Playing Big
by Tara Mohr
A practical guide for women looking to step into their power and pursue their ambitions. Tara Mohr offers tools to quiet your inner critic, recognize your unique calling, and take bold action.
Spoiler Warning
This review may contain spoilers. Read at your own discretion if you haven't finished the book yet.
Overview
Playing Big by Tara Mohr is a game-changing book for women ready to step into their power and pursue their biggest dreams. Drawing on insights from psychology, spirituality, and her coaching practice, Mohr provides a comprehensive toolkit for overcoming self-doubt and taking bold action.
What Makes This Book Special
This isn't just another self-help book telling you to "believe in yourself." Mohr provides specific, practical tools that you can use immediately:
- The inner critic vs. inner mentor exercise
- Techniques for unhooking from praise and criticism
- Strategies for speaking up with confidence
- Methods for identifying your true calling
Key Takeaways
1. Your Inner Critic is Universal
Everyone has an inner critic - that voice that tells you you're not ready, not qualified, not good enough. Recognizing this voice is the first step to not letting it control your life.
2. Connect with Your Inner Mentor
Imagine your wisest, future self. What would she tell you? This powerful visualization technique helps you access your own wisdom and see your challenges from a broader perspective.
3. Unhook from External Validation
Stop living for praise and fearing criticism. When you're connected to your own sense of purpose, you can hear feedback without being derailed by it.
4. You Don't Need to Feel Ready
Waiting until you feel "ready" is a trap. You'll never feel completely ready. The confidence comes from taking action, not before it.
5. Leap and Learn
The path forward isn't about having all the answers before you start. It's about taking the leap and learning as you go.
Who Should Read This
- Women looking to advance in their careers
- Anyone struggling with impostor syndrome
- Leaders who want to speak up more confidently
- People who know they're playing small but don't know how to change
- Anyone ready to pursue their calling
Final Thoughts
Playing Big is a book that will change how you see yourself and your potential. Tara Mohr's approach is both compassionate and challenging - she understands the real barriers women face while also holding readers accountable for moving past them.
This book gave me practical tools I still use today, especially the inner mentor exercise and the framework for understanding my inner critic. It's a book I return to whenever I'm on the edge of something big and feeling scared.
If you've been holding yourself back, waiting for permission, or playing small, this book is your invitation to step into your power and play big. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
My Notes & Takeaways
Key Insights
Playing Big is a transformative guide that helps women move past self-doubt and step into their full potential. Tara Mohr provides practical tools and exercises to help women overcome the internal barriers that hold them back.
The Inner Critic
Mohr introduces the concept of the "inner critic" - that voice in our heads that says we're not good enough, smart enough, or ready enough. She teaches how to recognize this voice and not let it control our decisions.
Your Inner Mentor
One of the most powerful tools in the book is connecting with your "inner mentor" - a wiser, future version of yourself who can provide guidance and perspective when you're stuck.
Unhooking from Praise and Criticism
Learning to be less affected by both praise and criticism allows you to stay true to your own vision and values, rather than constantly seeking external validation.
Playing Big
The book encourages women to:
- Speak up in meetings and share their ideas
- Take on challenging projects and leadership roles
- Trust their expertise and inner wisdom
- Stop waiting to feel "ready" and take action now
Callings vs. Goals
Mohr distinguishes between "callings" (what deeply matters to you) and "goals" (external markers of success), encouraging readers to pursue work that truly resonates with their values.
Why It Resonates
This book is essential reading for any woman who has held herself back, waited for permission, or played small. It's filled with practical exercises and real-world examples that make the concepts actionable and inspiring.
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