Review of "Confidence Constellations" by Lois van Waardenberg

Score: 96/100 (9.6 out of 10)

Are you ready to be motivated and inspired?
Are you ready to reframe your challenges as opportunities?
Are you ready to jump-start your confidence?

Confidence Constellations by Lois van Waardenberg is exactly what we needed! Look, life is tough. That's no secret. Life can be complicated. Life is full of drama, conflict, setbacks, disappointments, obstacles, and adversity.

Well, as Waardenberg reminds us in this book, life is also surprisingly simple and full of opportunities for growth, fulfillment, self-realization, and happiness.

It depends on how you frame and approach the challenges in your life.
As this book reminds us: "[I]t’s not what happens to you, but what you do about it, that defines you."

And, while this book is full of idealism and contains some cockeyed optimism, it’s also firmly grounded in practical action. Confidence Constellations doesn’t just tell you to “believe in yourself”—it shows you how. Through thoughtfully structured “Constellations” of mindset tools, reflections, and exercises, Lois van Waardenberg invites readers to take small, meaningful steps that lead to lasting change.

Each chapter offers real-world strategies to shift your thinking, build emotional resilience, and tap into your own unique strengths. Whether you're navigating a life transition, overcoming self-doubt, or simply trying to rediscover your spark, this book serves as both a compass and a companion.

So yes, life is tough—but you are tougher. And this book just might be the guide you need to prove it.

Confidence Constellations does just about everything right for a self-help book. As mentioned before, a lot of the advice is actionable, practical, and applicable. In other words, you can pick it up and use it. Another thing we really appreciated about this book were the case studies and stories.

Time and time again, we tell self-help authors to include case studies and stories that support the ideas they're presenting. Give us examples. Give us evidence. Thankfully, Waardenberg delivers.

From the outset, she shares powerful anecdotes from her own life—growing up under rigid expectations, navigating adulthood with persistent anxiety, and learning to reframe the mundane (like laundry) into moments of creative empowerment. These aren't just throwaway glimpses into her past; they're moments that reveal the messy, incremental nature of real growth.

She also draws from the lives of others. There's Marie Curie, whose persistence in the face of institutional sexism and poverty exemplifies the chapter on “Uniquely Strong.” And Aron Ralston, who famously amputated his own arm to survive a canyon accident, illustrating the kind of fierce, optimism-fueled resolve discussed in the “Optimism” section.

Even pop culture figures like Mindy Kaling and Oprah Winfrey are invoked—not just as feel-good mentions, but as models of “Why Not Me?” and “Self-Compassion,” respectively. These examples are used with intent: to ground abstract concepts in real human experience, making them relatable, tangible, and—most importantly—attainable.

Now, in all honesty, we got a bit of a chuckle and rolled our eyes when Mindy Kaling was discussed, but that's mostly just us being sour about what she did to our beloved Scooby Doo.

We also got reminded of Jim Carey betting on himself, writing himself a huge check for his first big acting gig. This is something we've read about before. Also, ironically, we read in this book about Thomas Edison failing over a thousand times before giving the world electricity. What makes this ironic? Well, we just read about Edison being an antagonistic, malicious, and shady figure in Tesla's Cottage by Barbara Daddino, who not only owns Nikola Tesla's old home but also some of his letters and documents. It's funny whenever we can add some intertextual input.

Anyway, Waardenberg's thoughtful integration of stories and strategies transforms Confidence Constellations from a well-meaning workbook into a motivating, deeply human guide. It shows us that the path to confidence isn’t reserved for the naturally gifted or the already-successful—it’s for anyone willing to take small, brave steps, one star at a time.

Speaking of stars, the whole idea of this book being segmented and organized by "constellations" is very unique and interesting. We don't think it was necessary, but it was a nice, stylistic touch.

Check it out on Amazon!