Over the past year, I have found myself buying and reading more self-help books. This may have been because of my anxiety about the pandemic, but I also wanted to handle things better and forget new paths for myself.
I like these books because they make me feel normal in my time of need. This is important because, during moments of frustration, I think this feeling only happens to me and no one else. Right? It must be true because many self-help books are bestsellers.
Yesterday, I needed to be reminded of some of the lessons I’ve gleaned from reading these books.
My day started bad and got worse. At 6:30 am, I chased my dog down the street when she took off after another dog. It doesn’t sound so bad except that I had literally just rolled out of bed to let her out, hadn’t bothered to put on a bra or pour myself a cup of coffee, and had zero patience (or time) for this act of disobedience. So, I gave my neighbors a little show of me running down the street still in my pajamas, no bra, and no shoes yelling after the dog. (She is so lucky that she is cute).
Determined not to let this be the way I start my day, I self-administered my first dose of caffeine and decided to run a load of laundry. That was when the lid came crashing down on my ring and pinky fingers. As a result, I spent an incredibly unproductive 30 minutes with an ice pack on top of my hand.
To make matters worse, when I finally sat down to start my workday, I felt completely paralyzed by my to-do lists for both my job and my life. I didn’t know where to turn first. I managed to snap out of it enough to get more than a few things accomplished. But, it helped to remember some lessons I have learned from the following self-help books:
- “Do one thing at a time.”
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, and It’s All Small Stuff, Dr. Richard Carlson. - “From the second you have an idea, you only have 5 seconds to take action; otherwise, you won’t want to do it anymore. 5-4-3-2-1, Go!
The 5-Second Rule: Transform Your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage by Mel Robbins - “Human beings are flawed and limited—not everybody can be extraordinary. There are winners and losers in society, and some of it is not fair or your fault.”
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, by Mark Manson - “Begin anywhere. The work wants to be made, and it wants to be made through you (me).”
Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert - “Roll up your sleeves, take some risks, and totally go for it.
You are a Badass, by Jen Sincero
I’m a big fan of self-help books. How about you? Which ones do you recommend, and what advice have you learned recently from a book that may help you deal with a bad day?
Melissa
May 26, 2021 at 3:26 pm (4 years ago)Sorry technical difficulties ….Thank you for another great post…and oh boy sorry about your morning! I am a big fan of self-help books too. They are personal uplifters, educators, therapists and all-in-one. I want to checkout those you mentioned, and maybe some will benefit from a few that I particularly enjoyed:
Melissa
May 26, 2021 at 11:33 am (4 years ago)Comment
Melissa
May 26, 2021 at 11:35 am (4 years ago)Sorry technical error lol…anyway
Thank you for another great post…and oh boy sorry about your morning! I am a big fan of self-help books too. They are personal uplifters, educators, therapists and all-in-one. I want to checkout those you mentioned, and maybe some will benefit from a few that I particularly enjoyed:
– Lost Connections by Johann Hari (an eye-opening and compelling perspective on the cause of depression from a non-biological standpoint).
– The Secret by Rhonda Byrnes (valuable insight into the law of attraction and power of positivity…an “energy flows where attention goes” outlook).
– Unfu*k Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Life by Gary John Bishop (empowering advice and tools to combat negative self-talk).
Melissa
May 26, 2021 at 3:28 pm (4 years ago)I’m having technical difficulties and can’t post a comment ?
Melissa
May 26, 2021 at 3:31 pm (4 years ago)Let me try this again….
Thank you for another great post and oh boy sorry about your morning! I am a fan of self-help books too. They are our personal uplifters, educators, and therapists all-in-one. I want to check out those you mentioned, and maybe some will benefit from a few I particularly enjoyed. ??
Melissa
May 26, 2021 at 3:31 pm (4 years ago)– Lost Connections by Johann Hari (an eye-opening and compelling perspective on the cause of depression from a non-biological standpoint).
– The Secret by Rhonda Byrnes (valuable insight into the law of attraction and power of positivity…an “energy flows where attention goes” outlook).
– Unfu*k Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and Into Your Life by Gary John Bishop (empowering advice and tools to combat negative self-talk).
DEB ANDREWS
May 12, 2021 at 11:16 pm (4 years ago)I love your selection of books. I have read a couple of them. You Are A Badass is my favorite out of the list. No matter how bad the day is someone else is having a worse day. Not very uplifting but I always try to look on the brighter side. Thank you for sharing.
Elisa
May 13, 2021 at 3:04 pm (4 years ago)Thanks for commenting!
Kebba Buckley Button
May 12, 2021 at 10:43 pm (4 years ago)Elissa, what a great post! I could feel your horrible frustration in each scene–and we’ve all had awful morning-starts like that. Of your key quotes, the Gilbert quote is very strong for me right now. I know I am called to do certain things, and I know my work will go on, regardless of the holdups. My favorite self-help books are those I have written, about how to trade in your stress for energy, how to find and deepen your personal peace, and how to meditate. Btw, do you want to put your name somewhere on this page? OK, blessings to you!