this was exactly the positive listen I needed.
If you are like me and you are suddenly finding yourself with more time than you’re used to, take a self-discovery journey inside your beautiful mind with these three women authors and their audiobooks.
You’ll be inspired, you’ll be motivated, and most importantly, you’ll be at peace with yourself.
