It is so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day of life that sometimes we miss out on what is really important. It’s also way too easy to doubt your abilities and just settle rather than chasing after what you want.
Whenever I feel like I need some inspiration and encouragement I like to pick up a self-help book and try to look at things from a new perspective. Books have helped keep me sane during quarantining! With that being said, I decided to compile a short list of recommended self-help books that are worth your time:
You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero- You’ve probably heard about this one. It was a #1 New York Times Bestseller, and in my opinion, for good reason. You Are A Badass is all about cutting out the excuses from your life and believing that you are more than capable of creating the life that you want to live. It’s a humorous self-help book, which makes it more fun to read and leaves you with a desire to return to the book constantly. I remember reading it for the first time and being left with a burning feeling for life! It helped me to better understand what it is I want from life and reminded me that settling for excuses is just the easy way out. If you really want something you will figure out how to get it. This is the one book in my life that I recommend to everyone I know.
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin- The Happiness Project approaches levels of happiness through an experiment. Gretchen realized that what she really wanted from life was simply to be happy, yet her life at the time didn’t align with that goal very much. When you have school, work, or other responsibilities it can be hard to find the time to do things that make you happy. You have to make your happiness a priority in your life. And so Gretchen decided that she would dedicate a whole year of her life to prioritizing her happiness and picking up habits that would enforce that. At the beginning of the year, you pick out 12 different habits and pick up a new one each month while also maintaining the ones from the previous month. Spoiler alert: at the end of her experiment she found that she was a happier person!
Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis- In Girl, Wash Your Face Rachel presents each chapter with a common lie, then shows you how to dismantle that notion and live the life you want. This is a great book for any Christian woman to read, at any stage in her life. Rachel isn’t afraid of getting real and honest in this book. Along with all the common lies she has had to learn to not believe, she provides examples from her life that show her maybe not so much at her best and how she has learned from that situation.
F*ck No! by Sara Knight- It is okay to say no to people. If you know that, yet have a hard time putting it into practice (like me) then this is the perfect book to read and spend some time with. Sarah categorizes people as four different types of ‘yes’ men: the people pleaser, the pushover, the FOMO, and the overachievers. She breaks down each type and gives consistent examples and scenarios throughout the book of how and when to say no and not feel sorry about it. By the end of this book, you will be able to say no to anything and anyone in your life if what they are asking doesn’t align with your vision!
1000+ Things Happy Successful People Do Differently by Marc and Angel Chernoff- If you’re looking for a book that you can easily pick up and put back down whenever you need some extra motivation, then this is the perfect book for you. It’s full of little lists that are very easy to read and a great tool to use to start your morning out on the right foot. It also has questions scattered throughout the chapters that you can use as journaling prompts. It has chapters on self-love, passion and growth, goals and success, and more! Just looking at this book brings a smile to my face.
Navigate Your Stars by Jesmyn Ward- Though this one isn’t exactly a self-help book, it’s inspiring nevertheless! Originally given as Tulane’s commencement speech in 2018, Navigate Your Stars is the perfect read filled with beautiful illustrations for when big life changes are on the horizon. In the book, she explains her family’s hard history and how that has shaped her perspective and also her writing. Though Jesmyn Ward is an extremely successful writer, it didn’t come without a lot of perseverance and strength. Although this book is quite short, it’s the perfect little read to pick up during rocky times when you need help navigating your own stars.
I have enjoyed reading these different self-help/inspirational books. Each one has its unique lessons that can help readers create the life they want to have when they are ready for it. With that being said, each book does have its downfall. And many people who don’t enjoy reading self-help books all that much might grow tired of hearing the same messages over and over again.
If you’re someone that is looking for an extra push though, this list is for you.
Have you read any of these books? What did you think of them?
Here is a list of other self-help books that are on my to be read queue:
- Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
- Hello, Fears by Michelle Poler
- Dream Big by Bob Goff,
- How to Be Fine by Jolenta Greenberg and Kristin Meinzer
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16
Radiate & Inspire 