Becoming me!
Inspiring Books that have helped me improve my mindset.
The first book I read which started me on this path of working on my mindset was Becoming by Michelle Obama. It set the seed of the idea that there was the opportunity for me to grow. I always assumed we were who we were and that was it. I really loved the idea that I could become something else even at the age of 51.
The next book I read was Mindset: Changing the way you think to fulfil your potential by Dr Carol Dweck. This really built on the idea of becoming as she talks about a growth mindset and a fixed mindset. I have to be honest I only read the first few chapters but I had this massive ah ha moment. I realised I was subconsciously thinking I was stupid as my business wasn't as successful as I wanted it to be. I hadn't even understood that this was what I thought of myself! I will go back an read more of this book soon. I just get distracted by reading other amazing books!
Who Move my Cheese by Dr Spencer Johnson. A great parable about having a growth mindset and adapting and being open to change.
Next it was Daring Greatly by Brene Brown. Actually I listened to her TED Talks before I read the book because I love the way she speaks. Her anecdotes makes her message so relatable. She taught me so much about shame and vulnerability. I learnt that I was carrying all this shame around with me and at first I was horrified but then I realised most of it wasn't mine. This shame had been given to me by others, and I had taken it. Gosh, that was a relief to start getting rid of those layer. It was encouraging to learn that vulnerability was a strong powerful way to be and would help me in my quest to connect with my true inner self.
Untammed by Glennon Doyle has taught me that I equated failure with being rejected and so not loved. This was a massive ah ha moment for me. I was putting so much pressure on myself not to fail because of this. I'm still working on not feeling like this. I'm working on not holding on to everything so tightly I strangle it and there is no room to breathe. This where where my affirmations really help. "It is safe for me to let go". Then I realised I can make my own rules. This might be really obvious to some people, but not me. I was always the good girl and followed everyone else rules. So it's taken me a long time to understand that these rules don't really serve me any more. If I start thinking "I should," then I know that it's probably not right for me any more.
The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield. This is really interesting in the way it talks about our energy levels and how we interact with others. Our energy effects other people. Do you want to be positive and open to change with a vibrant attractive energy or fearful, scared and with negative energy.
I hope you find this useful and interesting. Other great books I have read are below. They are very good but just didn't have those massive ah ha moment in them for me. I'd love to know any good books you have read and recommend.
Big Magic: How to Live a Creative Life and Let Go of Your Fearby Elizabeth Gilbert
The Miracle Morning: The 6 Habits That Will Transform Your Life Before 8am