Loving yourself in style* is the first book by Shabana Feroze. Shabana is an entrepreneur, fitness instructor, artist and even has a super hero name Silver Kick. The book covers many topics including passion, creativity, style, money, fitness and emotions. And combines her experience of discovering herself as she’s followed her dreams whether that up the corporate ladder or in her own business, with her tips on how we learn from her experiences and insights.
Develop your own style and flaunt it. Don’t become white noise.
Why I wanted to read Loving yourself in style
I have to admit that I mainly wanted to read this book based on its cover, or at least its title. I found it appealing because it combined loving yourself and doing things your way (at least that is how I interpreted the in style part). Although Shabana has written a blog, The Silver Kick Diaries, for many years I hadn’t come across it before I saw this book available to review on Netgalley.
My key takeaways
For such short book I found many takeaways, and I highlighted text in every chapter. In an attempt not recreate the whole book I’ve picked out the points that resonated the most.
The main theme going through the book is about learning to love yourself.
When you love yourself, you not only accept who you are, warts and all, but you’re also happy with who you are . You know your strengths, and you know that you’re not perfect, but that you’re still an amazing person who deserves every happiness.
Do you know your passion? I don’t, so have found books that say follow your passion hard. Instead, Shabana talks about the importance of knowing your passion, but if you don’t know it the next best thing is to try lots of things to help you find it either directly or indirectly by discounting things you’ve discovered are not your passion.
I’m in full agreement with her that we need to keep learning, changing and growing. It isn’t the pace that is important it is the fact we keep moving towards the life we want. So I’m now recognising my achievements, no matter how small; come and join in.
Progress is all about learning and making necessary changes based on evolving knowledge.
I’ve struggled with creativity and feeling that I’m not creative and feeling inferior when it is discussed as a skill you need. I had a revelation a few years ago that problem solving was creative. So I’m pleased that Shabana agrees with this, and I particularly like that she has broken down the skills that make problem solving creative; it takes ingenuity, originality, imagination and resourcefulness. I hope I will look at problems and my process to solve them differently in the future.
She has similar views on money and health, that if you have the basics covered you’ll be less stressed and better able to focus on other things. And getting the basics correct can often be done by making, and sticking to, some good habits. I have to add that I’m currently introducing new habits and it is not easy. That is why I’ve chosen to share my experience on Instagram to help me with accountability.
And to finish this section – of course, we know we shouldn’t listen to what other people say, but it is always good to be reminded.
People can say whatever they want to. Your job isn’t to listen to what people say about you. Your job is to live life the way you want to.
Should you read Loving yourself in style
Realizing that you don’t need anyone’s permission to live your life the way you want to and that you don’t have to apologize for what you like and dislike brings great personal freedom.
Loving Yourself in Style – Shabana Feroze
Yes because it is a short book with some powerful messages. Because it is such as quick reach I think it is a book you should keep to hand so you can read it when you are feeling down, doubting yourself or lacking courage.
*Disclaimer – I received an electronic version of this book in exchange for a review, all comments are honest and my own. This post also contains affiliate links which means if you buy something after following a link I will earn a percentage of the value but it does not cost you any more.
Kate thank you so much for this incredible review! I’m so happy I stumbled upon it!