“Read more” has been on my New Years Resolutions list FOREVER! Not because I don’t read but because I want to read even MORE. Every year I try to squeeze in more reading and constantly update my book wish list.

Over the last two years, I was very focused on books that would help me with my personal development journey. I wanted to be inspired, change, learn and grow and I feel like I have found the perfect books to do just that. 

Here are my top 5 motivational and inspirational personal growth books. I hope they will help you grow this year as much as they have helped me.

Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are so You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be – Rachel Hollis

A friend told me about Rachel’s #Last90Day Challenge last year and I loved it! Ramping up for 2019 by using the last 90 days of 2018 to set yourself up for success – uhm, yes, please. So when I heard about her new book I knew I had to read it.

Girl, Wash Your Face is all about the lies we tell ourselves. Rachel uses examples from her own life to explain how she overcame those lies.

My favorite lies she talks about in the book: “I’m a Terrible Writer” and “I’ll Start Tomorrow”. Some powerful stuff in there. 

My favorite quote:

“Stop thinking that if you only had the right job, the right man, the right house, the right car, the right whatever that your life will become what you’ve always dreamed of.” 

Let that sink in for a moment and tell me you haven’t thought these exact thoughts before. I know I have plenty of times. Heck its why I started this blog in the first place.

 

Unfu*k Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and into Your Life – Gary John Bishop

This handbook to unfu*king yourself will show you how your negative self-talk keeps you from becoming the best version of yourself. You’re limiting your potential by holding yourself back. Everything you need is already within you.

Gary John Bishop leads you through 7 assertions geared towards changing your mindset. With just over 200 pages this books is a great sweet and short read. 

My favorite quotes: 

“Remember, everything is solve-able, and if you can’t see a solution, it only means you haven’t worked it out yet.” 

 

“The only difference between you and the person who’s living the life you want is that they’re doing it. They’ve built that life and they’re living it.”

This is a great reminder for me when I look at other bloggers who are crazy successful. They’re living the life I want because they worked hard to get there. Anyone can accomplish anything they want to with hard work and persistence.

The Happiness Project: Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun – Gretchen Rubin

I was a little late in the game for this one (it’s been out for over 3 years) but this book is a true life changer. 

I felt so relieved knowing that others feel the same way about wanting to be happier. Even if they seem to already have everything. Gretchen has a loving husband, two kids, work that she enjoys and overall a very fulfilling life. And yet, she dedicated one year of her life (12 chapters) to find more ways to be happier.

My favorite quotes: 

“I grasped two things: I wasn’t as happy as I could be, and my life wasn’t going to change unless I made it change.” 

“Happiness is the meaning and purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.”

If you want to be happier, I highly recommend this book! Not only will it challenge your beliefs about happiness but it will also show you many ways to improve and question your life and perspective.

You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life – Jen Sincero

This book was such an easy read! It felt like sitting down with your bestie at a coffee shop. It’s so entertaining and engaging. If you’ve been through some heavy personal development lately and are looking for something light-hearted, this is the book for you.

The 27 (short!) chapters are full of inspiring stories and motivational advice. 

My favorite quotes:

“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.”

If you ever feel fear or self-doubt – just remember this one <3

“You are responsible for what you say and do. You are not responsible for whether or not people freak out about it.”

I worry about what other people think waaaay too much so reading this really helped me focus on myself. What people think about me is secondary.

 

The Gift of Anger: And Other Lessons from My Grandfather Mahatma Gandhi – Arun Gandhi

Okay, this book is a little different than the previous ones but I love it just the same. I had just gotten back from my India Trip when I saw this book on Audible.

I get angry sometimes. We all do. Gandhi teaches his readers why anger can be a good thing and how to channel it.

The author Arun Gandhi was only 12 when his parents sent him off to live with his grandfather, Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi taught him to redirect his anger. Arun learned to use it for the greater good and to drive positive change. 

He shares the 10 life lessons he learned during that time. They ultimately changed his life forever and they got me thinking as well.

Arun’s and Mahatma Gandhi’s story really captured me. It’s a great reminder of the simple acts of kindness and compassion in this world.

My favorite quotes: 

“A ‘no’ uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a ‘yes’ merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble.”

This one is big for me. I have such a hard time saying no to anyone or anything, always wanting to please everyone.

“Use your anger for good. Anger to people is like gas to the automobile – it fuels you to move forward and get to a better place. Without it, we would not be motivated to rise to a challenge. It is an energy that compels us to define what is just and unjust.” 

So these are my 5 books and I can’t tell you how much they have helped me to grow and self reflect.

I hope 2019 will be a year of growth and inspiration for you. Learn new things, read new books and be inspired by other people’s success. Stop holding yourself back. You deserve greatness.

What was the last book you read? Do you have any other personal growth book recommendation?