Living Your Best Life :: Three Self-Improvement Books to Inspire You {National Self-Improvement Month}

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“I love the person I have become because I fought to become her.” – Kaci Diane                   

September is officially National Self-Improvement Month. Admit that you didn’t even know this was a thing . . . I didn’t. Typically, I don’t start making commitments to better myself until New Year’s Eve comes around. Some stick and other resolutions fall by the wayside. What better time than September to put a little focus on you?? You made it through the summer and endless hours of successfully entertaining the kiddos. Everyone is now safely deposited back in school or at least Mom’s Day Out, which gives you just a sliver of time to make yourself a priority. Delving into a particularly inspiring book might be just the thing you need to jump-start that ever elusive quest for self-improvement. Wise words and sage advice can help redirect, inspire personal growth, and drive us towards improvement in the various areas of our lives. As the old adage goes, “The more you read, the more you know. The more you know the more you grow.” Cliched, but unarguably true.

Sure, there are plenty of self-help books that are just a bunch of mumbo-jumbo written by “gurus” who churn out their next best seller just to make a dollar. However, there are plenty of wonderful, inspirational guides out there that are sure to be eye-opening, thought-provoking, or at least give you one of those little “ah-ha’ life moments.   

Three Self-Improvement Books to Inspire You

First, Girl, Wash Your Face written by lifestyle blogger, wife, and mother, Rachel Hollis. I must admit that before reading all the buzz about this book, I was unfamiliar with Hollis’ blog, TheChicSite.com. I am a fan now!! After reading the intro line to the book, “I peed my pants last week,” I immediately connected with Rachel. In full self-disclosure, I, too, peed my pants last week after a rather lengthy set of jumping jacks at YCross class. Basically, I saw myself in 99% of what she wrote. I am that woman who tries to juggle everything, and I’m particularly hard on myself when I can’t “do it all”. I want to be the mom whose kids always have the best Pinterest-worthy costumes for every school dress-up day or holiday program. The problem is, I really don’t have a crafty bone in my body. I also want to be the mom that never misses a class party or field trip. The problem is, I have a full-time job that keeps me on the road the majority of the time. So, it is no surprise that I find myself falling flat on my face a large majority of the time. This book explores the 20 lies that woman tell themselves and urges you to put aside all this negative self-doubt that can be the hugest obstacle to enjoying your best life. Any woman can relate to Rachel’s witty banter and humorous antidotes. This book is chock full of easy-to-follow tips and common-sense advice that could be just the ticket to achieving your best, happiest self. I highly recommend you start reading ASAP.

Second, The Happiness Project (Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun) by Gretchen Rubin. Do you want to be happy? Silly question because we all want to be happy. The bigger question is, do you know what makes you happy? In this book, Rubin seeks to learn just that. You follow along her personal month-to-month journey to improve and find happiness in all aspects of her life. She puts into experiment the various ideas held about happiness, whether pulled from scientific research, Philosophy, pop culture, or history. Her mantra should be “change your life without changing your life”. I think the reason this book appeals to me is that I’m basically a happy person who just seeks a little guidance in reaching my full potential. No earth-shattering, life-altering changes for me. I read this book several years ago, and it’s definitely filed under my list of favorites. 

Third, Start Where You Are by Meera Lee Patel. It’s said that journaling can encourage self-exploration, creativity, mindfulness, and self-motivation. As a youngster, I faithfully wrote in my “Dear Diary” for years. There is nothing more amusing or cringe-worthy than coming across one of my old journals. I’d give anything to go back in time and tell my younger self that all those middle school problems would just be a drop in the bucket. Oh, the teenage angst and tears shed over unrequited crushes, not being invited to so-in-so’s 12th birthday party, or the horror at having to wear headgear. (FYI: said headgear was worn only three days before it magically disappeared.) Obviously, I still like to write, or I wouldn’t be a blogger. Unfortunately, there is no way I have the time to sit down and write daily about ME. That is why this interactive journal is so perfect! It is chock full of creative exercises and writing prompts that make journaling fun and that are sure to get those creative juices flowing. One of my favorite parts of this book is all the inspiring quotes strewn throughout. I received this book as a present a few years ago and have since gifted this fun, colorful workbook to several friends who have loved it.

What self-improvement book has inspired you?

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Virginia M
Virginia was raised in Anniston, AL, a small town about an hour drive from Birmingham. After graduating from Jacksonville State University with a degree in human sciences, she married her college sweetheart and spent the next decade living throughout the southeast from Charleston, SC to Atlanta, GA. Fast forward a few years, and Virginia found herself back in her hometown working full-time, single, and raising her young son. At the most unexpected time in the most unlikely of places, she met the love of her life and soul mate, and they were married in a garden wedding in Savannah, GA in 2016. Virginia now calls Trussville home with her husband, Mark, and their two boys, Britton (7) and stepson, Gavin (10). Virginia works as a Employment Resource Specialist for the Alabama Department of Mental Health. She loves Hello Fresh, Starbuck's Green Tea Frappucinos, exercising, camping (more to the point, glamping), renovating their new home, and any occasion that lets her play dress up!!