Whether you’re a strong believer in the power of self-help or respond well to motivational storytelling, settling in with inspirational books is always time well spent. Many people add to their wellness inspiration by learning about others’ triumphs over adversity or mind-expanding perspectives, especially when they need a little extra boost of spirit. So, we’re highlighting a few possibilities that may resonate with you.
Mirror Work by Louise Hay
Thought to be the one of the most effective proponents of the New Thought self-help movement, Hay captivated the world with her 1984 release, You Can Heal Your Life. Progressing from a childhood filled with poverty and abuse, cancer survivor Hay created a vast inspirational empire based on affirmations and positivity.
Before her death in 2017, Hay released Mirror Work: 21 Days to Heal Your Life. It features daily exercises and teachings centered on improved confidence, nurturing self-care, undoing change resistance, and expanding love and compassion for ourselves and each other.
When initially released, Hay explained the point of the book: “The mirror reflects back to you the feelings you have about yourself. It makes you immediately aware of where you are resisting and where you are open and flowing. It clearly shows you what thoughts you will need to change if you want to have a joyous, fulfilling life.”
Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
The Heath brothers, professors and entrepreneurs, collected research in psychology, sociology, and other fields to understand how we can bring about effective change—in ourselves, in business, and in the world. Their experts revealed that we have two separate systems in our brains—a rational system and an emotional system. “The rational system is a thoughtful, logical planner,” the book notes. “The emotional system is, well, emotional—and impulsive and instinctual.”
This book, one of six written by the pair, poses the question that in situations where change is hard, is it possible to align the two systems? Only by considering three distinct factors: your analytical brain (“The Elephant”), your emotional brain (“The Rider” of the Elephant), and the Path, which are external factors.
One of the surprising “ah-ha” moments from Switch that might apply to recovery is this: “When you hear people say that change is hard because people are lazy or resistant, that’s just flat wrong. In fact, the opposite is true: change is hard because people wear themselves out. And that’s the second surprise about change: what looks like laziness is often exhaustion.”
Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown
From her TEDx Talk in 2010 about the power of vulnerability (now with more than 60 million views!) to her current multimedia connections, Brown doesn’t hesitate to go where few researchers have gone before. Now more than 25 years sober, Brown shines a spotlight on some of our most tender emotions—shame, guilt, vulnerability, striving for perfection, and courage—and shares strategies for accepting these feelings and using them to be better humans.
In Daring Greatly, one of her earlier works, Brown demonstrates the important balance between vulnerability and courage. “Without question, putting ourselves out there means there’s a far greater risk of getting criticized or feeling hurt,” she writes. “But when we step back and examine our lives, we will find that nothing is as uncomfortable, dangerous, or hurtful as standing on the outside looking in and wondering what it would be like if we had the courage to step into the arena.”
The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod
A devastating car accident left him dead at the scene until revived by emergency personnel six minutes later. Later awakened from a coma, Elrod received the news that he’d likely never walk again—but he did. Then he suffered economic ruin, lost his home, and became severely depressed. Add contracting a rare form of cancer with a 30 percent survival rate—and doing just that—makes you wonder if Elrod himself is a miracle.
What he decided to do to turn his life around in the midst of chaos is create a practice called The Miracle Morning. It’s a commitment to a routine of six things he calls the S.A.V.E.R.S.: silence, affirmation, visualization, exercise, reading, and scribing. You can even download an app to get started right now.
One quote from the book truly resonates: “The moment you accept total responsibility for everything in your life is the moment you claim the power to change anything in your life.”
Great Oaks: Providing the Tools You Need to Succeed
When you’re embarking on a journey of recovery, you need comprehensive and holistic therapeutic techniques that prompt an evolution into the best version of yourself. Great Oaks is a fully accredited rehabilitation center near Houston featuring a structured but welcoming environment and guidance from people committed to your success. Call our admissions team anytime to learn how we can help you or a loved one set a course for lifelong wellness.
