Self help books have become the solution to all our problems. Some people call themselves a Self Help Addict [SHA]. I’m one of those people.
But what happens when someone takes the advice in these books and things get worse instead of getting better? That’s what happened to me. When I decided to fix my life through applying the teachings of the most popular gurus, things went horribly wrong.
The journey through the landscape of self help books is the theme of my book. I thought I would share with you the eight books that shaped my life over the past two years.
 |
 |
| Life in the “Before” is dieting and exercise | Intuitive eating is the path to self love |
 |
 |
| Without dieting I search for more | Sexual awakening gets me into trouble |
 |
 |
| In love and living from the heart | Suicide crushes all my spiritual beliefs |
 |
 |
| Healing of the body, mind and spirit | Life in the “After” is worth all the pain |
If you can’t see the table or it is all messed up in your reader click through to see the books and commentary.
Of course, although my life did go horribly wrong, it ended up being perfect. When you start to uncover the layers of what you think is a good life, the ground beneath you starts to shift and swirl. What began as eating disorder recovery brought with it sex, death, love and transformation.
What did I learn from this journey and from these books? That self improvement philosophies can help you grow and discover things about yourself but you don’t need to be fixed, that it’s OK to change your mind and move on to something else, and the answers are always inside you, you just need to be quiet enough to hear them whispering to you.
What are your favourite self help books? Has one booked changed your life? What haven’t I read that I really should?
Like you I’m an addict 😉 I’ve read more books in the past two years than I have in my entire life. So many books have changed my life, or at least the way I look at life. I’ve grown through reading all of Geneen Roth’s, Marianne Williamson’s, and Deepak Chopra’s books. Some other favourites are “A New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle, “The Secret Language of Feelings” by Calvin Banyon, “Men, Money & Chocolate” and “Happier Than She’s Ever Been” by Menna Van Praag, and most recently “Ancient Wisdom for Modern Health” by mark Bunn. I think it was you that started me off with Neale Donald Walsch also :).
Reading books is great … I’d forgotten about NDW!
I’m listening to the audio book The Secrets of the Power of Intention. It’s Wayne Dyer’s commentary of the book. I struggled to get into it at first but stuck with it and it’s now making sense to me.
I’ve watch Wayne Dyers movie “The Shift” and I loved it.
The best thing about books is that you use your imaginations and not someone else’s.
50 people can read the same book and come up with 50 different scenarios.
You just have to love books and the amazingly talented writers.
Jan Peter Prokes
That’s a really great thought about how we bring our own interpretation to what we read.
… and Welcome!
About 9 months ago I decided that I would never buy another “diet” book or magazine.
When I split up from my husband I vowed that I would never buy a self-help book. It has been a few months since then.
I am doing well.
In the end, our wisdom comes from inside us but I like to hear what other thought leaders are doing too.
Congratulations on being ‘clean’ 🙂
I like some good fiction – either a light Marian Keyes or a Louis de Bernieres novel.
Reading has always been important to me. I don’t understand what it’s like to never read a book … I always have something on the go.
I love my self help books too! ‘How to be an Adult’ by David Richo is my absolute favourite. It’s a small book and it’s packed with wisdom. I’ve read it over and over again and everytime I read it I get a new insight.
I also liked Wayne Dyers “Your Sacred Self” – tapping into your higher self. I read and really enjoyed Marianne Williamsons ‘Return to Love’.
This is a great post, i’ve been inspired to read a few new ones. x
“How to be an Adult” sounds interesting. I will look out for it.
Definitely a self help addict too! Recently read and loved “the gift of imperfection” by Brene Brown. Have noted some of the suggestions here x