After taking the first major step in a life-long search for myself, ending my 11-year relationship, I was left with many questions. At that time, I felt lost and confused. Having already gone through extensive coaching and therapy, I decided that this time, I would coach myself using the power of books. These are the five books that truly changed my life.
1. You Can Heal Your Life – Louise Hay
The Book: Louise’s key message in this powerful book is:
“If we are willing to do the mental work, almost anything can be healed.”
She explains how limiting beliefs and ideas are often the cause of illness, and how you can change your thinking and improve the quality of your life.
My Experience: I was skeptical at first, but when I checked the list of symptoms and the connecting beliefs, I was sold. It was so accurate! I started reading this book and it felt so easy, practical, and true. I started working with it immediately, and to this day, I still use several of her exercises. It is a beautiful alternation of explanations, exercises, and inspiring texts with affirmations.
Key Takeaway: With over 50 million copies sold, there is a reason for its success. If you want to change or improve something in your life, I strongly recommend this book. It is applicable to your physical and mental health, relationships, money, work, actually, your whole life.
2. Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents – Lindsay C. Gibson
The Book: This book can be relevant for you if you recall your childhood as a time when your emotional needs were not met, when your feelings were dismissed, or when you took on adult levels of responsibility. This book explains the wounds, the dynamics, and how you can move forward.
My Experience: Finally, I understood what was missing in my childhood and how that impacted my adult life. Through this book, I finally felt seen and heard. Not by my parents, but much more importantly, by myself. To me, it felt like the author was standing by my side like a good therapist. She acknowledges the pain and helps you go through the difficult but necessary change from a helpless child to a self-aware adult.
Key Takeaway: The examples shared in the book are incredibly valuable. They made me feel less alone and provided concrete advice on how to act in specific situations.
3. Conversations with God – Neale Donald Walsch
Don’t let the word ‘God’ mislead you; this book is not based on religion.
The Book: This book shows that God is within everyone, advocating for personal empowerment and self-love. During the lowest point of his life, a man begins writing letters to God to vent his frustrations. Unexpectedly, he receives answers written by his own hand! It focuses on the concept that we create our own reality and should prioritize self-actualization over traditional obligations.
My Experience: This book gave me so much clarity, answers, and courage. It felt like a guide to self-love and the realization of our own responsibility and the possibilities in life. There are three parts. I have read part one three times now. Even though it is easy to read, it is a lot to take in. I reread it several times to absorb everything. After the first read, it’s also nice to open the book every now and then for a quick reminder.
Key Takeaway: Imagine a book that answers all your life questions in a question-and-answer format, easy to read, and filled with humor. That is this book!
4. Outwitting the Devil – Napoleon Hill
The Book: Napoleon Hill wrote this book in 1938, but it wasn’t published because it was considered too controversial by his family. ‘The devil’ refers to negativity. This book is also written in a question-and-answer form, which makes it very readable. It is explained in words everyone understands, and despite the theme, humor is used here as well.
My Experience: It makes it incredibly clear how easily we let our lives be led by fear. It invites you to reflect on your own life and how to make decisions not based on fear. This book also clarifies how certain systems, such as schools, religions, and financial institutions, try to keep humans under control through fear.
Key Takeaway: I totally understand why the book remained unpublished for so long; it truly makes you wake up.
5. Addicted to Love – Jan Geurtz
The Book: Jan Geurtz demonstrates how our search for love and approval comes from fundamental self-rejection. We seek other people’s appreciation to compensate, but this is counterproductive: it makes us more insecure and dependent. This creates an addiction to love. As a result, many relationships eventually fail or become an unhealthy co-dependency.
My Experience: The standard picture society gives us of relationships is often very misleading. I wish I had known this before entering into a serious relationship. I didn’t understand anything about attachment styles or how my childhood would impact my adult relationships. This book was a huge eye-opener for me. It finally taught me how to stop looking for external validation and find it within myself.
Key Takeaway: True love starts with ending the search for external validation. Everyone, whether single or in a relationship, should really read this book!
If you haven’t read one of these books yet and you want to grow or understand yourself and life better, I recommend them from the bottom of my heart. And if you have already read them, pick them up again every once in a while. They are wonderful reminders for a life full of possibilities.
Which book has completely changed your perspective on life? I would love to hear your recommendations!