We've all hit a wall in life where we just aren't sure where to turn next; whether it's due to a change in work, location, a relationship, a recent diagnosis, or a wake up call, whatever it may be we've all experienced this in some way. Below are a few of my current favorite books that have helped me navigate my way through those trying situations life has thrown my way.
Not feeling stuck? These books will still help you be more thoughtful about your life in general and may shine a light on areas that can be improved upon. So keep on reading!
Each of these books put to use the 3 aspects of Health Intentionally; Awareness, Empowerment, and Resilience by providing research, information and perspective to bring in awareness as well as activities and tools you can apply right now to gain empowerment and resilience to become unstuck.
As an aside, these are not in any particular order, I have come across them at different pivots in life over the last 2 years and each have earned a place on this list for different reasons I will describe below. Additionally, these books will only work for you if you put the work in right back. Grab a notebook or two, take notes, do the prompts, take action, and you will see a shift.
Let's take a look;
1. Mindset by Dr. Carol Dweck
In this book, Dr. Dweck goes through her research, experience and case studies demonstrating the power of mindset and how it affects our entire lives. She calls these two mindsets "fixed" and "growth". Someone in the fixed mindset believes that they have no control over what happens, that they are who they are and that one shouldn't have to work hard if they are naturally gifted. This often leads to an unfulfilled life and a lot of let downs. On the other hand, those in a growth mindset believe that they can put in the time and effort to improve their skills and keep learning from failure. As you may have guessed, this mindset is more likely to lead us to fulfilling our potential, and she'll teach you how to embrace this mindset in the book.
2. Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett
This book really helps you to take a look at the important aspects of your life, learn how to do a self assessment of where you currently are, and then see where that compares to where you would like to be. They focus on 4 key areas of life; health, work, play, and love. What I enjoy about this book early on is that they are honest about the things in our lives we can change, the things we need to accept, and the things we need to accept for now because we haven't been willing to change them. This concept is one I am noticing the importance of more and more, the stress we put on ourselves over things we don't have control over, what they call "gravity problems", and over the things we don't care enough about to actually change can be overwhelming, and therefore taking away energy from the things we can actually do something about.
So, if you want to build a life with intention, this is a great place to start.
3. Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo.
I could not overlook the timing of the release of this book and the recent changes in my life. Marie Forleo is an inspirational female leader in life, business and empowering tv host. She takes everything she's learned from building a life she loves and interviewing many of the top experts in, well, almost everything, and compiles them into this book based on a concept her mother taught her at a young age, "everything is figureoutable".
This has been a concept my parents too taught me, whether they knew it or not, and one that resonates with me greatly.
What is wonderful about this book like the other's I have listed is that it takes these concepts and gives you actionable steps you can start right away to begin making changes in your life now that can be applied to any and all areas of your life where you have some figuring out to do.
4. Maybe It's You by Lauren Handel Zander
Last but not least, Maybe It's You. Lauren Zander is a life coach extraordinaire who teaches her methods to universities such as Stanford and MIT as well as coaching some of the top CEOs and corporations. This book will make you take a deep honest look at not just 4 areas of your life, but 12.
This book is one of the most honest and confronting books on this list, making it that much more powerful but also one of the more difficult to swallow, so take your time.
She lays it all out on the table; the past, the present and the future. What I really loved? She even looks at your genetics and the things we've inherited from our parents or environment growing up, such as the way we handle stress (or avoid handling it).
It will be an eye-opening book but very rewarding!
Though I must forewarn you, she is very blunt so if you are one to "offend yourself" with swear words and the like, then this may not be the book for you.
And there you have it, my secret weapons of massive life shifting. There are tons of great books out there but I feel as though no matter where you are at in life, you can pick up one of these books and find some great tools to help you along the way. I will be sure to do follow up posts as I come along others, and feel free to send me an email of one's you have found helpful as well!
In Health,
Kierstin DeWitt, ND, RA