By author Johanna Crawford

5 of 5 stars.

Editorial Review by Doreen Burns.

Jo Crawford teaches us to dream big and focus small. A simple yet powerful message that punctuates the harrowing and intolerable circumstances many women must endure on a daily basis with domestic violence.

As is the nature of many abuse victim’s circumstances, access to help is often denied and they are sheltered and isolated by their abusers. The first step is often one step too far and out of reach. Resilience has been chipped away over years of continuous torment and added responsibilities of economic dependency and young children to make that first step untenable.

But Jo shows us it can be done.

She includes in this book first hand accounts of survivors which are harrowing, yet inspiring. Women who have battled the odds, had the courage to take those first steps and dared to dream of a better life for themselves. Perhaps most importantly, they pay if forward.

Jo Crawford founded the Web of Benefit organisation which helps women who suffer from intimate terrorism. Jo redefines the antiquated term of domestic violence as intimate terrorism thus levelling its interpretation against the tide of normalisation surrounding this topic. Domestic pertains to the home, home being defined as the place where one’s domestic affections are centred doesn’t quite express the sometimes life threatening and life long conditions some women have to face.

The Web of Benefit organisation asks that each woman they help sign a declaration to pay it forward to three others along her road to achieving her dreams. This serves as a constant reminder that you are not alone.

The most important message is Self-Care. This is how you take your power back. Jo shows us how to start with ourselves. At the end of each chapter, she includes an Invitation to Self-Care and Healing. There are writing prompts, journal ideas and questions that are focused and on point. I found these very well laid out, simple to follow and very helpful.  I loved the concept of the Dream Proposal; I think this guide should be taught in schools. Women who suffer from any kind of abuse often forget about themselves, they believe they are unworthy and undeserving and invalid. This book is the first step towards building a better future and realising you deserve to dream big and out loud. I would recommend this book to any woman, a thoroughly empowering and inspiring read.