Mindfulness and self-actualization are daily practices. Throughout my life, I have been educated and inspired through the words and ideas of others. When I was going through my divorce and on into my "rebuilding" phase, I was in unchartered territory, so I turned to the experiences and expertise of others who followed a path of growth, discovery and spirituality. I've created a list of books that helped me through my journey of getting to know myself again, to develop a deeper understanding of my life experiences, and to inspire me to face my fears.
Here is a small list of my favorites:
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown (ok, ANYTHING by Brene Brown, actually)
Untamed by Glennon Doyle
Without This Ring: A Woman’s Guide to Successfully Living Through and Beyond Midlife Divorce by Abby Rodman
When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron
Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
Crazy Time by Abigail Trafford
Tribe by Sebastian Junger
The Untethered Soul by Michael A. SInger
Atomic Habits by James Clear
The Body is Not An Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
The Power of Vulnerability by Brene Brown (yes, Brene Brown again)
Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto by Trisha Hersey
Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be by Dr. Becky Kennedy
The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks
Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself by Joe Dispenza
Attached by Amir Levine & Rachel Heller
Breaking Free: A Step-By-Step Divorce Guide for Acheiving Emotional, Physical and Spiritual Freedom by Rebecca Zung, Esq
Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow by Elizabeth Lesser
BIFF for Coparent Communication: Your Guilde to Difficult Coparent Texts, Emails and Social Media Posts by Bill Eddy, Annette T. Burns and Kevin Chafin
The Optimist's Guide to Divorce: How to Get Through Your Breakup and Create a New Life You Love by Suzanne Riss & Jill Sockwell
Uncharted: A Journey from the End to a New Beginning by Thom Slade and M.T. Lisle
Wherever You Go There You Are by John Kabat-Zinn
The Seven Levels of Intimacy: The Art of Loving and the Joy of Being Loved by Matthew Kelly
Don't have time to pick up a book? I completely understand...I have an 8 and 10 year old, and work full time! At the end of the day I'm ready to fall into bed and sleep. I don't know about you, but I spend a LOT of time in my car. So I download the audiobook versions and play them on my way to and from work, on my way to pick up my kids, when I'm waiting at the doctor's office for an appointment, etc.
I have been blown away with how this small change has improved my life. I encourage you to give it a try, and add other books to your list! Feel free to share other titles that have helped you. Happy reading!
