How Books Work: Mindful Eating, by Jan Chozen Bays

Whenever I teach my self-help and spirituality writing class, the most common question students have is “How do I write a self-help book AND share my personal story?”

In many cases, beginning writers err on the side of the sharing way too much of their personal story, and end up writing a memoir instead of a self-help book. This might not sound like a problem, until you consider the fact that readers who are looking for help with a specific problem are most likely to be looking for a self-help book, not a memoir.

So how do we find that magical balance between giving readers high-quality tools and advice, while using our personal story as support? Jan Chozen Bays' book Mindful Eating: A Guide to Rediscovering a Healthy and Joyful Relationship with Food is the perfect example of a self-help book that uses personal storytelling as a tool rather than making it the main focus.

In today's post, I want to take a look at how Bays pulls this off. How does she incorporate her experiences as a pediatrician, Zen teacher, and mindfulness practitioner without overshadowing the practical guidance readers seek?

The secret lies in her craft—her ability to use personal anecdotes strategically, weaving them into the instructional fabric of the book in a way that enhances rather than distracts.

Here's what makes this book such a powerful read—and how you can apply the same techniques to your own self-help or spirituality book.

1. Strategic Vulnerability

Bays doesn't bombard readers with her life story—she selects specific moments of vulnerability that directly illuminate the concepts she's teaching. When discussing our tendency to use food as emotional comfort, she briefly shares her own experience of reaching for chocolate during stressful hospital shifts.

These moments of disclosure are brief, focused, and always in service of the reader's understanding. They function as bridges between concept and application, making abstract ideas concrete through lived experience.

Takeaway for writers: Personal stories work best when they're strategically chosen to illustrate your teaching points. Ask yourself: "Does this story clarify the concept, or am I sharing it because it's important to me personally?" Your vulnerability should always serve your reader's journey.

2. Clinical-Personal Balance

As both a physician and practitioner of mindful eating, Bays masterfully balances clinical observation with personal insight. When discussing the body's hunger signals, she might briefly mention observing patterns in her retreat participants, then smoothly transition to research data.

This approach establishes her credibility while keeping the focus on the information. Her personal observations supplement rather than replace evidence-based guidance, creating a multi-dimensional understanding of mindful eating practices.

Takeaway for writers:

Your personal experiences can provide valuable context, but they should enhance the aspects of your teaching which are grounded in facts and science, not become the focus. Use them to build credibility and illustrate concepts, then return promptly to your instructional thread.

3. Stories as Microcosms

One of Bays' most effective techniques is using brief, vivid stories that function as microcosms of the larger principles she teaches. Rather than lengthy personal narratives, she offers concise vignettes—like the moment she realized she'd eaten an entire meal without tasting it while working on hospital charts.

These stories create "aha moments" that readers can relate to immediately, triggering self-recognition without requiring extensive biographical context.

Takeaway for writers:

Think of personal stories as concentrated capsules of wisdom rather than extended narratives. A well-chosen moment, described vividly in just a paragraph or two, can often teach more than pages of autobiography.

Final Takeaways

Mindful Eating isn't just a guide to transforming your relationship with food—it's a great example of how authors can use personal narrative as a teaching tool rather than a focal point.

As a writer, there's so much to learn here:

• Be selective. Choose personal stories that directly illuminate your teaching points, not just because they're important to you.

• Stay focused on service. Every personal disclosure should ultimately benefit the reader's understanding, not your need for expression.

• Use brevity as power. Often, a well-crafted paragraph of personal experience can teach more than pages of autobiography.

• Return to teaching. After sharing a personal moment, swiftly bring the focus back to the practical guidance your readers seek.

If you're a self-help or spirituality author, Mindful Eating offers a blueprint for how to incorporate your lived experience without losing sight of your primary purpose: to teach, guide, and transform your readers' lives.

Want to learn more about writing self-help and spirituality books? Sign up for my live, online 4-week class, Words that Teach, Words that Heal: Secrets of Self-Help and Spirituality Writing, beginning April 8th, 2025, and sign up for my newsletter.