• How to Be Yourself

  • Quiet Your Inner Critic and Rise Above Social Anxiety
  • By: Ellen Hendriksen
  • Narrated by: Ellen Hendriksen
  • Length: 7 hrs and 44 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,442 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
How to Be Yourself  By  cover art

How to Be Yourself

By: Ellen Hendriksen
Narrated by: Ellen Hendriksen
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $14.99

Buy for $14.99

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

How to Be Yourself is the best audiobook you'll ever listen to about how to conquer social anxiety.

"...a groundbreaking road map to finally being your true, authentic self." - Susan Cain, New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of Quiet

Up to 40% of people consider themselves shy. You might say you're introverted or awkward, or that you're fine around friends but just can't speak up in a meeting or at a party. Maybe you're usually confident but have recently moved or started a new job, only to feel isolated and unsure.

If you get nervous in social situations - meeting your partner's friends, public speaking, standing awkwardly in the elevator with your boss - you've probably been told, "Just be yourself!" But that's easier said than done - especially if you're prone to social anxiety.

Weaving together cutting-edge science, concrete tips, and the compelling stories of real people who have risen above their social anxiety, Dr. Ellen Hendriksen proposes a groundbreaking idea: you already have everything you need to succeed in any unfamiliar social situation. As someone who lives with social anxiety, Dr. Hendriksen has devoted her career to helping her clients overcome the same obstacles she has.

With familiarity, humor, and authority, Dr. Hendriksen takes the listener through the roots of social anxiety and why it endures, how we can rewire our brains through our behavior, and - at long last - exactly how to quiet your Inner Critic, the pesky voice that whispers, "Everyone will judge you." Using her techniques to develop confidence, think through the buzz of anxiety, and feel comfortable in any situation, you can finally be your true, authentic self.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2018 Ellen Hendriksen (P)2018 Macmillan Audio

Featured Article: The Best Audiobooks for Soothing Anxiety


The care of family, friends, and a trusted therapist, practicing mindfulness, engaging in calming hobbies like yoga, journaling, walking in nature, or listening to music—these are just a few of the strategies that can ease the overwhelm. We’ve handpicked some of the best audiobooks that can soothe the symptoms of anxiety, break patterns of negative or unhealthy thought, and help ground or comfort you when things get tough.

More from the same

What listeners say about How to Be Yourself

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,153
  • 4 Stars
    189
  • 3 Stars
    57
  • 2 Stars
    23
  • 1 Stars
    20
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    957
  • 4 Stars
    155
  • 3 Stars
    37
  • 2 Stars
    20
  • 1 Stars
    20
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    922
  • 4 Stars
    177
  • 3 Stars
    42
  • 2 Stars
    20
  • 1 Stars
    16

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Just be you- just be kind

This book was easy to listen too with many helpful tips on how to be yourself

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Life-changing Book

This is the real deal. I've struggled with social anxiety for as long as I can remember. I've read countless other books about confidence and social skills, and they were only band-aids that never got to the root of the issue. This one is different. I couldn't put it down -- it was exactly what I needed to understand where my fears come from and how to overcome them. I'm actually *excited* to try things that would have made me cringe before. If you struggle with social anxiety, please read this!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very helpful

I was amazed at how many of the things I was going through were things applicable to many others. This book helped with my understanding of an personal issue (not ok feeling) I was having constantly for more than 4 years and how I was avoiding it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Like discovering a hidden truth about myself

At 43 you assume you've learned just about everything there is to know about yourself, at least the major discoveries.

This book and the insights Dr Ellen brought to life have me feeling more aligned and in touch with my true self than I may have ever been.

I'm so excited to put in practice the lessons and tips from this book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Hit the nail on the head

This book encapsulates all the fears I’ve had my whole life Of interacting with people I listened to it one time so far I plan on listening to it many more times it will be the most beneficial thing I can do to make myself comfortable in my own skin

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This was everything I needed to hear!

I loved this book from cover to cover!! Or should I say word to word?

It was an incredible balance between a serious subject and a humorous, optimistic feeling that we can overcome our inhibited lives with practice. Truly it was eye opening, inspirational, and I felt like this book was my best friend that was literally whispering encouragement in my ear.

Special shoutout to those amazingly accurate analogies that had me giggling... particularly stabbing a bridesmaid with a dinner fork... (yes I have had that thought too 😂), and overall the transformation it's brought in me from being ashamed, mad at myself, and feeling hopeless... to realizing that there's still the rest of my life to grow and change, and to become the person I was meant to be!

I really wish I could meet the author one day, she literally made this book come alive and it was like having a friend with all the answers! Some of the tips I'd figured out already but there were so many new ideas and so much encouragement. Thank you for writing this book! I feel like it was directed right at me!



Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing read!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The author was lively and engaging and the content itself was excellent. She had great tips to overcome social anxiety that I've been using to change my life. Would highly recommend if you're shy or socially anxious, it won't disappoint!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

excellent and evidence-based!

just what I needed to hear to give me a little boost. I've struggled with SA for decades, and although I've come along way, I still benefit from reminders of the tools that really do work. I love that the author pulls from the most influential psychologists and even describes some of the studies. go forth and do!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Such a great perspective !

This book is a wonderful tool for overcoming/ managing anxiety. This should be in all curriculums.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent text for people with "S"ocial anxiety.

It is clear from the beginning that Ms. Hendriksen knows her stuff. The tone and expressiveness of her reading are highly accomplished. Additionally, it is also clear that she cares about her readers (and patients), or readers as pseudo-patients I suppose you could say. The text addresses some causes of Social Anxiety and also offers strategically woven research- and evidence-baed techniques for coping with our Social Awkwardness and Social Anxiety. As one who has suffered from Social Anxiety for over 20 years, the stories of different peoples' experiences are helpful but may not resolve my own 20 years of Social Anxiety. Nevertheless, I found "How To Be Yourself" an excellent text for people with Social Anxiety and others looking for inspiration, techniques, and just acceptance of who we are.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful