The 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.

ContentsIntroduction


I. A Woman Has the Courage to Acknowledge Her Strength and Set Limits
Imagining Ourselves Strong
Acting in Spite of Fear
Knowing We Are Not the Target
Chewing Bite-Size Pieces
Putting Our White Horse out to Pasture
Crediting Our Life's Account
KISSING Our Life
Saying “No” without Feeling Guilty
Retiring Aunt Jemima
Teaching Others How to Treat Us


II. A Woman Has the Courage to Love and Be Loved
Loving Our Inner Child
Deserving Love
Protecting Our Inner Child
Asking to Be Nurtured
Creating a Safe Place
Filling Ourselves First
Loving from Overflow
Receiving from Others
Forgiving for Our Own Good
Forgiving Ourselves
Adding a Dash of Kindness
Loving Another's Inner Child

III. A Woman Has the Courage to Create Peace of Mind
Pausing in the Oasis of Silence
Spending Our Moments Wisely
Cleansing Our Emotional Bodies
Creating Peace of Mind through Forgiveness
Forgiving the Mother WeWere
Being Ourselves Today
Resting in Unseen Arms
Eliminating SHOULD, HAVE TO and CAN'T
Imitating The Little Engine That Could
Calming the Monkey-Mind
Choosing “That's Good!”
Reprogramming Our Inner Mind
Avoiding the Future Hole
Keeping Afloat through Forgiveness
Accepting the Unacceptable


IV. A Woman Has the Courage to Tame and Transform Her Dragon
Facing the Dragons of Fear
Rejecting the Rejection Dragon
Knowing We Can
Sacking the Bag Lady
Owning Our Own Excellence
Refocusing Our Binoculars
Healing through Feeling
Rechoosing How We Want to Be
Uprooting “Rootless” Fears
Escaping the Depression Pit
Chirping Up by Looking Up
Feeling Worthwhile


V. A Woman Has the Courage to Be Her Own Good Friend
Disrobing the Inner Judge
Tending Our Inner Garden
Empowering Ourselves through Praise
Accepting the Beauty of Our Imperfections
Waking Up to Self-Love
Receiving Validation
Replenishing through Rest and Relaxation
Discovering Our Personal Diamond
Asking for What We Want and Need


VI. A Woman Has the Courage to Make Her Own Choices
Cruising with High-Altitude Attitudes
Uncovering What We Want
Growing Up Emotionally
Inquiring Within
Stopping Borrowed Trouble
Daring to Risk
Sidestepping Others' Negativity
Selecting Positive People


VII. A Woman Has the Courage to Care for Her Body
Stimulating Our Natural Healing
Encouraging Our Body
Paying Attention to Our Body Wisdom
Balancing and Harmonizing Ourselves
Appreciating Our Bodies
Being the Right Weight
Aging as an Attitude
Highlighting the Positives of Aging
Oiling Our Apparatus Aerobically


VIII. A Woman Has the Courage to Communicate Lovingly
Pausing to Really Hear
Listening Often Equals Loving
Answering Silent Pleas
Blowing Up, Not At
Giving Roses without Thorns
Agreeing on the Right Time
Speaking Gently and Carrying a Soft Feather
Kissing a Frog
Honoring Ourselves by Speaking Out


IX. A Woman Has the Courage to Develop Healthy Relationships
Drying out the Responsibility Sponge
Allowing Ourselves Limits
Juggling the Balls of Motherhood
Dragging Someone Else's Leg Irons
Mothering, Not Smothering
Breaking the Coffee-Fetching Cycle
Enjoying Self-Confidence
Becoming Friends with Our Lover
Defanging Our Expectation Dragon


X. A Woman Has the Courage to Take Risks and Change
Becoming Response-able
Unraveling Old Messages
Releasing the Pain, Retaining the Memory
Undergoing an Attitude Adjustment
Exploring Our Shadows
Leaving a Legacy of Authenticity
Exposing Secrets to the Light
Putting Superwoman out to Pasture


XI. A Woman Has the Courage to Recognize Rainbows
Recognizing Rainbows
Opening to Miracles
Focusing on Beauty
Reaching through the Veil
Seeing with the Eyes of Innocence
Emulating Butterflies
Laughing with Our Klutz
Putting a Little Play in Our Day
Detaching Compassionately through Play
Nestling in the Arms of Nature


XII. A Woman Has the Courage to Claim the Goddess Within
Training the Priestess in Us
Accepting Our Credibility
Dethroning the Virgin
Tapping Invisible Power
Making a Difference
Assimilating Both Saber and Scepter
Serving as a Vessel
Transforming and Transmuting Circumstances
Gleaning Wisdom from Silence
Transcending the Trojan Horse
Adopting a Mentor-Mom
Doing No Harm


Personal Note


Author's Biography