Reading has always been a great way for me to relax and clear my mind. I used to read more often before my kids were born (something tells me that’s normal 😉). When they were very small, I was lucky if I finished a book in six months (or finished it at all)! Now that they are getting a little older, I have found my love for reading again and have actually flown through a few books in a short amount of time.
I have always been interested in self-help and inspirational books. Now that I am a single mom that juggles a LOT on a daily basis, I am finding these types of books to be even more helpful in my life. Sometimes we all can use a little encouragement, right?!
Each and every one of these books is AMAZING and has helped me in many different ways. Some are great books to control my anxiety. Some have helped give me a boost in self-confidence when I need it (I really CAN rock this Mom thing!) They are inspirational, uplifting and just what you may need to read after a long, tiring day.
I know if these books have had such a positive impact on my life, they can help so many other people, too!
All of these books can be found on Amazon for VERY reasonable prices. Just click on the book title or picture of the book and it will direct you right to the site to order (I’ve made it super easy for you 😉
In no particular order of importance, here we go:
Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis
All I can say is this. Girl, you need to RUN to your computer and order this book!! EVERY woman needs to read this book. Every woman owes it to herself to read this book. It has honestly changed the way I look at and deal with so many things in my life.
In each chapter, Rachel talks about a lie she used to believe and what happened in her life to change her view and no longer believe that specific lie. She is blunt, honest and REAL. You may not be able to personally relate to every chapter, but I guarantee you will be driven and motivated to change your life and chase your dreams after reading this book. Stop making excuses and start living a life you LOVE. Girl, Wash Your Face!!!
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
If you have never picked up and read a book by Brene Brown, I have absolutely NO idea what you’re waiting for! Brene is a writer and research professor at the University of Houston and has spent the last 20 years researching such topics as courage, vulnerability, shame and empathy.
The Gifts of Imperfection teaches you to stop worrying ‘what other people think’ and instead embrace who you are and take an ‘I am enough’ approach. She goes into topics such as letting go of perfectionism, comparison, anxiety and the urge to be in control.
Brene’s approach to writing makes it feel like you are sitting and having a conversation with your best friend. She is compassionate, gives great advice and touches upon struggles that we ALL face in life.
We all fail at things, right? We all have those times in our lives that we try AND try AND try at something and……fail. We usually attempt to disown or not talk about our difficult stories for fear of not being accepted by other people.
In Rising Strong, Brene writes about how we must recognize and embrace the falls in our life because that is our only path to becoming a truly wholehearted person. We ALL fall. Falling is a part of everyone’s story. This is a book about what it takes to get back up again.
Okay if you haven’t already figured it out, I love Brene’s books! 😉
I think we can all agree that being vulnerable is scary, uncomfortable and can cause us to get hurt or feel pain. In many situations, putting ourselves out there is very risky thing to do!
Brene writes about how being vulnerable is not a sign of weakness, but in fact a measure of our courage. There is nothing worse than standing on the outside, looking in and having regrets or wondering what could have happened if we would have just had the courage to be our true self.
Make that move….date that person…..take that new job….. Life is too short to live with regrets.
This book is powerful and encouraging. If you are going to succeed at anything in life, you must have the courage to open up and let yourself be seen.
52 Lists for Happiness by Moorea Seal
One of my girlfriends told me about this weekly journaling book and I decided to order it for myself. Journaling is fantastic for anxiety. It is a great way to write your thoughts down, express how you are feeling and ultimately learn more about yourself in the process. No one has to read what you write; let it all out!!
52 Lists for Happiness offers a new idea every week of a list to create for yourself that will help lead you to a more joyful, positive and balanced life.
We all deserve happiness and joy in our lives. Give this book a try to discover what leads to YOUR happiness!!
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
How many times have you ever found yourself constantly thinking ahead to what might happen next in your life? A great deal of anxiety is caused from worrying about the future. But the truth is…..none of us really know what is going to happen in the future. So why do we spend so much time dwelling on it?!
This book focuses on how living in the now – the present moment – is the truest path to find happiness and enlightenment. Some of the concepts Eckhart Tolle discusses can be quite complicated, but he explains them in a way that is concrete and easy to understand.
I finished this book and felt like I had a better understanding of how my thoughts and emotions can sometimes get in the way of finding the path to genuine peace and happiness in my life.
What if it DOES work out? How a Side Hustle Can Change Your Life by Susie Moore
Tell me this….how many times have you ever been afraid to try something new? How many times have you ever doubted yourself, made excuses and thought, but what if it DOESN’T WORK OUT?! I’m certainly guilty of this. I know I had doubts before starting this blog.
If you have a hobby that you would like to turn into a business, this is the book for you. Susie Moore is a life coach and professional side-hustler. She guides you through every step of the way. Planning stages, potential obstacles, overcoming your fears, inspirational stories and so much more.
That’s not all. Not interested in creating a site hustle? You can still apply Susie’s steps to any part of your life. If you are doubting yourself or struggling with something in your life, instead of having negative thoughts, ask yourself…..What if it DOES work out?
Hardcore Self Help – F**k Anxiety by Robert Duff, PHD
I will start with a disclaimer – this book is not for everyone. If you are offended by swearing or mild adult references, you should not read it.
For those of us who are not bothered by this and enjoy a less traditional self-help book, it is a MUST read. I literally laughed out loud reading some parts of it. Robert uses a lot of humor and swearing to describe anxiety, but also packs the book with helpful and useful information. It is a book that I will read over and over again. Sometimes placing humor and some light over what is usually a dark topic can do wonderful things for the soul.
Tell me what books are on your list of favorites? Drop me a comment and let me know! I’m always looking for new recommendations 🙂
You should read, “unf*ck yourself” by Gary John Bishop! It’s not to long, and there are some great chuckles along the way….and if you listen to it on audible, you get to hear Gary read it himself, in his relaxing accent 😉
Thanks, Bethany! I have heard of that book. I’ll have to give it a read!
I am always looking for a great self help book to deal with my anxiety. I didn’t realize there was a connection between my anxiety and my self-confidence, but now that you mention it, I can’t believe I didn’t realize it!
I love Brene Brown, I think she’s an author EVERYONE needs to read. I listened to her audiobook last year, she reads it herself, and it was so powerful. I had to stop several times to sort my feelings out. That’s a great book, as I see it.
Girl Wash Your Face is also read by the author, Rachel Hollis. I loved her as well, and I felt so connected to her while I was reading her book.
Lovely list!
Hi, Beth Ann! Thank you for reading and I am very glad you found this list helpful! I definitely feel that self-confidence plays a role in our anxiety levels. The more confident we are in ourselves, the better we feel and the easier it is to drown out that negative voice that brings us down (and also causes anxiety in my case). Please share if you have any other books that would be good to add to this list 🙂 Thank you for your comments and happy reading!