Becoming Visible to Myself: An Unexpected Memoir
Becoming Visible to Myself: An Unexpected Memoir
Told with aliveness and honesty, Becoming Visible to Myself is an invaluable guide for anyone, and especially women, looking to step into their full power. More than a memoir, the book is a synthesis of experiences, emotions, and resources, shared by the author with a generosity and courage reminiscent of Geneen Roth’s Women, Food and God and Lori Gottlieb’s Maybe You Should Talk to Someone. Kathryn Kaplan is a self-proclaimed seeker and achiever, and what began as a book about how to start journaling morphed over time into the riveting story of one woman’s enduring quest to embrace happiness by living her authentic life. Raised to never express feelings, Kathryn shares hard-won insights and innovative processes—culled from over 25 years of keeping a creative and intimate journal—that enabled her to become “fierce with reality” and cease being a mystery to herself. Coming to terms with the origins of narcissism in her family, she traces its damaging impact on her work and relationships while acknowledging the positive gifts she received from her parents. Kathryn's transparent process of personal integration as well as her structured approach to journal review make it easy for anyone to follow her lead. Readers will resonate with her “vulnerability as a strength” and find unexpected nuggets that will inspire and support them on their own journeys of self-discovery.
Passing her own rigorous, sentence-by-sentence raw truth test, Kathryn has gifted us with a memoir that generously and courageously reveals her practice life from the heart to the bone. Journaling privately to ourselves, cringing at times at what we place on the page, prepares us to one day write an account of our way of being. If only I had the courage and grace that Kathryn Kaplan exhibits here.
— David S. Fearon, Ph.D. Co-author with Peter B. Vaill of Practice as a Way of Being, Professor of Management Emeritus, Central Connecticut State University
This book comes at a time when all people, especially women, need to find wholeness within themselves. Kathryn's search for her own acceptance of her many talents—intellectual, emotional, creative—serves as a model. Her approach is well organized, practical, and poetic.
— Sandy Prins, MS - ECSE, Grief Counselor
Kaplan's engaging and vivid memoir takes readers on her extraordinary journey of finding her true self ("IT"). She is both expert storyteller—delivering a brave, soulful, authentic, and reflective account of her life—and master practitioner—offering many practical tools and resources through her personal and professional learning and growth. This creative treasure is meticulously structured and formatted with Kaplan's original illustrations, poems, photographs, and journal entries interwoven throughout. A powerful and captivating must read!"
— Nancy Xenakis, DSW, LCSW, MS; Adjunct Faculty, Silver School of Social Work, New York University; Guest Support Coordinator, Toni's Kitchen