As we head towards summer, we start thinking about time to read. We want to read some thrillers and some big, juicy beach novels. We want to read a couple of teacher books and get new ideas for next year. And we want to read something that will help us develop as a person, to help us lead better lives and become more of who we are meant to be.
Here is our round-up of thoughtful, helpful, motivational and inspiring books that will help you stretch yourself and grow as a person. Who doesn’t want to be stronger, more confident, more centered person? If you are or want to be a high achiever in life, these books can help set you on a positive path forward.
Playing Big: Find Your Voice, Your Mission, Your Message by Tara Mohr
This book is a great guide for women, who often hide their brilliance behind self-doubt, perfectionism, fear, and other habits that hold them back. Mohr empowers women to use their inner wisdom and be confident in their knowledge and experience. If you want to live a larger, more confident life and move forward with your aspirations, this book will be your mentor. Mohr will encourage you to own your brilliance and let your life shine.
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
If you are caught in the trap of working harder and harder, trying to get everything done and craving balance in your world, and what teacher isn’t, this book will speak to you. McKeown makes a case for getting off the hamster wheel and filtering life’s options to select only the best. Once you give yourself permission to stop trying to do it all, and choose only the best and most important things, you can make your highest contribution towards things that really matter. McKeon reminds us that if we don’t prioritize our lives someone else will. Changing our frame of reference towards only the essential will guide us to a life of impact and fulfillment.
High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard
Burchard studied how extraordinary people get that way. He discovered a series of habits and activities that will help you live with purpose, increase your sense of joy and confidence and improve your well-being. The teaching life is incredibly busy, and this book can give you some tools and habits to stop being overwhelmed and work with more clarity and intention so that you can accomplish all the things you need to do.
The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery by Ian Cron and Suzanne Stabile
If you have not yet discovered the Enneagram, this book is eye-opening. The Enneagram is a tool that identifies people as one of nine types based on how we are innately wired. The Enneagram will help you understand yourself, and understand others- including your family and your students! You will start to understand how people see the world and why they do the things they do. Warning, this is fascinating and you might just start going down the rabbit hole to learn more!
Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation by Parker J. Palmer
Parker Palmer is an exceptional teacher and among the wisest people on the planet. This is not a loud or flashy book filled with actionable to-do items for how to lead a better life. Instead, it is a quiet, reflective conversation as Palmer shares his own stories as examples of how examining your life can to lead you to follow your natural talents and limitations. If you are willing to do some soul-searching, Palmer can guide you to find meaning and understand your own life.
Coach Yourself to Success, Revised and Updated Edition: 101 Tips from a Personal Coach for Reaching Your Goals at Work and in Life by Talane Miedaner
If you have always wanted to have a personal life coach, but couldn’t afford to spend the money, here is your answer. Miedaner offers many suggestions for ways to close the gap from where you are to where you want to be. Some suggestions are common sense (Stop Shuffling and Start Organizing, Pay Off Your Debts) but others are less obvious and more empowering (Design Your Ideal Life, Raise Your Standards). If you are just starting down the path to self-improvement, this is a good choice.
The Best Year of Your Life by Debbie Ford
Imagine yourself a year from now, feeling that you are on top of your game. What would that look like? What qualities would you need to develop in order to achieve this vision? Ford focuses on behaviors, habits and choices that help you to become the person you hope to be. Ford asks, ” At the end of the day our life is in our hands. What will you do with yours?”
Living Your Best Life by Laura Berman Fortgang
This is an older book, but it is still wise and relevant today. Berman helps you discover what you really want in life and then offers practical, exercises, check-lists, and concrete actions to help you give yourself what you want. Fortgang operates from the premise that deep down, you already know what needs to change in your life, this book helps you to do the work.
We hope you find this list useful and helpful in inspiring you to read at least one personal development book this year. What other books have you found to be helpful as you create your ideal life? We would love to hear about them in the comments.
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