Is there anything that can’t be learned from a book or podcast?
Ummm….NO.
If you’re like me, a learner and a book lover, pretty much everything can be learned from a great book at the right season in your life. Even though I value higher education, I’ve only ever had my paradigms shaken by books.
So here are three book recommendations that I will call “Coaching 101.” They will change your point of view and help you start the new year with more calm and fortitude.
Don’t just TLDR them!
Buy them in paper copy…
Maybe put them by your bed right next to your fuzzies.
Use stick notes to remind you of the best lines. There are many!
Journal about what you read.
Because the lessons in these books need to be heard to unburden the noise of modern life.
Essentialism
My first pick is “Essentialism” by Greg McKeown.
I’ll admit, his anecdote about caving into his supervisor’s pressure of going to work while his wife recuperated from childbirth made me wonder if he was the right person to tell this message, but he clearly learned from his regret. He grew wiser from his folly. Essentialism is the disciplined practice of prioritizing the important few. As a lifestyle, it is so hard, because life has so many great choices and it’s tempting to say yes to avoid missing out. But the person who can practice the art of saying yes to the VERY FEW has a big advantage–that of actually being present during life’s great moments.
But how do you know what to prioritize? What are the few pillars that make the strong foundation for your whole, great, wild life?
Well, that leads me to my second pick,
The Gifts of Imperfection
“The Gifts of Imperfection” by Brené Brown.
Oh Brené! You are so relatable with your Texan cuss words, heart-felt hilarious stories, and groundbreaking evidence on shame. I heard your TEDx talk while I was brain deep in MBA deadlines and generally hating everyone at work.
To say that this book formed the cornerstone of my burnout recovery is not giving it enough credit. Until I read GoI (NOT GoT–that’s for another post), I measured my life’s value in CV lines. Once I accepted that shame was at the root of my burnout, I suddenly had a way to measure my recovery. I finally felt as if I could belong to ME first.
And yet the me back then was so angry. My 5 horsemen are still control/criticism/anger/resentment/envy. Now I know to pay special attention, and for that, I needed to,
Think Like a Monk
“Think Like a Monk” by Jay Shetty.
Maybe it’s his British accent and calm voice, but it’s so enjoyable to learn from Jay. His accessible way of sharing ancient wisdom backed by modern day research is fresh, digestible, and actionable. The habits he teaches are practical, albeit aspirational for us perfectly imperfect mortals.
These are my three. What about you?
Question: What book changed your life? Share it in the comments please!
