Master the Genie Within is a new book that begins by asking the reader what mask she is wearing in life, why she is wearing that mask, is it benefiting her, and whether she should change it for another—her true face, her true authentic self. Examples of masks women wear include the People Pleaser, Wonder Woman, or the Loner. We hide behind these masks out of fear or as a way to get our needs met, but in the process we hide our true selves. Author Gladys Anderson advocates that, instead, it is now time for our inner Genie to shine through.
Women are especially prone to hiding their true identities as they focus on their roles as wives, mothers, and people who set aside their own needs and goals for their families. While Master the Genie Within would be a helpful book for both genders, Anderson directs it primarily at women because they have the greater tendency to deny their true selves. That said, as a man, I found myself admitting that I also play roles and wear masks; many of the topics Anderson covers I found relevant to my personal experiences, and her advice was useful and practical for helping me to get unstuck in certain areas of my life.
While Anderson’s book is directed at women, she is no stranger to helping men as well. In fact, Anderson, who holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology, is a licensed marriage and family therapist, so she has helped plenty of men as well as women, but through her years counseling hundreds of couples and individuals, she recognized that it was women especially, despite being educated and having professional careers, who were often the ones most in need of accessing their true selves, the Genies within them, who are waiting to show their magic selves and grant their wishes once the women become aware of and prepared to be who they really are.
At the heart of this book is advice on self-care. Anderson helps women resist trying to people please and be Wonder Woman by giving themselves permission to say “No” so they no longer have to feel over-committed, overwhelmed, and overlooked. Instead of overextending oneself, Anderson shows how people can make affirming choices that allow them to reach a place of calmness, empowerment, and clarity in their lives.
Anderson uses several metaphors and scenarios to get across her point. She asks her readers to look closely at their self-limiting beliefs, such as “I am not good enough,” “I have to do things perfectly,” and “I can’t get angry,” and instead realize that we all have DNA—Divinely Natural Attributes—which are waiting to shine through when we give them priority. She advocates and provides steps for achieving balance and setting boundaries in life. As she states in the book:
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