Vicki Kennedy’s It’s Never Personal is a heartfelt and practical guide to understanding why we take things personally and how to let go of that burden. Through her five-step “Never Personal Process,” she blends neuroscience, psychology, and ancient wisdom into a pathway for real emotional freedom. The book moves between personal stories, client experiences, and clear, accessible explanations of concepts like attachment theory and the mind-body connection. At the end of each chapter, reflective questions invite the reader to dig deeper, making the book part manual, part mirror. It’s not just theory, it’s a lived approach to releasing shame, resentment, and self-criticism, and finding the peace that comes with truly seeing that “it’s never personal.”

What struck me most was the openness and warmth in Kennedy’s writing. She doesn’t hide behind clinical distance. She shows her own struggles, moments of feeling unworthy, rejected, or invisible, and how she worked through them. This made the book feel like a conversation with a trusted friend who also happens to have a lot of professional wisdom. I found myself pausing to think about my own raw spots, the times I’ve rushed to forgive without healing, and how often my mind leaps to negative conclusions without evidence. Her examples, whether about a casual slight or a deep betrayal, hit that sweet spot of being specific enough to feel real, but universal enough to resonate.

I also appreciated how she bridged the gap between emotional healing and spiritual growth without slipping into abstract mysticism. Her tone is grounded and compassionate, and she has a knack for taking big ideas like flow states, shadow work, and generational patterns and making them simple without making them shallow. She’s equally willing to quote neuroscience research and the Tao Te Ching, and she makes both feel relevant. Some passages challenged me to face uncomfortable truths about my own defensiveness and judgment. Others left me feeling lighter, more hopeful. By the time I finished, I could see my own patterns a little more clearly and felt more willing to try her process in real life.

I’d recommend It’s Never Personal to anyone who finds themselves replaying conversations in their head, holding grudges they wish they could drop, or feeling too easily bruised by others’ words and actions. It’s ideal for those already in therapy or on a personal growth journey, but it’s also accessible to someone just beginning to wonder why certain hurts linger. If you’re ready to let go of the weight you’ve been carrying, whether it’s been a few weeks or a few decades, this book offers both the map and the encouragement to take those steps.

Pages: 139 | ASIN : B0F9B51HNT