Experience the peace that comes from centering your life around God, freeing yourself from the burden of self-centered stress. “Ryan Wekenman is a trusted voice for anyone hoping to deepen their self-awareness and become a stronger person of faith.”—Annie F. Downs, New York Times bestselling author of That Sounds Fun Do you ever feel like it’s your job to hold the whole world together? Are you tired of overthinking every social interaction or worrying that you’re not enough? In Free Me from Me, Ryan Wekenman invites you on a transformative journey from the shackles of self-centeredness to a life centered on God. Through engaging anecdotes and practical advice, Wekenman reveals how living with self at the center creates unrelenting pressure he calls the “me-maze,” while placing Christ at the center brings true rest for the soul. This journey is not about bashing yourself; it’s about unlocking your immense potential as a human created in the image of God. With humor and honesty, Wekenman explores the theological, psychological, and cultural reasons behind our self-centered tendencies. He encourages us to let go of the weight we were never meant to carry with this simple yet powerful prayer: Lord, free me from me. If you’re struggling to escape the pressures of modern life, Free Me from Me will help you embrace the peace, purpose, and joy waiting for you when you remember that God is at the center of the story and that you can find rest for your soul. “Ryan Wekenman is a trusted voice for anyone hoping to deepen their self-awareness, pursue emotional and spiritual growth, and become a stronger person of faith.” —Annie F. Downs, New York Times bestselling author of That Sounds Fun “You need to read this book! Ryan Wekenman has a crazy ability to explain complex theological topics in simple and practical ways. In a world full of opinions about who you are, Free Me from Me is going to help you understand who God says you are and experience the amazing freedom that comes with living a God-centered life!” —Shawn Johnson, pastor and bestselling author of Kiss the Fire and Attacking Anxiety “ Free Me from Me is a gift. Ryan Wekenman confronts our culture’s hyper-fixation on the self and gently restores God to the center—where peace actually becomes possible. For the sake of sanity, please read this book.” —Kory Miller, Christian music artist, songwriter, and worship leader at Red Rocks Church “ Free Me from Me is not written for the faint of heart. It is courageous in its transparency and asks as much from the reader. Ryan Wekenman’s profound vulnerability invites—perhaps even insists upon—the kind of bravery that true transformation requires: the humility to be lovingly decentered, and the courage to imagine the grace and emerging glory of a life freed from the exhausting burden of self.” —Jeffrey Tacklind, author of The Winding Path of Transformation and pastor of Little Church by the Sea, Laguna Beach Ryan Wekenman is a storyteller and pastor who is passionate about finding creative ways to help people explore life’s biggest questions. He is the author of Single Today and the co-host of two podcasts, Stories in Scripture, a show that brings the Bible to life for people all around the world, and Afterthoughts, a weekly conversation about faith, culture, and the church. Wekenman has a master’s degree from Talbot School of Theology and is the teaching pastor of Red Rocks Austin, a young, vibrant church he helped start with a few of his best friends. He lives in Austin, Texas. Introduction From Self-Centered to God-Centered “Fully in . . . letting go.” The voice belonged to Wim Hof. A wild Dutch man who had been running barefoot in the Arctic, plunging into freezing water, and taking the self-help scene by storm. I was all in on the different methods. Workouts. Ice baths. Breath work. Grounding. On April 19, 2020, I was combining all four, squeezing the ice bath in during the second round of breath work right after a difficult workout. If a little self-help helps, my mind reasoned, a lot should help more. And I needed all the help I could get. The pandemic had just shut the world down. That morning, we had done church online—twenty-five people watched. Which was a bummer when eight hundred had shown up in person the month before. While watching, I opened my inbox and saw two new emails. 1. Someone who was mad we stopped doing in-person services. 2. Someone who was mad we were thinking about returning to in-person services. It was a strange time to be alive—and I was searching for a way to cope. I shot out of the ice bath after the second round of breath work and reached for my towel with a shivering hand. Next up, a twominute breath hold. I steadied my mind but immediately thought about how much more relaxing the practice would be if I was outside in my backyard with my bare feet on my lawn. After all, if a little helps, a lot should help more. Blo