The Garden Within

A book that combines two interests of mine - gardening and mental health? I enjoyed every single moment of this journey through Dr. Anita Phillips book, The Garden Within. I appreciate Dr. Phillips attention to how the Bible intersections with God's created world and how that impacts our every day life! This book is a beautiful picture of how to marry the things that the Bible lays out for us with what modern science is also discovering and unfolding for us.

I absolutely needed this book. It came at the perfect time for me. I’ve been following Dr Anita for sometime and was truly not disappointed by this book. I’ve learned a lot about the heart matters and can’t wait to share this book with the women in my life

"The Garden Within" is a book that eloquently explores the themes of self-discovery, healing, and personal growth. Through its beautifully crafted narrative, the author invites readers on a journey inward to the garden of their own souls. The metaphor of a garden is used effectively throughout the book, symbolizing the potential for growth and renewal that lies within each of us. The prose is lyrical and rich, making the reading experience both enjoyable and thought-provoking.

The author skillfully intertwines personal anecdotes with philosophical insights, guiding readers through the process of tending to their inner landscapes. The book is divided into sections that mirror the stages of gardening—preparing the soil, planting, nurturing, and harvesting—each offering valuable lessons on how to cultivate a more fulfilling and authentic life.

What makes "The Garden Within" stand out is its gentle approach to self-improvement. Rather than prescribing a one-size-fits-all solution, it encourages readers to reflect on their own experiences and challenges, fostering a sense of compassion and understanding towards oneself. The inclusion of practical exercises and reflections at the end of each chapter further enriches the reader's journey, making the book not just a read but an interactive experience.

In summary, "The Garden Within" is a deeply moving and insightful book that resonates with anyone looking to embark on a journey of self-exploration and personal growth. Its timeless wisdom and beautiful storytelling make it a valuable addition to any reader's collection.

The Garden Within is a wonderful resource for Christians to help you to explore and understand your emotions. Emotions play a crucial part in life, and Dr. Anita's explains the impact of emotions by combining scientific and biblical views together. Dr. Anita compares your emotions to that of a garden and walks you through tending to your garden. There was a lot of scripture and solid biblical foundation in this book. This book is one I will come back to later on to re-read some parts because it is full of wonderful information and a lot to digest at one time. I would highly recommend taking notes and journaling while reading this to help you apply it to your life.

Thank you, Thomas Nelson Books, and NetGalley, for a copy in return for my honest review.

Dr. Anita really blessed my life with this! This is a book I will absolutely read countless times and get a new revelation each time. This was my first read, but this feels like one of those “read at least once a year” books. I’ve always hated expressing emotions (even to myself), so I needed this. I’m learning to embrace my emotions and acknowledge the signals sent to inform me that some need is not being met.

More than anything, I love that Dr. Anita acknowledges the power of God/relationship with Him, while also advocating for the use of therapy/related tools. Thank you so much for sharing your gift with us 💚

Why I picked this book: A group of us gals have decided to get together and read this book as a book club. I grabbed it after I heard Dr. Anita talk on a video interview of Dr. Anita and the writing of this book. Wow!

Overall thoughts: This is a must-read. A fantastic way to start off your new year. Any time would be a good time to start this book. I am reading it in a book club which means I am reading it fairly fast. I know I will be rereading this book to go back a process what all Dr. Anita has to say.

Favorite Quotes: My favorite idea so far is that we come from a very Plato-intrinsic world...where thought over heart is what matters. The truth is, we need both mind and heart. We were created with both. God made man and said it was good. He made woman and said it was very good. So why would we think that our emotions, our heart, is bad? What lie is this? It made me think of Worship as well. So many enter into worship without emotionally engaging. Some people enter into worship with so much emotion that they forgo the logical/mind side of knowing theology. We need both. We. Need. Both.

Bookshelf worthy? Absolutely. I know each time I read it, something new will stick out to me because I will be in a different season. My soil will look different. The things in my environment will shift and change which will inevitably influence my soil. My job: tend the soil and make sure it's healthy.

Teenability: Most definitely.



*Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this book. The opinions here are my own and I was not compensated for them. My job is to read books and to let you know what I think. So, here it is.

This is an interesting book, and I've enjoyed reading it. I've found myself going to my Bible several times to look up the scriptures the author mentions in the book. I really like the analogy of looking at your self as a garden and how you can change yourself (your soil) to make a better garden and become a better person

I’m halfway through this book and already compelled to write a review. Sometimes in life, you go through an event that you know will be a trauma when you look back at it. This book is the opposite. As I’m reading it, I know it’s going to lead to healing in my life and that I so look back on this book as being a pivotal moment. Thank you, Dr. Anita Phillips. 💟

As I journey on this season of healing, Dr. Anita Phillips reminds me in The Garden Within, my emotions, my heart are being cultivated to help me grow. I’m ready to move forward and heal!

