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Is “Girl, Wash Your Face” worth your time?

It’s at the top of all the charts. (It is a #1 NYT bestseller and #2 on all of Amazon as I type!) Everyone on social media is raving about this book.

So, what’s the big deal? Can it impact the whole you: body, mind, spirit?

More importantly, should you make time in your busy week to read this book that everyone is gushing over?

Girl, Wash Your Face is a book written by Rachel Hollis. It is a quintessential “Self-Help” book. It’s all about how you can change yourself. She starts each chapter off with a lie women tell ourselves and then she spends the chapter telling us an entertaining story about how this lie plays out in her life, why it is a lie, and what to do instead.

The book’s description states, “Rachel exposes the twenty lies and misconceptions that too often hold us back from living joyfully and productively, lies we’ve told ourselves so often we don’t even hear them anymore. With painful honesty and fearless humor, Rachel unpacks and examines the falsehoods that once left her feeling overwhelmed and unworthy, and reveals the specific practical strategies that helped her move past them.”

Correctly identifying the lies we tell ourselves

The twenty lies are so common. They really resonate with most women. We all lie to ourselves. I bet if you skim the table of contents, you will find several that fit you to a T.

I mean, do any of these strike a chord within you? Are any of these lies you tell yourself so often that you don’t even recognize them as lies anymore?

• I’m not good enough.
• I’m not a good mom.
• I’ll start tomorrow.
• Other people’s kids are better.
• I am defined by my weight.
• There’s only one right way to be.

These are just a few of the 20 lies exposed in this book. This is good. We all need to learn to see and hear these so we can identify them in our own lives.

So often, we don’t even notice our own lies. My son says, “I can’t do this” when he encounters a difficult math problem. Truth? No. It is a lie. It is hard work and might take some concentration or even guidance, but the truth is that he can do it. So I call him out on his lie.

“Don’t lie to me and don’t lie to yourself.”

It is important that even at seven-years-old he learn to discern his own lies.

Ducklings and the Mama Duck

When a baby duck hatches from the egg, it is covered with soft down. This duckling is not waterproof. In fact, if it gets wet, the moisture can go right down to its skin chilling it and causing it to die. If it goes in the water, it will not float.

Until the duckling has its own oil glands working, the mama duck spreads her oil onto her babies. Her oil is almost waxy and protects the young one from the dangerous water. The mama duck’s oil causes the water to roll right off of her ducklings. Because it doesn’t have a chance to get to the skin, the danger cannot sicken or even kill the babies.

We all need this. We need truths to coat our hearts and minds. We need to be covered in truth so that the lies cannot penetrate. Like moisture rolls off a duck’s back, we need the lies to roll right off.

And THIS is where the uber-popular book goes wrong.

Self-help isn’t enough

I am not enough. I will never be enough. These are not lies. They are facts. I am flawed. I make mistakes and I sin. I can try to pull myself up by the bootstraps all I want. I will make big gains. This is true. But I cannot save myself.

The truth is that I am NOT enough. I need a savior.

And that’s what each chapter of this book leaves out. There are some GREAT tips and ideas in here. It is a very good self-help book. In fact, I’d say it’s the best self-help book I’ve read.

But that’s just it. The book is a self-help book. And while I have a lot I can do, I need truths that are deeper than me.

I need duck oil.

All the affirmations in the world and all the positive self-help in the world will not make a lasting difference if I don’t know my true worth.

So each morning, my kids and I apply “duck oil.”

Duck Oil

The true “oil” that protects our hearts and minds comes from the word of God. It coats our “feathers” so that the lies can roll right off. We stand facing the mirror and tell ourselves the truth. We then symbolically apply a cheerful, uplifting essential oil blend (diluted to 2% in carrier oil.) [I love the pre-made roller bottles from Eden’s Garden (affiliate link) but you can make your own like we did. We used “Good Morning” and our carrier oil is sunflower oil.)

Here are some “duck oil” verses you can use. I did not make a pretty printable for you (although I considered it) because your brain “hears” these truths more powerfully if you actually write them out.

• I am God’s child. (John 1:12)
• I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins. (Colossians 1:14)
• I am Jesus Christ’s friend (John 15:15)
• I have been justified through faith. (Romans 5:1)
• I belong to God; He paid my price. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
• I am complete in Christ. (Colossians 2:10)
• I am free forever from condemnation. (Romans 8:1-2)
• I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)
• I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)
• I am the salt and light of the earth with Jesus in me. (Matthew 5:13-14)
• I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit. (John 15:16)

So, is the book worth your time?

I appreciate this book for exposing some of the lies I have been unintentionally telling myself. I am thankful that I can now work on rooting them out.

But I need to root them out with truths that are stronger than my own power.

Your whole health is important. The whole you includes your emotional health and spiritual health. This book is a good start with some practical tips for your emotional health, but it’s not quite the right message. Read it and apply what you can, but always remember that your true worth is not found by your own efforts. Your true worth comes from the Creator who made you, loves you, and came to save you.

Have you read this book? What are your thoughts?

Did you find this post helpful? If so, would you be willing to share it? Thank you!