11 Self-Help Books For Women That Will Genuinely Change Your Life
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The pandemic has forced many people to stay home more than usual this year. For some of us, this has been the gift of time we don’t usually have. For others, it means less time to ourselves because we’re now juggling kids and husbands, as well as a job.
No matter what’s going on in my life, one thing is always consistent: I love crawling into bed with a book. 9 times out of 10 it’s a self-help book. I’ve always been fascinated by the topic of improving my life and the lives of others and self-help books help quench my thirst for personal improvement knowledge.
My business coach nicknamed me “The Student” because I love learning and reading. I take it as a compliment. (On a side note: my current personal challenge is to read more books for fun and pleasure.)
These 11 books have all changed my life in some way. They’re books that I go over again and again to help me during different times in my life because every time I pick them up, I learn something new.
I’ve been a fan of Elizabeth Gilbert since Eat Pray Love. I first read this book on a flight from LAX to Shanghai years ago and it’s one of my favorites.
I love the way Elizabeth talks about her own creative process and what it’s like to live the life of a creative. It gives me the opportunity to rethink what it means to be successful.
Favorite quotes
“You can measure your worth by your dedication to your path, not by your successes or failures.”
“Do whatever brings you to life, then. Follow your own fascinations, obsessions, and compulsions. Trust them. Create whatever causes a revolution in your heart.”
This book is all about living in alignment with the universe. It explains how life can flow and be fun, and empowers you to be a magnet for miracles.
It shows you that life doesn’t have to be hard — you can do less and at the same time attract more positive energy. There’s loads of inspiration about taking authentic action.
Favorite quotes
“Every thought you have is a message you send to the Universe. The Universe is always saying YES to your thoughts, energy, and emotions. Therefore, what you put out you will receive back—whether you want it or not.”
“The Universe doesn’t respond as well to frantic energy. Rather, the Universe vibrates at a positive frequency, and to co-create with it, your energy must align with that frequency.”
“The very second we choose a loving thought, our emotions shift and our energy changes. This is realignment with the Universe.“
I first read this book while sitting on a bus in Vietnam. I was on a solo trip and felt inspired by the locals around me. This book inspired me even further. I was hungry to hear other people’s stories and through her book, Jen Sincero became my entrepreneur bff.
The energy You’re a Badass passed onto me is part of the reason I launched a website. It left me feeling motivated, excited and inspired to do something big. If you want to make major changes in your life and stop your self-sabotaging beliefs, this book is for you.
Favorite quotes
“If you’re serious about changing your life, you’ll find a way. If you’re not, you’ll find an excuse.”
“You are loved. Massively. Ferociously. Unconditionally. The Universe is totally freaking out about how awesome you are. It’s got you wrapped in a warm gorilla hug of adoration. It wants to give you everything you desire. It wants you to be happy. It wants you to see what it sees in you.”
“What other people think about you has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them.”
Glennon Doyle started as a blogger back in 2009 and is now a New York Times best-selling author. I first came across Glennon Doyle when I read Love Warrior in 2017 and I was such a big fan that I just had to read Untamed. I bought it when it was first released and after the first page, I couldn’t put it down.
This book is an exploration of womanhood, faith and sexuality. The way Glennon Doyle writes makes me feel like I’m sitting there with her on the couch curled up with a blanket and a cup of tea while she tells me all her stories. She gives me permission to feel ALL the feelings which few authors do.
Favorite quotes
“When a woman finally learns that pleasing the world is impossible, she becomes free to learn how to please herself.”
“I will not stay, not ever again - in a room or conversation or relationship or institution that requires me to abandon myself.”
“I’ll abandon everyone else’s expectations of me before I’ll abandon myself. I’ll disappoint everyone else before I’ll disappoint myself. I’ll forsake all others before I’ll forsake myself. Me and myself: We are till death do us part.”
“When women lose themselves, the world loses its way. We do not need more selfless women. What we need right now is more women who have detoxed themselves so completely from the world's expectations that they are full of nothing but themselves. What we need are women who are full of themselves. A woman who is full of herself knows and trusts herself enough to say and do what must be done. She lets the rest burn.”
You may know Rhimes as a writer for Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, Private Practice and a How to Get Away with Murder. I first stumbled upon her in 2016 when I was looking for a book to inspire me. Year of Yes certainly did that — and more.
Rhimes writes about how saying “Yes” changed her life. I love this book because Rhimes is an introvert which I can relate to. We’d both much rather be home relaxing than out and about. She shares her story of before, during, and after her year of yes and it’s truly inspiring. The number one takeaway is to be open and trust yourself
Favorite quotes
“I am not lucky. You know what I am? I am smart, I am talented, I take advantage of the opportunities that come my way and I work really, really hard. Don’t call me lucky. Call me a badass.”
“Happiness comes from living as you need to, as you want to. As your inner voice tells you to. Happiness comes from being who you actually are instead of who you think you are supposed to be.”
This is the second book by Gabrielle Bernstein on my list which speaks volumes. She’s also a New York Times best-selling author and through The Universe Has Your Back she transforms readers’ fears into faith and encourages you to let yourself be guided by the Universe.
It explains how when you trust in your relationship with the Universe, your desires come into your life faster than you’d expect. It’s all about knowing and understanding that guidance comes in many forms, you’ve just got to recognize them.
Overall, the book is an easy read filled with many valuable lessons and exercises.
Favorite quote
“Your presence is your power.”
Jen Sincero did it again with this follow-up book. After reading You’re a Badass I was craving more and Sincero certainly delivered with You’re a Badass Everyday.
If you’re a Sincero fan, you should know that she also has another book — You’re a Badass at Making Money. In December 2020 she’s releasing Bad Ass Habits which is on my wish list.
I listened to You’re a Badass Everyday as an audio book. I’m mentioning this because I’m not always a big fan of audiobooks. I don’t enjoy everyone’s voice. But Sincero reads the audio version of her book and I love her voice. It’s engaging and captivating.
This book is one I read every year because it gives me an opportunity to look at how I view money, my beliefs around money, and how to shift my mindset.
Favorite quotes
“Worrying is praying for stuff you don't want.”
“What you focus on you create more of, so if the plan is to get rich, you’re gonna want to focus on abundance as much as possible. Give as much as you can as often as you can, receive with gratitude and joy, think of money as your pal, raise your frequency and get in the flow, yo.”
Another New York Times best-selling author, as well as a great story teller and researcher, Brown wrote the life-changing Daring Greatly. Her books are always relatable and she weaves in her own life experiences. This book is no exception.
In Daring Greatly, Brown talks about everything from shame, perfectionism, and vulnerability to love, parenting, and self-worth. If you’re not familiar with Brene Brown, you can see her in action by watching her Ted Talk.
Favorite quotes
“Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.”
“Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren't always comfortable, but they're never weakness.”
One of my favorite things to do is explore bookstores and bookshelves of friends waiting for something to jump out at me. That’s exactly how I found You Can Heal Your Life. I stumbled across this book on a friend’s bookshelf in high school and inhaled it from the very first page.
You can Heal Your Life was one of the first books I read about manifesting and it really resonated with me. I love how it integrates mediation and I recommend it to anyone who wants to make big changes. This book led me to find You Can Heal Your Body, which is also definitely worth a read.
Favorite quotes
“Think thoughts that make you happy. Do things that make you feel good. Be with people who make you feel good. Eat things that make your body feel good. Go at a pace that makes you feel good.”
“Each of us is doing the very best we can at this very moment. If we knew better, if we had more understanding and awareness, then we would do it differently.”
I absolutely love Marie Kondo, so I just knew I’d like this book. She believes that if something doesn’t spark joy, you should let it go. This really resonates with me because I have a tendency to hold onto things I don’t need.
Kondo is on the extreme side of minimalism, but she does have loads of tips and tricks to get organized, store items, fold clothes, and get your house in order. Whether or not you’ve read Kondo’s book, I definitely recommend watching Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix. If you enjoy that, you should read Spark Joy and Joy at Work, too.
Favorite quotes
“Keep only those things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest. By doing this, you can reset your life and embark on a new lifestyle.”
“But when we really delve into the reasons for why we can’t let something go, there are only two: an attachment to the past or a fear for the future.”
“The space in which we live should be for the person we are becoming now, not for the person we were in the past.”
I first read this book in university back in 2000 and I couldn’t put it down. The lessons contained within The Four Agreements are beyond powerful and everyone can learn from them. Get ready to be wowed and have some “ah-ha!” moments along the way.
If you’re curious, the 4 agreements are:
Be Impeccable with Your Word.
Don’t Take Anything Personally.
Don’t Make Assumptions.
Always Do Your Best.
Your fate isn’t set in stone. You have the power to make big changes and create the life you’ve always dreamed of. No matter what you’re currently working through, the above self-help books will point you in the right direction and inspire you to become a better version of yourself.
Have you read a self-help book that totally changed your life? If you have, I want to hear about it. Leave a comment down below with the name of the book and I’ll check it out. You never know, your one comment could really help someone who’s struggling during a tough part of their lives.
