While I don't subscribe to the 'new year, new me' mindset, I do believe that the new year is a great opportunity to get clarity on our personal goals and set intentions for growth. There is always room for growth and personal development in life, and that doesn't have to mean changing who we are, but instead building on who we are and working to improve our personal habits, skills and knowledge.
So, if you're hoping to make this year one about personal growth then here is a round up of 12 books to add to your reading list in 2023 to kick your growth mindset into gear - one book and one month at a time!
12 months of personal development recommended reading...
1. Hello Fears by Michelle Pohler
Michelle breaks down each set-back she battled on the road towards joyful purpose. Her stories and practical strategies encourage you to name, accept, and embrace what's holding you back so you can be the heroine in your own life, not the victim.
2. The Crossroads of Should & Must by Elle Luna
Starting out or starting over, making a career change or making a life change, the most life-affirming thing you can do is to honor the voice inside that says your have something special to give, and then heed the call and act. Many have traveled this road before. Here's how you can, too.
3. Why has Nobody Told Me This Before by Dr. Julie Smith
Drawing on years of experience as a clinical psychologist, online sensation Dr Julie Smith shares all the skills you need to get through life's ups and downs. Filled with secrets from a therapist's toolkit, this is a must-have handbook for optimising your mental health. Dr Julie's simple but expert advice and powerful coping techniques will help you stay resilient no matter what life throws your way.
4. The Multi-Hyphen Method by Emma Gannon
award-winning blogger / social media editor / podcast creator, Emma Gannon, teaches that it doesn't matter if you're a part-time PA with a blog, or a nurse who runs an online store in the evenings - whatever your ratio, whatever your mixture, we can all channel our own entrepreneurial spirit to live more fulfilled and financially healthy lives.
5. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
Whether you long to write a book, create art, cope with challenges at work, embark on a long-held dream, or simply to make your everyday life more vivid and rewarding, Big Magic will take you on a journey of exploration filled with wonder and unexpected joys.
6. Super Attractor by Gabrielle Bernstein
Super Attractor teaches us how to co-create the life we want, that attracting is fun and that we don't have to work as hard to get what we want. Most importantly, it shows us that when we connect to our intuitive powers, we become a force of love in the world.
7. The Gratitude Diaries by Janice Kaplan
Through extensive interviews with experts, and lively conversations with real people, including celebrities like Matt Damon, Daniel Craig, and Jerry Seinfeld, Kaplan discovers the role of gratitude in everything from our sense of fulfillment to our children's happiness.
8. A Toolkit for Modern Life by Dr. Emma Hepburn
Using her trademark illustrations, Dr Hepburn (aka @thepsychologymum) shines a welcome ray of light into the neglected corners of your brain. From identifying what triggers unhappy thoughts to overcoming the fear of making mistakes, A Toolkit for Modern Life will help you to cultivate positive habits and feel more confident, happier and in tune with yourself.
9. Atomic Habits by James Clear
In this ground-breaking book, Clears reveals exactly how minuscule changes can grow into such life-altering outcomes. He uncovers a handful of simple life hacks (the forgotten art of Habit Stacking, the unexpected power of the Two Minute Rule, or the trick to entering the Goldilocks Zone), and delves into cutting-edge psychology and neuroscience to explain why they matter. Along the way, he tells inspiring stories of Olympic gold medalists, leading CEOs, and distinguished scientists who have used the science of tiny habits to stay productive, motivated, and happy.
10. The Comparison Cure by Lucy Sheridan
Lucy Sheridan, the world's first and only comparison coach, has helped thousands of people go from compare and despair to #comparisonfree, and now she has condensed all of that liberating knowledge into The Comparison Cure. With a three-step tried and tested methodology to help you improve your self-worth and self-confidence (#1 recognise the symptoms; #2 start practising the remedies; and #3 keep your good new habits going), you will soon be able to let go of procrastination and start living a comparison-free life.
11. Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwab
Licensed counselor, sought-after relationship expert, and one of the most influential therapists on Instagram Nedra Glover Tawwab demystifies the complex topic of setting boundaries in today's world. In a relatable and inclusive tone, Set Boundaries, Find Peace presents simple-yet-powerful ways to establish healthy boundaries in all aspects of life.
12. How to do the Work by Nicole LePera
Drawing on the latest research from both scientific research and healing modalities, Dr LePera helps us recognise how adverse experiences and trauma in childhood live with us, keeping us stuck engaging in patterns of codependency, emotional immaturity, and trauma bonds. Unless addressed, these self-sabotaging behaviours can quickly become cyclical, leaving people feeling unhappy, unfulfilled, and unwell. In How to Do the Work, Dr LePera offers readers the support and tools that will allow them to break free from destructive behaviours to reclaim and recreate their lives.