The books that changed my life
written in 2018
It's a little daunting, trying to capture in one post all of the books that have shaped my life in a positive way. To survive (help you survive) I'm chunking it down to the self help books that really helped me cut through all of the crap going on in my head and start living my life MY way...happy.
I'll first introduce the ones that warmed me up, kind of like appetizers for the main course. Not that they are any less of amazing books, but you learn step by step and fall a lot, and these ones were important for me personally to read first.
"Gifts of Imperfection" by Brene Brown. This was huge for me to read. She was the first one to write out all of my self-deprecating thoughts and habits as a mom/human that were ruining my life. Sometimes finding out you aren't the only one messed up is the greatest blessing.That led me to her next one: Daring Greatly. Again, huge. I love her writing, honesty, and insight.
"Burnout Cure" by Julie De Azevedo-Hanks, and MOMS PLEASE READ THIS. It's short and sweet and the perfect butt kicker.
But here is where the rubber meets the road, these next books literally KNOCKED MY SOCKS OFF and nothing has been the same. Mentally, spiritually, physically, emotionally, it's all better, and getting even better every day. For three years I've been regularly meeting with a therapist to work out my crap, done every med under the sun to work out my crap (and failed), lots of prayers and fasting and all kinds of stuff to work out my crap, and I think that's why I was finally ready for some serious heavy hitters. I'd tried everything to work out my crap, and nothing was really changing.
YOU ARE A BADASS by Jen Sincero
this book, you guys, it's hard to explain. I'll admit it was hard for me to read all the swearing, but I'm so glad I got over it because her message is EVERYTHING. Like, I've read it over 4 times it is EVERYTHING. Plus she is hilarious! She basically wraps up everything I've learned from The Forum seminar as a kid, 12 step course, spiritual beliefs and my therapist into one book of truth. In the back she references books that helped her and I've read all of them except for two. All of them. Here are my favorites from that list, and in the order I read them.
Ask and It is Given by Jerry and Esther Hicks
This one was a little out there for me (Esther channels a spirit named Abraham that shares spiritual insights) but truth is truth and eternal, and boy are there some golden nuggets of truth in here. Instead of hurting my faith and what I believe in, it has only strengthened it that there is a powerful and mighty Heavenly Father who loves you more than you will ever know and wants YOU TO BE HAPPY.
Seven Laws of Spiritual Success by Deepak Chopra
I want a t-shirt that says, "I'm with Deepak". He might have single handedly save our marriage at that time in our life. Ty noticed the difference in me after reading this that he finally read it too and MAN. It is killer. I actually finished reading it the first time (I've read it several times now) before a trip to Disneyland during the busiest time of the year and legit was in a straight up zen the entire time. Life is freaking amazing when you practice these truths! (I also like his book 7 laws of Spiritual Success for families)
The Power of Now
A new earth by Eckhart Tolle
So this guy is an academic professional in mental health and goes bat crap crazy and right as he decides he can't live anymore experiences an incredible spiritual awakening and proceeds to sit happily (and homeless) on a park bench for two years in utter bliss. Luckily, he decided to write down his enlightenment. This is a another holy mother DOOZY of a book. For someone who has struggled with mental illness for a large part of my adult life, this has been the key that liberated me from that insane mental (literally) prison.
(Practicing the Power of Now is also his that I Highly recommend)
You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay
So she was diagnosed with incurable cancer, and... heals herself...in the 1970's. She just passed away in 2017 at the age of 90! NINETY. This book, well, you definitely have to be drawn to it and ready for it. I could see if someone shoved this in your face during a physical or mental illness that you probably would never talk to that person again. But when /if you are ever ready, there are some serious truth bombs in here. Plus I LOVE her voice, she is so sweet and calming and I could listen to her speak for hours on end (and have!)
Loving What Is by Byron Katie
She's a mom, she's goes insane trying to deal with life. Sound familiar??? Lying on the floor of an mental hospital one day a cockroach walks over her and she has a spiritual awakening. The book teaches you how to deal with any situation/thought/issue in your life by asking 4 questions. Yup, only 4 questions. Basically it's her way of teaching you that the Matrix movie might be closer to our reality than you think, except machines haven't taken over the world, just our MESSED UP THINKING. Finding out what is real and what is not was HUGE for me, but this book took a long time to finish for me. Some truths are harder to swallow, especially if it's some drama story that's really been working for you. Not that I would know anything about that.
Ok, moving on to my VERY FAVORITE. I save the best for last:
The God Seed by M. Catherine Thomas.
She is an LDS author and just hit the nail on the head. What's funny is she quotes some of my very favorite authors I had just read: Tolle, Chopra and Byron Katie. That was a serendipitous moment for me when I saw that. Spiritually this book has been my everything and has transformed my personal daily scripture and meditation practice. I hope to meet her in person someday and thank her for the immeasurable
I hope you enjoy these books as much as I have and send me any other recommendations, I'm always reading!
*update!
going to add a few more of my FAVORITES on here!
-letting go by David Hawkins- the four agreements -the untethered soul -breaking the habit of being yourself-a course in miracles- busting loose from the money game-the way of transformation and many many more!