Happy New Year! Are you excited for 2018?! If you don’t already know this about me, I LOVE inspirational books! Whether it’s a personal self-help book, or one chock-full of business advice, send it my way!
I wrote a similar post last year, where I shared my favourite “Inspirational Books to Kick off 2017” – so if you haven’t read that one yet, go check it out after you read this one! It has some great books too!
So without further ado, here are my top inspirational books to kick off 2018! And I’m also sharing a few that are up next on my reading list!
You Are a Badass – Jen Sincero
I freaking loved this book! It was SO GOOD – so eye-opening and it really makes you think about everything in your life. After reading Jen’s encouraging words, you want to hold your head a little higher and smile a little bigger as you walk into a room. Jen is honest but insightful and optimistic. She reminds me a lot of Gabrielle Bernstein, which I love! Jen addresses all these issues in our lives, in a kind of step-by-step process, but in the best way possible! And at the end of every chapter, the last step is always “Love Yourself” – which we all need to do a little more of!
Cultivate – Lara Casey
Lara’s first book, Make it Happen, was one of my 2017 inspirational books, and in the summer, she came out with her second book, Cultivate! This book is all about the seasons of life, how each season serves a different purpose, and to not forget that for everything there is a season. Within those seasons, we have to cultivate what truly matters in our life so that it doesn’t pass us by. The book also goes hand in hand with Lara’s amazing intentional goal setting planner – Powersheets! I use my Powersheets every month to set goals, and at the beginning of the year I set larger goals – to cultivate what matters. I’ll have to do another post all about my Powersheets, because they really are life-changing!
May Cause Miracles – Gabrielle Bernstein
Let’s just say I kind of fell in love with Gabby this year. I came across her book “May Cause Miracles” while my life was getting turned upside down, as I was about to leave my corporate job. It’s a 40-day practice where you meditate, do journal exercises, and small daily exercises in all areas of your life. It couldn’t have been better timing in my life, and I truly believe that it helped me connect to the universe in a way that allowed everything to unfold the way that it did. And for me to go full-time in my graphic design business!
The Universe Has Your Back – Gabrielle Bernstein
This was the next book that I read from Gabby, and I loved it! Such a good book to remind you that you’re not alone in this journey of life, and the power that the universe has, if you allow yourself to have faith and surrender. I also bought the deck of cards that go with the book, and they are BEAUTIFUL! I pick one out every morning and use it as my daily affirmation, which I love!
Miracles Now – Gabrielle Bernstein
I actually just finished reading this book last week, and it was amazing! Such a great toolkit filled with 108 small, easy tasks that you can incorporate into your life to stress less, connect to the universe, and find balance. I love that each tip was simple, but can have such a profound impact if you chose to practice it daily.
Hey Ladies, Stop Apologizing – Maja Jovanovic
While I think that everyone should read this book as it’ll spark conversations that we need to be having, I was a little torn at the end of it. I didn’t necessarily agree with everything that Maja said, but that’s okay! It’s good to have a book make you question your opinions and thoughts. Maja is very much of the belief that you have to work HARD, often, to become successful.
And while I agree with that (I’ve spent years working non-stop, crazy hours), I also am at a place in my life where I’m trying to slow down a little. I think life is too short not to go for lunch with your bestie because you’re “too busy working”. I get that there are seasons of hustle in life, and sometimes you have to put your nose to the grindstone, but those seasons have to be short. You also have to enjoy life, because you only have one of it to live!
White Hot Truth – Danielle LaPorte
I devoured this book while I was on holidays in Cabo! I love how honest Danielle is, and while she is quite spiritual herself, talks about how that’s not always the solution to everything. For example, sometimes you can’t just manifest everything, and you have build your team. Which might mean your western medicine doctor, naturopath, acupuncturist, therapist, energy healer. And that’s awesome! Danielle’s main point throughout this book is that you have to do what works best for you. You have to find your own spiritual path in this world by pulling what works for you from all these different areas.
Grace Not Perfection – Emily Ley
I just finished this book last night, and it was wonderful! As a very much type-A personality myself, I love that Emily encourages you throughout the book to be kinder to yourself. She wants us to savour the little moments, be present, and make the most of the season we’re in. This book is also great because it’s interactive! Emily has put in pages throughout with questions and spaces for you to write your own answers, which I love!
So there you go! Those are my top inspirational books to kick off 2018! I hope you like them as much as I do, and that they spark positive change or conversations in your life! I also have a few books sitting on my bookshelf that are up next on my reading list – so I thought I’d share those too! Here’s what’s next up on my reading list:
Judgement Detox – Gabrielle Bernstein
This book came out January 2nd, and it finally arrived over the weekend! I can’t wait to dig into this one, because I know it’s going to be nothing short of incredible!
You Are a Badass at Making Money – Jen Sincero
I loved Jen’s first book “You Are a Badass” so much that I can’t wait to read this! We all have such weird stigma’s around money, and I’m working hard to have a positive money-mindset. I know this book is going to be super eye-opening!
The Art of Stopping Time – Pedram Shojai
I gave this book to my dad for Christmas, and so far he’s been loving it! He’s like me and is always going a-mile-a-minute, and we both need to learn how to slow down! It’s filled with little tips & tricks to help you slow down and make the most of the time you have.
A Simplified Life – Emily Ley
Considering I devoured her first book, Grave Not Perfection, I am so excited for this one! This is my first year using Emily’s Simiplified Planner, and it’s amazing! It’s a great way to organize my days, make sure that I don’t pack them too full, and leave “margin” like Emily likes to say. I also love that she’s a big advocate (like Lara Casey) of slowing down, cutting out the stress and overwhelm, and getting back to what you love!
As I finish writing this post, I see a common thread of slowing down, connecting to my inner self and the universe, cultivating what matters, and finding balance in my life. Which is fitting considering my word of the year is “Grounded”, so these books definitely resonate with that! 🙂
Have you read any of these?! Which one(s) are your favourite? Or do you have other inspirational books you’d recommend? I’d love to hear!
XO
Danielle