the one about the books that changed my life.

title is pretty self-explanatory.. ;) enjoy

(photo courtesy of pinterest)

This article stems from a conversation I had with my personal trainer, Jerry, about books that impacted our life and he suggested I pen these ideas down. So, join me for a quick overview of the books I’ll always keep on my bookshelf, buy for others as gifts, and constantly recommend. While I have a long list of overall favorites, these are the books that fundamentally changed my way of thinking in a way that has benefited my life. Enjoy ❤😘

I. The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho

This story found me at a time I NEEDED to hear it. It was post-divorce and I realized I didn’t really know myself. I was saying YES to everything – trying a bunch of new things, reading new material, learning new subjects, being uncomfortable, etc., all to find what I actually liked in this world. I needed to understand myself better and here comes this beautiful story basically reinforcing that exact sentiment. It’s funny as well because almost everyone I’ve talked to that’s read this book has said that it has found them when they needed to hear it. In case you need more convincing, Kobe said this was his favorite book/book that impacted his life the most.

In short, it’s a story of a boy finding out that the goal of his life is to find and connect with his destiny. The idea that individuals should pursue their dreams and the importance of understanding and discovering oneself are the driving themes of this fiction novel. The book leaves the reader asking what their “personal legend” is and invites you to re-think how you may be approaching life. For me, it was incredibly validating of the place I was in life and what I was finding important. The quote that graces the back of the book summarizes this book well: “To realize one’s destiny is a person’s only obligation”. Beautiful.

II. The Daily Stoic – Ryan Holiday

I absolutely love this book and recommend this book to anyone who wants to think about life more like the Stoic philosophers did. By definition, Stoicism is the endurance of pain or hardship without the display of feelings and without complaint. I love the “endurance of hardship without compliant” way of thinking mainly because it’s a perspective that allows you to build resilience and arms you with a positive growth minded mindset in which to interact with life. More simply, it’s a bunch of great reminders of how to be a good person, not sweat the small stuff, be yourself, and hold yourself to a high standard. I look at this book like a devotional – you can open up to any page for a passage and relevant message and in my experience, it is most impactful when read/practiced daily or on a regular cadence. Each passage is no longer than one page and provides the reader with a new perspective, a validation of perspective, an invitation for reflection, etc. The way this book is structured makes it one of my favorites too- it isn’t a front-to-back read. There are different themes for each month and each passage is tied to a date so there is no chronological story you have to build upon. For me, this takes away the pressure to read every page because the pages don’t build upon each other. There’s something guilt-less about that kind of setup where you can just leave off where you need to, pick it back up when you’re called to, and not have to worry about remembering a storyline.

III. Atomic Habits – James Clear

I feel like so many people say this is one of their favorite books which makes me not want to say that it is one of mine, but I cannot honestly say that because it is one of the best fucking books I’ve ever encountered. The way James Clear combines his experience with years of study and research on habits is BRILLIANT. He also communicates all of this content in a masterful way showcasing he really understands how people learn. He uses light humor to bring fun when appropriate and repeats important points multiple times throughout the book including in a succinct chapter summary at the end of every chapter. Main takeaway- everything is digestible and his approach helps make the content STICK. If you’re passionate about figuring out the way you operate best or are in need of a life overhaul – new systems, beliefs, etc- start with this book or add it to your list for that purpose. It is one I constantly come back to and always find a new takeaway each time I read it. James Clear also writes a beautifully inspiring e-mail newsletter that I’d highly recommend for a continuous slow drip of this content. It’s also super light, concise, and digestible in the way it’s structured; he shares 3 ideas, 2 quotes, and 1 question to spark reflection.

IV. Untamed – Glennon Doyle

I just read this and already know it’ll have a place on my personal favorites list for a really long time. I love this book for many reasons, but here are two: 1) it’s written as a collection of short essays so you don’t need historical knowledge of each chapter to understand the points. This made it a great read on my nightstand as the book I’d reach for when I wanted a few thoughtful, reflective stories before bed 2) Glennon’s writing is a JOY to experience. She is so honest, passionate, and generous in sharing her learnings. There’s always something to learn, a takeaway, an ‘aha’ moment, or a joke. I cried tears of both joy and sadness reading her stories and had so many moments that inspired deeper reflection.

V. Big Magic - Elizabeth Gilbert

Rounding out my list is a book made for those wanting to explore creativity. Whether you want to jumpstart your creative life, be more creative, or learn about what creativity is through the eyes of Liz – this book is for you. I felt super inspired after reading this and didn’t wanna put it down. You’ll tap into your own curiosity about creativity and what is currently working for you in life – the ultimate reflection, in my opinion- and be invited to think about creativity and simple acts like saying ‘yes’ and ‘no’ in new ways.