Help Yourself with my Top 5 Self-Help Book List

Self-help books have changed, and still are changing, my life for the better. I have no doubt about that.

I used to suffer terribly with anxiety over the smallest, most trivial things. I would overthink conversations, and interviews and decisions. I would always worry what others would think if I put myself forward for something, whether I succeeded in getting it or not. I now know that I should not have cared about what others thought, and should have recognised that every time I push myself out of my comfort zone, I am pushing myself into my zone of development, and am moving towards a better version of myself. This should far outweigh any fear of judgement!

Reading books written by very wise people in the realm of personal development has without a doubt pushed my mentality to levels it could not have reached otherwise.

This is me feeling happy and having a stroll in Malahide, Dublin!

Hey, I know what you're thinking. Sounds like a load of *insert expletive here*! I also remember writing off self-help books. I used to think:

Oh god. Those books look so weird. Why would anyone read a book about self-help? Why do they need help? What do they need help with...? Surely they are only intended for people who are into yoga and spirituality and who only knows what else? Not for me...

These are just some of the types of thoughts I used to have when I heard the phrase 'self-help books'. It was all a mystery to me, and for a good while, a mystery I let my ego get in the way of exploring. Now? I am OBSESSED with self-help and personal development books. I actually no longer make time for fictional books, because I am learning so much from the great people of our past and present, and can't wait to read the next book on my list (fictional books are amazing too and I will still read them, I am just on such a roll with self-help)!

I read every morning for 15-20 minutes! That way I am not leaving it until I am super tired at the end of the day.

Trust me, there is nothing that you want to do that someone has not tried to do before, and if it is a novel idea or approach - that's great, but why not follow other leaders in innovation? Henry Ford, Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Elon Musk, Michelle Obama... they may not have done work in the same field as you (although I am sure there are books out there by people who have!), but the principles of how they achieved greatness are a powerful source of learning for us. Reading their stories helps us to learn that they were not superhuman (to begin with at least!) but by implementing the right behaviours, habits and strategies, they achieved results beyond imagination.

For example, you want to start up a new business. Sure, it might be based on new, never-before-seen technology, but oh my goodness so many millions of people have set up a business before you with limited resources and with any other variable that is concerning you too. The principles people who came before you applied will most likely apply to you too, do not let your ego tell you otherwise. Isn't that the best news ever? That we do not have to reinvent the wheel? Whatever we want to achieve is doable because people before us have done what was previously unthinkable, so you can too. Reaffirm your beliefs about what you are capable of by reading more of the right books, and I am sure you will find yourself taking action to move closer to your goals.

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1. Mental Strength - Iain Abernethy.

This book explains how to develop a mind strong enough to push past all obstacles so that nothing will be able to stand between you and your goals.

Mental Strength gives clear, encouraging guidance on how to develop a strong and powerful mind, grow your talents, become the person you want to be, and live the life you want to live.

I really thoroughly enjoyed it, and found myself going through it wanting to highlight different key points, and have even read it twice! I think it was the very first specific 'self-help' book I had ever read - and it really changed ny whole mindset/reaffirmed some of the beliefs I had had but was maybe scared to commit to.

Get it here. Or click on the image below.

2. Rich Dad, Poor Dad - Robert Kiyosaki

Rich Dad Poor Dad is a story of growing up with two dads — his real father and the father of his best friend, his rich dad — and the ways in which both men shaped his thoughts about money and investing. The book explores the myth that you need to earn a high income to be rich and explains the difference between working for money and having your money work for you. This is a great book for introducing the ideas surrounding investing, and living a life of financial freedom. For me, it really opened my eyes to the opportunities there are outside of the standard 9-5 corporate life (which is totally fine, I just think it is worth reading if you have a desire for something different).

3. The Miracle Morning - Hal Elrod

This book changed my whole daily routine. I now wake up at 5.30/6am every single day and I love it. The morning has become my sacred time to develop personally, read, meditate... and as a result my day-to-day anxiety has significantly reduced, and I am much happier, and even though I now wake . up earlier, I find I do well on 7 hours of sleep, and am much more energised than ever before. My only regret is not reading it sooner!

4. Atomic Habits - James Clear

James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviours that lead to remarkable results.

I am almost finished reading this book and wow - this really can apply to anyone. It really makes you think about the practices you engage in daily on autopilot, and how it really is possible to implement any new positive habit, or get rid of any negative ones, from smoking, to binge eating, to spending excessively, and so on. He teaches key principles which anyone can implement, and has online resources to help you on your journey. I personally think it is a must-read - none of us have perfect habits, there is always room for improvement, therefore we can all benefit from this kind of life-enhancing content.

5. The Daily Stoic - Ryan Holiday

The Daily Stoic offers 366 days of Stoic insights and exercises, featuring all-new translations from the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the playwright Seneca, or slave-turned-philosopher Epictetus, as well as lesser-known luminaries like Zeno, Cleanthes, and Musonius Rufus. Every day of the year you'll find one of their pithy, powerful quotations, as well as historical anecdotes, provocative commentary, and a helpful glossary of Greek terms.

By following these teachings over the course of a year (and, indeed, for years to come, by repeating the cycle) you'll find the serenity, self-knowledge, and resilience you need to live well.

Meditation has become a hugely central part of my life, featuring in my morning routine every single day, and this book has enlightened me and guided me through many meditations so far.

I hope this list helps you in some way. Please do let me know if you benefitted from any of the books mentioned, as I remember being recommended these books at first, and when I actually read them, I wanted to go back to the person who recommended them and tell them all about how the book changed my mindset, and hence, my life. I would love to hear from you.

Lots of love and positivity,

Lauren

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