It wasn’t until I made the decision to be true to myself that I was able to find true contentment and self-love. Here are 10 Books That Empower You To Be True To Yourself.
I spent the majority of my life feeling inadequate and not good enough. That feeling took a huge toll on my well-being and on my intimate relationships.
Since childhood, I’ve been yearning for an unconditional love outside of myself. I never felt that my father wanted me and I’m sure that had a huge impact on that feeling of inadequacy.
Even into my adult life, I’ve second-guessed my ability as a mother, as a wife, as a daughter, a friend and a sister. I’ve apologized for being myself for as long as I can remember.
As a result, I lost myself in addiction and hid my actions from those closest to me.
Finally, over the last few years, I’ve learned how fricking amazing I actually am. I’m resilient, intelligent, loving and kind. I’m beautiful, quirky, creative and ambitious. I’m funny, optimistic and generous. Yep, despite my checkered past, I’m pretty darn amazing.
Through these revelations about myself, I’ve even found my calling, which allows me to help others find a new way of life.
The books on this list have helped me on my journey, and I’m confident that they can help you, too.
10 Books That Will Empower You To Be True To Yourself
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1. IWAWO: Discovering and Loving Your Life Journey – Kevin R. Foley
IWAWO, which stands for It Will All Work Out, is written by Kevin R. Foley. Kevin happens to be the counselor that put me on a new path in life, and his book can help do the same for you.
In IWAWO, Kevin talks about how to be true to yourself and reminds you that It Will All Work Out, because it really always does, doesn’t it?
He is the one person who listened when I spoke about what I love to do, and encouraged me to start my business. He helped me see my own value, and forced me (gently) to face my demons.
Kevin takes you on a journey, and shares how his struggles were just part of his journey. Definitely an inspiring take on life, that will leave you feeling better about yourself and your path in life.
2. 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People – Stephen R. Covey
In 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, you’ll learn how to put your ideas into action.
If you live your life with the “Someday” mentality, guess what ends up happening? Time flies by, and you’re left wondering what could have been.
The 7 Habits you’ll learn about in this book will help you prioritize your goals, and help you start achieving them now – instead of “someday”.
Buy 7 Habits of Highly Effective People now on Amazon.
3. You Can Heal Your Life – Louise Hay
What we believe about ourselves affects our happiness and You Can Heal Your Life by Louse Hay explores this concept even further.
If we can shift our views about ourselves and learn to love who we are, we can live a happy, fulfilling life.
Hay discusses that we are exactly who we believe we are. She also believes that we can heal from anything and even dives into her own experience with cancer, which was healed as a result of her own mental work.
I don’t believe that all mental illness can be cured with changing your mindset, but this is an excellent book for learning how to retrain your thinking and bring the power of positivity to your life.
Buy You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay now on Amazon.
4. Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy – David D. Burns
It’s time to break the cycle of self-doubt and shame, and Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David D. Burns is going to help.
Too often, I am my own worst enemy. I ridicule my appearance, my behaviors and even my own thoughts. My depression and anxiety exacerbate this negative self-talk and before you know it, I’m curled up under the blankets for days.
This book does exactly what it claims, and David D. Burns gives lessons that will turn your thinking around.
Learn to love yourself and shut down those self-destructive behaviors and thoughts.
Buy Feeling Good: The New Mood Thrapy now on Amazon.
5. Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes Into Stepping Stones for Success – John C. Maxwell
Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes Into Stepping Stones For Success by John C. Maxwell is an excellent tool for learning how to accept your failures and move forward.
Think about it, when you’ve messed up in life, don’t you usually learn a valuable lesson? Too many times I’ve allowed myself to be burdened with guilt and shame over my mistakes. Those feelings only held me back from reaching my full potential.
If you’re ready to learn how to move forward and change your mindset about the mistakes you’ve made in life, this book will help you do it.
Buy Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes Into Stepping Stones For Success now on Amazon.
6. Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation In Every Day Life – Jon Kabat-Zinn
If you’re looking for a book to learn about mindfulness and meditation, Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation In Every Day Life by Jon Kabat-Zinn is for you.
In addiction recovery, it’s important to find new coping skills for dealing with stress, grief, anger and other overwhelming emotions. Meditation is one of the best tools for getting in touch with one’s self, and gaining balance in recovery.
Of course meditation and mindfulness is helpful for everyone, not just recovering addicts. In this book Kabat-Zinn will guide you through practicing meditation for the first time, and help you understand the benefits.
Buy Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation In Every Day Life now on Amazon.
7. The Power Of Now: A Guide To Spiritual Enlightenment – Eckhart Tolle
Understanding how to “live in the now” isn’t always as simple as it seems. The Power of Now: A Guide To Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle will help you understand how to actually appreciate the now.
Our feelings and emotions often overshadow the events that cause them. Too often, we’re not able to focus on all of the wonderful things happening in our lives in the moment.
Tolle explains things in an easy-to-understand manner, that will have you looking at your world from a new perspective, even early on in this book.
Another lesson in mindfulness to help you appreciate life on another level.
Buy The Power Of Now: A Guide To Spiritual Enlightenment now on Amazon.
8. Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It – Kamal Ravikant
As I continue with my own recovery, it becomes more and more clear to me that by loving myself completely for who I really am, self-destructive behaviors no longer make sense.
In Love Yourself Life Your Life Depends On It by Kamal Ravikant, he tells his story of transformation. Learning to love yourself takes practice, and he shares the steps he took to get to that ultimate self-love.
Whether you’re in recovery or not, this book will transform your thinking about yourself and the world around you.
Buy Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It now on Amazon for less than $5.
9. A New Earth: Awakening To Your Life’s Purpose – Eckhart Tolle
Yes, another Eckhart Tolle book, but it’s earned a spot on this list. In A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose, Tolle takes the ideas expressed in his first book to the next level.
Tolle will help you understand that you actually have real purpose in this world. The way that you live can make an impact on the lives of others and help others’ reach a higher consciousness, as well.
If you’re exploring your spirituality or struggling to find purpose, this book is for you.
Buy A New Earth: Awakening To Your Life’s Purpose now on Amazon.
10. The 5 Love Languages: The Secret To Love That Lasts – Gary Chapman
Learning to communicate with the people you love can make a huge impact on the level of intimacy you achieve.
The 5 Love Languages will help you learn to appreciate that not everyone communicates feelings in the same way.
Chapman believes that there are 5 universal languages to express love, including Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Gift Giving, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch.
By understanding the different love languages, you’ll feel more connected to the people you treasure most.
Buy The 5 Love Languages: The Secret To Love That Lasts now on Amazon.
Conclusion
These are 10 of the books that have helped me learn how to be true to my inner self. I hope that you will give one of them a try, and that you’ll experience a transformation of your own.
Your Turn
Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you learn from them? Do you plan to ready any of them? Please leave your answers as a comment below, and let’s invoke a discussion.
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