Some inspiration for the New Year - Part One

Are you looking for some inspirational books to read in 2023?

Happy New Year! I hope 2023 finds you safe, happy and hopeful. We have certainly had a time of it over the past few years and if you are anything like me, you will have high hopes for 2023. My lovely friend Michelle Howie wrote at the end of 2021, that many of us were putting huge pressure on 2022. The message she shared at that time was so relevant to me that I added it into a note in my phone. It seems even more relevant as we start this year, so I thought it was worthy of sharing.

“I apologise in advance for the hopes and expectations I have created, believed in and foisted upon you. I am open to what comes next, knowing that the vast majority of life’s events are out of my hands. I commit to taking responsibility for the stories I tell myself, knowing that these stories in fact create my reality, nothing more.” (Michelle Howie, 2021).

A great reminder, right?

Are you someone who writes notes in their phone when you read something that really hits home? I am definitely one of these people, and I really love reading books in the personal development genre. Since many people are probably in the resolution/reset phase with a New Year, I thought it would be a good time to share some inspirational, motivational reading.

First up, absolutely anything by Brené Brown! I try to read at least one book by Brené every year, and in 2022 I read “Atlas of the Heart”, “The Gifts of Imperfection”, “I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t): Telling the Truth about Perfectionism, Inadequacy, and Power” (audiobook), and Daring Greatly

Within the past few years I have also read Dare to Lead, Braving the Wilderness, and Rising Strong. What did I tell ya? Love Brené! I took something different away from each of these. I suggest you look into these and see which sounds right for you, if you haven’t already read a bit of a Brené! I will also (reluctantly) add that she has a podcast and a Netflix series.. (After my last post, my Mum started watching Firefly Lane.. watching Netflix is not the point Mum!)

If you are a parent, also have a look at the Wholehearted Parenting Manifesto. I fricken love this! This one is saved in my phone notes, and I refer to it often.

Another inspirational book that I read in June 2022, is Thrive by Ariana Huffington. This is an older book and I picked it up second hand. I really enjoyed the simple messages around a life with sleep (those who know me well know that I don’t need a book to tell me that I need sleep for a happy life. This girl can sleep!), wisdom, wellbeing, wonder and giving. I work in the philanthropic sector, and wish we had more of a culture based on the importance of giving (not just money!), so I loved this message. Ariana talks about giving being one of the most powerful wellbeing tools - giving is actually good for your health!

“Don’t just climb the ladder of success – a ladder that leads, after all, to higher and higher levels of stress and burnout – but chart a new path to success, remaking it in a way that includes not just the conventional metrics of money and power, but a third metric that includes well-being, wisdom, wonder and giving, so that the goal is not just to succeed but to thrive.” I actively stepped off that ladder in 2019 so this message really resonated with me!

Another book that I read around the time that I stepped off the corporate ladder was Untamed: Stop Pleasing, Start Living by Glennon Doyle. If you are feeling in a bit of a rut, Untamed may be just the book you need to give you the kick in the butt to make some changes. This book is part memoir, part inspiration. It is the story of how one woman learned that a responsible mother is not one who slowly dies for her children, but one who shows them how to fully live. “When a woman finally learns that pleasing the world is impossible, she becomes free to learn how to please herself.” So many hell yeah moments when reading this one! Again, there are multiple podcasts with Glennon Doyle, and if you want a two for one deal, have a look for the Brené Brown podcast with Glennon Doyle. So good!

Do you have any inspirational books that are your go to? Is this a genre you like? I would love to hear about some of your favourites, because life is too short to read bad books!

(Stay tuned for part two next week)