Let’s face it, this whole adulting thing is hard. We could all use a little positivity and extra motivation to make it through the day. That’s why self-help books are so great, they are like a do it yourself motivational conference. Not only will these books help you improve your habits and help you find efficiencies, but they will also help you overcome your deep seated personal negativity and live a more positive life.
These books were written by women to help solve the unique problems of today’s working women. Whether you work a 9-5 job, are an entrepreneur,or a stay at home mom these authors can help you make tangible improvements in your life.
Here are the eight most empowering self-help books for women, by women:
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
With profound empathy and radiant generosity, Elizabeth Gilbert offers potent insights into the mysterious nature of inspiration. She asks us to embrace our curiosity and let go of needless suffering. Shows us how to tackle what we most love, and how to face down what we most fear. She discusses the attitudes, approaches, and habits we need in order to live our most creative lives.
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Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
In Daring Greatly, Dr. Brown challenges everything we think we know about vulnerability. Based on twelve years of research, she argues that vulnerability is not weakness, but rather our clearest path to courage, engagement, and meaningful connection. The book that Dr. Brown’s many fans have been waiting for, Daring Greatly will spark a new spirit of truth—and trust—in our organizations, families, schools, and communities.
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Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis
Rachel Hollis has seen it too often: women not living into their full potential. They feel a tugging on their hearts for something more, but they’re afraid of embarrassment, of falling short of perfection, of not being enough. With a challenge to women everywhere to stop talking themselves out of their dreams, Hollis identifies the excuses to let go of, the behaviors to adopt, and the skills to acquire on the path to growth, confidence, and believing in yourself.
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Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis
Each chapter of Girl, Wash Your Face begins with a specific lie Hollis once believed that left her feeling overwhelmed, unworthy, or ready to give up. As a working mother, a former foster parent, and a woman who has dealt with insecurities about her body and relationships, she speaks with the insight and kindness of a BFF, helping women unpack the limiting mind-sets that destroy their self-confidence and keep them from moving forward.
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Permission to Screw Up by Kristen Hadeed
Permission to Screw Up dismisses the idea that leaders and organizations should try to be perfect. It encourages people of all ages to go for it and learn to lead by acting, rather than waiting or thinking. Through a brutally honest and often hilarious account of her own struggles, Kristen encourages us to embrace our failures and proves that we’ll be better leaders when we do.
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Rising Strong by Brene Brown
The physics of vulnerability is simple: If we are brave enough often enough, we will fall. The author of Daring Greatly and The Gifts of Imperfection tells us what it takes to get back up, and how owning our stories of disappointment, failure, and heartbreak gives us the power to write a daring new ending. Struggle, Brené Brown writes, can be our greatest call to courage, and rising strong our clearest path to deeper meaning, wisdom, and hope.
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Untamed by Glennon Doyle
Soulful and uproarious, forceful and tender, Untamed is both a memoir and a galvanizing wake-up call. It offers a piercing, electrifying examination of the restrictive expectations women are issued from birth; shows how hustling to meet those expectations leaves women feeling dissatisfied and lost; and reveals that when we quit abandoning ourselves and instead abandon the world’s expectations of us, we become women who can finally look at ourselves and recognize: There She Is.
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You are a badass by Jen Sincero
This refreshingly entertaining how-to guide, serves up hilariously inspiring stories, sage advice, easy exercises, and the occasional swear word. If you’re ready to make some serious changes, You Are a Badass will help you: Identify and change the self-sabotaging beliefs and behaviors that stop you from getting what you want, blast past your fears so you can take big exciting risks, figure out how to make some damn money already, learn to love yourself and others, and set big goals and reach them.
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Self-help books are often the motivational and inspirational boost that we need to make it through our adulting day. I know that every time I read one of these books I see measurable improvements in my life and feel psychologically stronger. I hope that you experience the same benefits from the ideas in these empowering self-help books.
This book list was contributed by Bossy Librarian, Alison Kelly. For Can’t Wait Book Lists, No Spoiler Book Reviews and stories from the Library Life visit www.bossylibrarian.com . Follow this link for Bossy Librarian’s favorite inspirational book. Spoiler alert! It’s a children’s picture book that will bring you to tears (in a good way)! See you at Bossy Librarian!
Summary excerpts from Goodreads.com
What is your favorite self-help book? Comment below: