Books on exploring self and recovery.
Sometimes in life there are darker seasons.
These are some of the books and audiobooks that have been alongside me during more introspective and challenging times.
This book is ostensibly about depression, and takes a distinct and occasionally controversial view on its causes. But what I took from this was a deeper understanding about how so many of the 'crises' in our world and societies today, emanate from a profound disconnection. Disconnection from meaningful work, from other people, from meaningful values, from natural world, and more. Seeing and 'repairing' these connections may just give us individually and collective agency to confront and address the wider challenges in the world too.
Nugget:
“It is no measure of health to be well- adjusted to a sick society.”
See also:
Solve for Happy ➜
Just like the natural world, we have our 'fallow' seasons. Whilst we may not have the privilege of being able to take deep rest and renewal, and 'go deep' to the extent that Katherine narrates – with the metaphor of the seasons and connection with the natural world, we can all accept and learn from the times where we need to put our own state and wellbeing first.
Nugget:
”Plants and animals don’t fight the winter; they don’t pretend it’s not happening and attempt to carry on living the same lives that they lived in the summer. They prepare. They adapt. They perform extraordinary acts of metamorphosis to get them through. Winter is a time of withdrawing from the world, maximising scant resources, carrying out acts of brutal efficiency and vanishing from sight; but that’s where the transformation occurs. Winter is not the death of the life cycle, but its crucible.”
See also:
The Power of Now ➜
My wonderful friend Mark Shayler introduced me to this. This book introduces you to your judgemental 'saboteurs' (mine are the 'stickler', and 'hyper-vigilant' by the way). These are the voices in your head, that are trying to serve and protect you, but ultimately can get in your way. This book (in particular the audiobook and app), help you to get to know these 'judges', and encourage you to promote the wiser, gentler, encouraging voice of your true self – the 'sage'.
Nugget:
”Your Sage has access to your five great powers: empathy, exploration, innovation, navigation, and decisive action. The Sage perspective is about accepting what is, rather than denying, rejecting, or resenting what is. The Sage perspective accepts every outcome and circumstance as a gift and opportunity.”
My friend Gareth Dauncey, architect and founder of the mood app, recommended this book to me. Like Positive Intelligence, it helps the reader/listener to cultivate the ability to hear and accept the negative thoughts that pop into your mind. And through this process of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – to take away some of the power that these thoughts can hold.
Nugget:
”The core philosophy of ACT is neatly encapsulated in the Serenity Challenge (my version of the well-known Serenity Prayer): Develop the courage to solve those problems that can be solved, the serenity to accept those problems that can’t be solved, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
See also:
Don’t Believe Everything You Think ➜
We may spend around 35% of our total waking hours over a 50 year period, working. Finding fulfilling work that you can actually enjoy may be considered as an extreme 'first world problem', but this concise, direct and practical book can just help to reframe how you view 'work', and improve your life more broadly at the same time.
Nugget:
”This sense that we might be squandering everything we have struggled to achieve is one of the greatest psychological barriers facing those contemplating career change.”
”Where the needs of the world and your talents cross, there lies your vocation.”
See also:
Do Purpose ➜
There are lots of books out there on confidence and creative expression (e.g. Seth Godin, Steven Pressfield). I once chatted with James Victore at dinner at the Do Lectures, and this book is delivered in his unique, ebullient and expressive style. It's a rallying call for 'getting out of your own way'. Each nugget can be nibbled bit by bit, or as I did the first time I read it, the whole book can be consumed in one sitting!
Nugget:
”The more vulnerable and authentic you can be in expressing your opinion, the deeper the connection you have with others. This is the value of your opinion—what is most personal and unique to you is the very thing that, if you risk expressing it, will speak volumes to others. The hardest part is to trust that your story and opinions have value. Your struggle with your weight, your love of bugs or rocks or fixing old motorbikes—any passion is a legitimate starting point.”
Other favourite books:
What books do you recommend? Please drop me a line? ➜