We all get to points in our lives where things may feel stressful or overwhelming. Sometimes, all we need to get back on track is the advice of someone else who may have struggled and overcame their struggles, or who has experience guiding others to finding peace and contentment in their lives. We have listed three self-help books that will help guide you through a variety of life’s complexities.
1) Codependent No More – How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself by Melody Beattie — Codependence is never a healthy way to build relationships, and certainly not a good way of maintaining personal happiness or balance in your own life. Melody Beattie’s book outlines ways you can regain your own power and your own life outside of the shadow of codependence. The book uses tools like instructive life stories, personal reflections, contemplative exercises and self-tests to help provide insight into your own issues, where they began and how to eventually overcome them and look to a more hopeful, independent future.
2) Eat That Frog – 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time – Brian Tracy — Procrastination is something that plagues all of our lives in some form. Even the most dedicated, motivated individuals struggle with procrastination, which is really us putting off something we do not necessarily enjoy doing. This book teaches you that in order to be successful, you don’t have to be able to do anything, but rather you need to learn to focus on the important tasks and manage your time well. Everything that absolutely needs to get done WILL get done if you organize your time in a manner that cuts out those little wastes of time that are not productive to you either mentally or emotionally. The “eat the frog” metaphor stems from the Mark Twain quote: “If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And If it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.” The author uses three words to help delineate time management, being decision, discipline and determination. It also provides insight into how technology can be used more effectively, as we all tend to waste a bit of time scrolling on our smartphones. Time that could be put to much better uses elsewhere.
3) How to Solve Your People Problems: Dealing with your Difficult relationships by Dr Alan Godwin — As hard as we try, conflict is inevitable. This book attempts to teach us how to manage conflict more effectively in our lives and our relationships. One of the basic assumptions of the book is that humans have two basic needs: the powerful need to associate and the powerful need to avoid pain. The problem lies within the notion that when we fulfill the need for association it leads to conflict with our loved ones. Because of this, people will tend to manage conflicts poorly or avoid relationships entirely. This book seeks to provide insight as to how to successfully navigate the world of maintaining healthy relationships as well as a strong sense of self-direction and motivation. It also guides us on admitting when we are wrong, and acknowledging that mistakes are not signs of weakness, ineptitude or insensitivity but rather are signs of our own humanity. Through reflective questions, the book leads us to understanding our own problem-solving tactics and ways they can be improved for healthier, more well-rounded relationships.
Check out other helpful tips about mental health, advice for self-help and more on Challenge 2 Change.
