Reading is one of the self-care practices I like to include in both my morning and nighttime routine. Whenever I’m feeling depleted, uninspired or get stuck in any messes I accumulate mentally, emotionally and spiritually, a good read always helps to nourish my mind and soul by helping me feel more connected and at peace amidst the chaos – with myself and in my surroundings. Practicing mindfulness and healthy habits can motivate you to be more imaginative, creative and compassionate toward yourself. Here are 4 books that can promote healthy living.
The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz
This book offers a code of conduct based on ancient Toltec wisdom that uncovers self-limiting beliefs that may cause suffering and limitation in a person’s life. The four agreements (aka the cornerstones of life) are: be impeccable with your word, don’t take anything personally, don’t make assumptions and always do your best. If you’re looking to work on and emphasize your relationship with yourself, I highly recommend this book!
Mindfulness Essentials Series by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Mindfulness Essentials Series is a back-to-basics collection from Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh. There are 8 handbooks that introduce the essentials of practicing mindfulness; How to Sit, How to Eat, How to Walk, How to Love, How to Relax, How to Fight, How to See and How to Connect. This series is great for beginners who are looking to live more intentionally. (Don’t worry, each book is an easy read with short, single-paragraph chapters!)
The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday
The essential idea of Stoicism is, you don’t control the world around you, you control how you respond. The philosophy of Stoicism is design to make us more resilient, happier, wise and virtuous – and as a result, better people. This book is a great daily resource with 366 pages of insights, exercises, meditations and quotes from Stoic philosophers.
Stillness Is the Key by Ryan Holiday
Another goodie by Ryan Holiday that I recently finished! This book points out that “all the philosophers of the ancient world – from the Stoics to the Buddhists, the Confucians to the Christians – spoke of [stillness] as the most powerful force on earth.” I truly see my ability to sit with myself in pure silence as a superpower – one that magically transforms every aspect of my life. We all have the ability and we can access it differently (TM is my chosen method!), but the critical part is to actually DO it.
What are some of your favorite books that promote health living? I’d love to add them to the list!
