December is all about growth here at Glitter Guide, and one of the first places we usually turn to for inspiration is to books. These seven books go beyond the typical “self-help” genre that can often come off as cheesy and unrealistic. No, these books are beautiful reads that will reach right down into your gut.
Add these lovely reads to your TBR pile:
For Small Creatures Such As We: Rituals For Finding Meaning in Our Unlikely World by Sasha Sagan
If the author’s name sounds familiar, it’s likely because you’ve heard of her father, Carl Sagan. This book is a beautifully written memoir/guidebook that celebrates the beauty of the natural world and how we can incorporate its teachings into our own personal growth through daily rituals.
Pathways to Possibilities: Transforming Our Relationship with Ourselves, Each Other, and the World by Rosamund Stone Zander
Have you ever wondered if you’d be a different person if you weren’t taught the principles and beliefs you were taught as a child? Life is a story we tell ourselves and we have the power to change the story. If you want to break old patterns and ditch habits that are affecting your relationships, work life and self-growth, dive into this book.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The Alchemist is a simple yet emotional story, beholding the truth about dreams and desires. It strongly shows how our soul, and everything we say or do is actually connected to the universe. It’s a story of a young boy, Santiago, his dreams and his spiritual journey where he discovers the importance of completing his personal legend and also realizes the purpose of his life.
Dream Big: Know What You Want, Why You Want It, and What You’re Going To Do About It by Bob Goff
This book was only released in the summer of this year, but it’s already a must-read for those looking to fast-track their personal growth in 2021. Based on Goff’s enormously popular Dream Big workshop, this book shows how to learn to clearly define your dreams for yourself, identify the obstacles holding you back, come up with a specific plan for reaching goals and develop the tools that will help you act on the plan.
Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives by Gretchen Rubin
Self-growth starts with identifying healthy and harmful habits. Even small micro-habits can have a huge impact on whether our growth is positive or detrimental. Rubin reveals the true secret to habit change: First, we must know ourselves. When we shape our habits to suit ourselves, we can find success—even if we’ve failed before.
The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters by Emily Esfahani Smith
A lot of people search for their life’s purpose, trying to find meaning in their day-to-day. But you don’t have to trot across the globe to find it. You can find it in the things and people around you. Drawing on years of travel and research, Smith shows us how cultivating connections to others, identifying and working toward a purpose, telling stories about our place in the world, and seeking out mystery can immeasurably deepen our lives.
Rising Strong: How The Ability To Reset Transforms The Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brené Brown
You can’t really go wrong with any of Brené’s books when working on your growth, but Rising Strong is a personal favorite. Through her pioneering work, Brown has uncovered a profound truth: vulnerability—the willingness to show up and be seen with no guarantee of outcome—is the only path to more love, belonging, creativity and joy. But living a brave life is not always easy: We are, inevitably, going to stumble and fall.
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