The Gift of Being Yourself: The Sacred Call to Self-Discovery

"Grant, Lord, that I may know myself that I may know thee." —Augustine

Much is said in Christian circles about knowing God. But what if there is also value in knowing yourself? Christians throughout the ages have agreed that there cannot be deep knowledge of God without deep knowledge of the self. Discerning your true self is inextricably related to discerning God's purposes for you. Paradoxically, the more you become like Christ, the more you become authentically yourself.

In this exploration of Christian identity, psychologist and spiritual director David G. Benner illuminates the spirituality of self-discovery. He exposes the false selves that you may hide behind and calls you to discover the true self that emerges from your uniqueness in Christ. Freeing you from illusions about yourself, Benner shows that self-understanding leads to the fulfillment of your God-given destiny and vocation.

Through The Gift of Being Yourself, you can:

• Identify and let go of the false selves that hold you back.
• Discover your true self rooted in your identity in Christ.
• Understand God’s purpose for your life through deeper self-awareness.
• Embrace authenticity without needing to compare or strive to be someone you’re not.

This expanded edition, one of three books in The Spiritual Journey trilogy, includes a new epilogue and an experiential guide with questions for individual reflection or group discussion.

You don't need to try to be someone you are not. Instead, as you uncover your true self, you'll deepen your experience of God through discovering the gift of being yourself.

"In contrast to other books filled with drive-through pop psychology and sound-bite spirituality, Benner, a psychologist and spiritual director, offers an impressively deep and challenging introduction to Christian self-discovery..." – Publishers Weekly Starred Review, January 2004