Unruly

A Guide to Reclaiming Your True Self

By: Shelah Marie

Narrated by: Shelah Marie

If your story isn’t working, flip the script.

“Exactly the kind of no-nonsense and loving advice you’d expect from a big sister or longtime friend.”—Franchesca Ramsey, creator and host of MTV Decoded and author of Well, That Escalated Quickly

“There is no better time than right now to get honest about who you are, and to perform the fullness of who you are,” shares Shelah Marie, founder and CEO of Curvy, Curly, Conscious. Too many Black women are living other people’s stories for your lives. You’re a wife or a mother, a sister or a daughter, a CEO or a creative. You make yourself smaller to serve other people or society’s expectations. But, as Shelah says, “This is your story, so why not make it a true one?”

Discover your truest self and write your truest story through Unruly. Shelah teaches the Unruly Philosophy: “a whole and compassionate acceptance of your inner diversity.” Being Unruly isn’t about changing yourself but rather about uncovering the many layers of who you are, accepting them fully, and allowing them to flourish. Throughout this guide, Shelah shares stories, teachings, practices, and tools to help you:

• Acknowledge and honor the past versions of yourself with compassion and self-love

• Step up to claim your mess and release any shame or judgment so you can connect more freely and deeply with yourself and others

• Grow your Main Character Energy so you can play the starring role in your life instead of centering yourself in someone else’s

• Examine the expectations that are put on you from society, family, culture, and even past generations

• Prioritize your presence (how you show up) over your presentation (how it looks)

• Build your network of support to encourage and witness your growth

• Rest and dream, embracing joy, play, and pleasure

Unruly invites you to build a life where no part of yourself is left behind. As Shelah explains, “Empowerment looks like refusing to reject any part of yourself, using both your strengths and perceived weaknesses to align with your highest good.” Join Shelah on this journey to unleash your Unruly self!

©2024 Shelah Marie (P)2024 Sounds True

Critic reviews

“On these pages, Shelah is the voice of our best friend, holding up a mirror in our faces while sharing her transformative testimony and radical wisdom, inviting us to be honest about how we got here and what we are willing to be unwavering about to get to our highest imaginations of ourselves. Unruly will ask you to ‘Become.’ And so you will.”—EbonyJanice, author of All the Black Girls Are Activists

“What Shelah is doing with Unruly is truly groundbreaking! Through her transparency and vulnerability, she invites us on a journey of honesty and reflection. She challenges us to give ourselves permission to change our minds about who we thought we were and who we thought we had to be. Shelah serves as a model of rebellion and growth, and that guides us as we journey through our own healing. As a therapist, I love and appreciate the radical approach to healing and authenticity that Unruly provides!”—Dr. Ebony, creator of My Therapy Cards

“If you are looking for a nuanced, bold, and clearly outlined approach to adorning yourself in your unique crown of Black excellence that you were born with but often stripped of, this book will live on your nightstand. Additionally, for those who are a part of or allies to the Black community, who are seeking to understand how to love Black women within their realities to their highest potential, Unruly is an invaluable resource.”—Shan Boodram, sex and relationship expert on Netflix’s Too Hot to Handle

New Unruly Member

I’ve never read anything that has made me feel so seen. I’ve recommended this book to everyone I love. I hope that all Black Women get the blessing of embracing their Unruly unapologetically.

A sweet healing journey

This book felt like a weekend healing retreat. All you need is some paper, pen and this book, and your sister in your head, Shelah, guides you back to yourself and helps you reimagine your future. A lot of wisdom packed into an easy read.

TRUTHFUL

I was not aware of whom this young lady is.
But now I KNOW!
Thank you for this book.