On Thriving

Harnessing Joy Through Life's Great Labors

By: Brandi Sellerz-Jackson

Narrated by: Brandi Sellerz-Jackson

Length: 11 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

A renowned doula shares powerful lessons on healing and thriving through the murky seasons of life in this moving, intimate guide to deeper self-awareness and radical joy.

“This book is a beacon of resilience. . . . A must-read for anyone committed to growth.”—Erica Chidi Cohen, author of Nurture

We’ve all been there: We take a pause, look at our lives, and desire more—more from our relationships, more from our wellness journeys, maybe simply more from ourselves. For some, it might be more fun, more peace, more exploration—but what does it take to get to the other side of living in survival mode? In On Thriving, Brandi Sellerz-Jackson helps us wade through what she calls the four great labors of our lives—labors that she’s had to overcome and that she has led many clients through.

Drawing from her experiences as a doula and intimate storytelling from her own life, Sellerz-Jackson guides us through the many phases of these great labors—labors that we can get stuck in, stunting our ability to thrive. Across age, gender, economic status, or background, we all move through the great labor of our relationships, our mental health, grief and loss, and the feeling of being othered. Sellerz-Jackson doesn’t shy away from the pitfalls of these labors but rather challenges us to actively remain present within them and ask ourselves: What do I need to thrive in the space I’m currently in? In On Thriving, you’ll come to recognize the survival tools you’ve picked up along the way and exchange them for thriving tools and “rich-uals.” You’ll commit to no longer making a home out of chaos and rediscovering sanctuary within yourself.

Comparing our thriving to that of plant life, Sellerz-Jackson simplifies the complicated—and oftentimes overwhelming—journey as we attempt to grow in an inhospitable environment. With insightful and vulnerable storytelling, she invites a deep, soul-stirring investigation of our past and present to gather all that we need to thrive right where we are, right now.

©2024 Brandi Sellerz-Jackson (P)2024 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“This book is a beacon of resilience. Brandi Sellerz-Jackson offers vital and tender insights for navigating life’s challenges with grace and strength. . . . A must-read for anyone committed to growth.”—Erica Chidi Cohen, author of Nurture

“Sellerz-Jackson’s book is more of an invitation than homework. She encourages us to embrace the darkness as well as the light. Both can be our companion. She is the ideal guide to usher you across the threshold of a new kind of self-discovery. Her mission is for people to stop going through the motions and to finally start savoring their lives.”—Lena Waithe, Emmy award-winning screenwriter, actress, and producer

“An honest, kind, and powerful book to get one’s life back on track . . . Sellerz-Jackson reminds us that thriving is not something that we ‘achieve’ after we do the work. Rather it is something we can experience during all seasons of life, no matter where we are on our healing journey.”—Angela Rye, award-winning host, commentator, and CEO of IMPACT Strategies

Overpromising

The book starts out very well, it claims to help the reader, and at first the focus is more or less on the reader. But soon after the book simply becomes the retelling of author’s life story. Would be fine for autobiography but for a book that claims to be written for the sake of helping the reader it looses its focus, and therefore stops serving its purpose.

Beautiful and uplifting

Her words flow like poetry, the book is just beautiful. It’s encouraging and uplifting. Her story feels like many of our stories with the hope that one day we too will feel the joy within ourselves and our lives