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From time to time, many of us need an extra touch of motivation and inspiration in our lives. If you’re feeling stuck, now just might be the right time to pick up a book filled with tips and ideas that encourage you to make positive changes in your life.
Though broadly categorized as self-help books, the following titles also often highlight the triumphs and travails of others, providing insights regarding the personal and professional experiences of successful individuals.
Are you looking to transform your habits and outlook on life? If so, add one of these thought-provoking titles to your “must-read” list!
Man's Search for Meaning - Viktor Frankl
Originally published in 1946, Viktor Frankl’s reflections on his time spent in Nazi concentration camps during World War II remains a powerful and moving look at human psychology even today.
Frankl highlights the various psychological responses prisoners displayed both during their imprisonment and upon release. Despite the torture and torment endured by the prisoners, Frankl ultimately concludes that, with a positive attitude and continual hope, we can all ultimately overcome disillusionment, pain, and suffering. If you’re looking for a sobering, serious source of inspiration, Man’s Search for Meaning is a book you need to read.
How Not to Die - Michael Greger, M.D.
Are you looking to improve your health and increase your chances of living a longer life? Following the simple, practical tips offered in How Not to Die will help you do just that! Written by internationally-acclaimed physician and lecturer Dr. Michael Greger, this book delves into the top fifteen causes of death in the United States. These illnesses and diseases, ranging from heart disease to diabetes to high blood pressure, are chronic ailments throughout much of the developed world. Greger argues, however, that few of us need to die from such diseases. By making specific changes to our diets and lifestyles, we can heal our bodies and transform our health, often preventing the need for surgery, pills, and other pharmaceutical remedies.
Did you know that adding flaxseed to your diet might reduce your risk of developing prostate cancer? Have you heard that eating whole, plant-based foods can prevent and even reverse heart disease? These are just a few of the many brilliant insights offered by Greger in this health-transforming tome. Though none of us will live forever, you’re guaranteed to improve your well-being by following the advice given in How Not to Die.
Year of Yes - Shonda Rhimes
Many of us have heard Shonda Rhimes’ name before. The creator of such hit shows as Scandal and Grey’s Anatomy, Rhimes has had an extremely successful career in Hollywood. Despite this fact, Rhimes was living a life of introversion and fear, declining invitations to parties, speaking engagements, and interviews. After her sister told Rhimes, “You never say yes to anything,” Rhimes decided to make it her mission to say “yes” to everything for an entire year.
If you’re prone to anxiety or have simply found yourself making excuses not to engage with the world, Year of Yes is sure to persuade you to change your ways. Funny, fascinating, and profound, this autobiographical tale just might transform your entire approach to life. Start things off on the right foot by saying “yes” to Year of Yes.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing - Marie Kondō
Do you feel overwhelmed by the clutter piling up in your home? Do you have boxes sitting in your basement, collecting dust? Almost all of us have unneeded and unwanted items filling our living spaces. In her best-selling book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Japanese organizing consultant Marie Kondō explains her “ KonMari method” for decluttering and re-organizing the home.
Kondō’s tidying technique involves breaking items down into various categories and subcategories. Individuals should discard all items except those which genuinely “spark joy” for the individual. Following the KonMari method should ultimately result in a home that will stay simple and decluttered forever more.
Though outlines of Kondō’s techniques can be found online, this is the book that started it all. Kondō’s voice shines through in her thoughtful, reflective explanation of the tidying process. What do the things we keep say about us? What does our refusal to let go of our possessions really mean? To get to the bottom of these questions, pick up a copy of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.
You Can Heal Your Life - Louise Hay
First published in 1984, Louise Hay’s You Can Heal Your Life remains one of the books most associated with the self-help movement. In this pioneering work, Hay highlights the powerful ways in which our thoughts and beliefs about ourselves and the world around us shape our lives. A lack of self-love and negative self-talk ultimately lead to suffering and even diseases within the body. With the right mental work, however, we can transform our health and our lives.
This classic self-help title is effective because of it’s practical approach to healing. Hay’s book details the spoken affirmations and exercises one should practice in order to overcome negative thought patterns and behaviors. Focusing on positive phrasing, for instance, and affirming our health and success works far better than repeating the things that we don’t want. Rather than thinking, “I don’t want to be poor,” for instance, one should strive to think, “I’m financially stable and becoming more economically secure all the time.”
If some of Louise Hay’s ideas sound familiar to you, it’s likely because her works have inspired hundreds of self-help gurus in the decades since her book’s publication. Working through the techniques offered in Hay’s original book, however, remains one of the best techniques for transforming one’s life. For greater happiness and health, read and follow the advice offered by Louise Hay in You Can Heal Your Life.
In Conclusion
If you’re feeling stuck in a rut, reading a good self-help book can sometimes be just what you need to get motivated to make positive changes in your life. Though these titles are some of the best, there are many other inspirational books filled with statistics, studies, anecdotes, and personal reflections that might speak to you on a more personal level. Take a look at other popular self-help titles on websites like Goodreads to discover works that address the specific issues that you’re facing. By reading a good self-help book, and applying the lessons you’ve learned to your own experiences, you can radically transform your life.
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Editor, 06/13/2019