I first encountered Dr. Anita at a women's retreat in 2022. She told us about her book back then and I was already excited to read it. This book is the guide every human needs. It showed me more about how my body, mind, and spirit are rooted in the Lord, and how every part of me was planted and nourished by our Creator.
I especially love the imagery between the neurons inside of us looking like trees and plants.
This book gave me understanding and grace for my human experience.
Dr. Anita is an absolute treasure and an expert in this field.
I recommend everybody reads this book at least once.

This book is life changing. Dr. Anita brings a fresh perspective to the intersection of faith and health. She weaves mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well-being together in a way that is seamless and approachable. As I read through the pages, I had so many personal revelations and breakthroughs. It's raised my awareness and shifted my perspective on how disconnected I had been, but it also provided actionable steps to start removing unhealthy things and incorporating better coping skills. I have already recommended this book to multiple people....and I know that I'll be reading it repeatedly as I progress through different seasons of life.

This is a Powerful read. I had no idea that this book would hit me in all the right places of my heart and my mind when it did. I feel as if the author was a longtime friend that knew so many intimate details of my life and then spelled it out in this book. What I appreciated the most about the book is it is not all spiritual or psychology it has some science and real life in it as well. I think that any person can take something from this book and tap into whatever emotions they have been struggling with and turn it around to be better and more whole after reading this. I will say this book will have you putting in the work on yourself to be the best version of yourself as you are reading/studying it.

This book provides a rare focus that guides me to feel and process my emotions to promote growth and healing. I wasn't aware of "the cutting-edge changes in emotion science ... that began around 2010". After gaining a basic understanding that "our emotions and our bodies are inseparable", spirit and neurobiology in the first 11 chapters, I was grateful to practice the "garden walks" in chapters 12, 13 and 14.

This is a good book. There is a lot here that is useful to anyone despite their religious feelings.

That being said, the description and the blurbs I read did not adequately prepare me for the amount of biblical quotes, and heavy handed connections between nature and christianity.

I'm an omnist earth lover, so I believe in all religions and I love them all. I have studied the Bible. And this was almost too much for me. So I recommend that if you are anything other than a devout christian, that you walk into this book knowing what you are walking into.

That being said: the message and the exercises, are wonderful. I just wish there was a secular version because it would read so many more people if there was, and those who are christians could still enjoy this.

Thank you for allowing me to read this book, free, as an advanced reader copy, from Net Galley. My opinions are entirely my own.

I had mixed thoughts about THE GARDEN WITHIN.

On the one hand, there are some really great pieces of information and encouragement here about handling your emotions and taking care of yourself. I really liked the portions where she explained that emotions actually come before thoughts despite our cultural belief (from way back in Plato's time!) that thoughts come before emotions. I also was really encouraged by the reminders that we are whole, embodied people and our physical body is not separate from us, our thoughts, and our emotions.

On the other hand, I struggled to follow the garden metaphor because it got a little too involved, I was distracted by the frequent NKJV scripture translations over a more modern translation, and I also thought the subtitle ("Where the War with Your Emotions Ends and Your Most Powerful Life Begins") was a little misleading. The subtitle led me to believe it was going to be a little more aggressive in style, a little punchier. Not that what the book *is* isn't good, it just wasn't the style or content I was expecting from the subtitle.

Overall, I'm glad I read it and will continue to follow Dr. Anita and her work.

Dr. Anita Philips has written a must read for all individuals. This book will heal those emotions that we have pressed down for years afraid to acknowledge them. The Garden within will equip you to begin the journey of healing that which is within us....our emotions. Thank you for a much needed book for such a time as this.

The Garden Within invites the reader to consider the ways Jesus exhibited emotions and gives practical strategies to help cultivate emotional well being. The many scripture references provided were very helpful in telling the story of what it takes to have a flourishing garden within. It’s a resource I wish I had when dealing with past trauma.

The Book My Heart Has Waited For...

Since first encountering a message/lecture/sermon by Dr. Anita on YT, I've eagerly anticipated her first book. It's now here and everything I'd hoped for: Bible study + mental health counseling + neurobiology lesson + love story, seamlessly woven with personal anecdotes from the exceptionally brilliant and relatable sister-friend you've always wanted. It's actually more than I'd hoped. This blessing of a book is also wrapped in theologically sound permission to release any stigma about admitting that saved folks can and do experience a broad range of emotions, including anxiety. God fearfully and wonderfully made us capable of experiencing emotionally complex lives and continues to love and care for us when we experience that complexity.

The Garden Within has helped me see myself as an emotional being in the pages of my Bible and also express myself as an emotionally healing daughter of God in my therapy sessions. I look forward to reading and sharing The Garden Within again and again!

Do you ever contemplate the role your emotions have in your life? Have you ever tried to suppress your emotions because they're messy or unruly (or whatever adjective you choose to describe them)?

The Garden Within by Dr. Anita Phillips is a powerful resource that shows us the crucial role our emotions play on our physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

She compares the body to a garden using scientific and biblical sources and walks us through ways to tend for the garden within.

This book has confirmed things I've suspected about the role of my emotions on my physical and mental health for years. It has also given me resources to live my best life by allowing myself to experience my emotions in healthy, life-giving ways.

I received an advanced reader's copy from the publisher through NetGalley; a positive review was not required.