Where have I been all my life - by Lisa Benson (Paperback)

About the Book

A personal memoir from Lisa Benson

Book Synopsis

Lisa grew up as 'Little Miss Perfect, ' a star student - smart and capable. She had big plans for her life.

Why then, by her mid-thirties had she settled for mediocrity? What had robbed her of her dreams? Why was she in a safe and unfulfilling job? Why was she in a toxic relationship with a controlling man she knew she didn't want to end up with?

After a shocking wake-up call she finally took action and in the process discovered that she had been existing instead of living for too long. Plunging on an inward journey, she explores her childhood conditioning, intergenerational trauma and limiting beliefs which reveal how much time she squandered putting up, giving up and shutting up.

Where Have I Been All My Life? explores the ways in which 'good girls' make valuable mistakes on the path to true adulthood, but when we release fear and pain, we become empowered to claim freedom and authenticity.

In this story of one woman reaching for a life beyond the silencing gates of shame, Lisa becomes unstuck and squeezes more joy and excitement into the last ten years than in her preceding thirty-seven.

And who knows what surprises the universe has for her when she stops trying to be the person everyone expects her to be and starts being the person she was born to be?

Review Quotes

'Where Have I Been All My Life? is a tribute to one woman's search to find her voice and freedom after a lifetime of being told who she should be. Lisa's journey through self-doubt and invisibility will resonate with every woman who has ever recoiled from owning her own power and choices for fear of making mistakes and disappointing others. As she explores the intergenerational forces that shaped her, she begins to outgrow their strictures and finally make decisions that bring her home to her truest self. This is a love story for every woman who needs to learn to honour and respect herself.' JOANNE FEDLER - INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR

'The book starts with a heart-felt intention for us to resonate with the story and "feel less alone," and it delivers it beautifully. This is a journey of how someone reclaims herself, her beauty, her purpose, and her being. It's inspirational and motivational. I rooted for Lisa as she took us through her journey, and now I want to do the same for myself, and shed those final bits of me that have been holding me back. Lisa expertly draws from different moments of her life to illustrate the lessons she has learned along the way. She starts with what already seems like a big "issue," and slowly peels the layers to show us deeper "issues" and thus deeper insights. It's clear, from this memoir, that we are a result of the accumulation of our experiences. Lisa shares how she accumulated these nuggets of wisdom, and how she learned to trust herself, her inner guidance, and reclaim her life. In sharing her story, she shares a deep perspective that can help transform your life.' SONEE SINGH - AUTHOR AND POET

'Where Have I Been All My Life?' is more than one woman's story. It's a guidebook to hand down to your daughter, give to a friend or keep for your own source of truth and empowerment. After reading the book, my idea for the cover came after having an epiphany. My vision was of 1970/80's ballerina musical box symbolising perfection, with the rose petals representing growth and the shedding of expectations. The mountains illustrate life's obstacles along the journey. I used a mix of structured and playful fonts and colours to appeal to a wide female audience. It was also important to specifically represent the personality of the author and how far she has come. I know this book will be a source of light for so many. LAUREN HARPER (HARPER BRANDING & DESIGN) - COVER DESIGNER