Self-help books have a bad reputation. You get caught reading one or talking about one, people think you have all these issues. They may start to treat you differently or they may make fun of you. They may just give you a look. The look that says "really?" with the scrunched up face. I think it's time to change that. Let's call them growth books aka personal growth books. Growing is a positive action step in life. Let's give personal growth books a positive reputation, a reputation they deserve. Personal growth books help with motivation, inspiration, and gives you small tweaks to apply to your life to only better it. Who doesn't want to grow?
There are many personal growth books out there. Through my years of putting them on my reading list and reading them, my experience has been a mixed bag. Some have been extremely motivating and inspirational, others have been hard to relate to or redundant. The ones that are motivating or inspirational are worth searching for. They have inspired me to make small tweaks in my life for the better. For example, I was challenged to change my definition of what rich means, ways to sit appropriately while I meditate, and different strategies to help me follow through on my many projects I have going on.
If you or a friend are looking to venture into the realm of growth, here are 5 great personal growth books that may help you on your journey. Make sure to add them to your reading list and enjoy!
Book #1 to Put on Your Reading List
Finish: Give Yourself the Gift of Done by Jon Acuff
This book was an easy read with many new ideas that I haven’t thought of to accomplish your goals. One idea Acuff talks about is to cut your goal in half. You want me to cut my goal in half?? It didn’t make sense to me at first but after pondering it and why it would work it made sense. If you cut your goal in half, you will be successful faster which motivates you to keep going. Most of the time our goals take a longer time than we want and we are not seeing results fast enough. If you cut your goal in half, you will see results faster leading you to want to finish. Another idea was to extend the time to take to accomplish your goal. When we make a goal, we make it with a time frame, and sometimes that time frame is too short for us to give it our full focus and attention. Then, we become stressed because it is not going to be finished on time and it’s not our best work so we throw it out or give up. This is where extending your time would be a good idea. It’s okay to extend the time for your goal that way you feel less stressed and you can give it your all so you can do your best work without the added pressure you put on yourself.
There are many other ideas in this book that are useful that you could use, too. If you are a person who starts something and are really excited about it but doesn’t seem to ever finish it, pick up this book and read it. It may help you become the finisher you have always wanted to be!
This book is on Amazon at a price of $10.49. They are running a discount right now; if you spend $20 on books, you save $5.
Grow Your Reading List With Book #2
The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh
This book is a simple read about meditation. In this book, Hanh gives exercises to help the reader learn skills to practice mindfulness throughout your entire day. He helps readers bring themselves back into the present moment and gives tips on how to focus on your breathing to bring you back after stressful moments. He also gives tips about how to sit properly while practicing mindfulness and why you should sit that way. One thing I despise is doing the dishes and one exercise was about being mindful while doing the dishes. Think about what you are doing, what do you smell, how hot the water is, the bubbles.
Through his exercises, he is able to bring you back to the simplicity of life. It gives you a sense of peace which everyone needs in this busy modern way of life. Check his book out here!
This book is on Amazon for $9.99.
Put Book #3 on Your Reading List Today
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck
This book is about the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. The fixed mindset leads to a desire to look smart leading to avoiding challenges, give up easily, or feel jealous of the success of others. A growth mindset leads to a desire to learn, therefore, being more open to challenges, constructive criticism, and being inspired by others. The author has done extensive research on this topic and explains how different mindsets in different areas of your life can affect what you think about your own ability and talents. Do you believe your talents are fixed and there is no room or way you could learn a new talent? Or do you believe you have talents but you can also learn new things and be just as talented?
Check this book out if you want to learn about the growth mindset and how it can change your attitude about your outlook on life. She also has a really neat resource on her website where you can take a quiz to learn more about your own mindset by answering some questions. Here’s the link to the quiz:http://blog.mindsetworks.com/what-s-my-mindset?view=quiz
This book is on Amazon for $10.49.
Improve Your Reading List With Book #4
Feel the Fear… And Do It Anyway! by Susan Jeffers
Do you fear confrontation? Do you fear opening up to others? Do you fear living your life because of all the bad things that are happening in the world? Dr. Susan Jeffers inspires others with dynamic techniques and profound concepts that have helped countless people grab hold of their fears and move forward with their lives.
Check out this book… it may help you recognize your fear, how to push past the feelings of fear, help you talk over your negative thoughts, and create more meaning in your life by helping you do the things you have always been too scared to do.
This book is on Amazon for $7.99.
Add Some Richness to Your Reading List With Book #5
You are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero
This book changed the stigma and definition I had with the word “rich.” I thought rich people were the people with all the money. She challenges you to change that and make your own definition that pertains to you. Are you rich with experiences? What makes your life rich? What kind of life do you want to live and what kind of money does that require? This book goes on to say that making money doesn’t always have to be hard. There are ways to make money doing something you find fun. The universe has given you the opportunities, you just have to take them! This book reads as if the author is talking to you face-to-face and it is funny! That personal feeling really kicked my butt into gear, I felt like she was talking TO me, not AT me!
I highly recommend this book, I actually can’t recommend it enough. If you want a book that shifts your paradigm, makes you think about what you want in life and gets your behind going to accomplish all those awesome goals you have in a personal, humorous way, this is the book for you!
This book is on Amazon for $9.42.
Start Your 2020 Reading List With Books That Will Help You Grow
These five books were some of my favorites this year. Just remember with a personal growth book, you read it and apply it. All of the ideas may not resonate with you and that's okay! The ideas that you can apply to your life though, just DO THEM! Try them out and see if it upgrades your life.
Read to grow. To gain knowledge. To upgrade your life. To go on adventures. Make a reading list part of your goal in 2020.
Everyone is deserving of health and happiness! Remember to always love yourself because you are WORTH IT :)
Your Certified Brain Health Coach
Ashley
Owner of SustainaBRAIN
