Top 5 Books for Personal Growth
Before my cancer diagnosis, I was one of the most negative, pessimistic, worry-wart, anxiety driven individuals you would ever meet. I am not sure how I ended up this way, but it was intrinsic and something I identified as. With this as my baseline personality and a cancer diagnosis as the cherry on top, I never thought I could change.
Thankfully, through a company I work for, I was introduced to the idea of 'personal development'. Yes, I am referring to those self-help books. The very books that I avoided like the plague and thought were for weird people. Luckily for me, they were an essential part of the health and wellness business I was a part of; the company held personal growth as a daily behaviour before you could truly help others.
The concept? It wouldn’t take much to incorporate this personal growth. At least ten minutes per day, every day. After all, consistency was more important than quantity. I was also told that I could pick a book in any area that I struggled with, apply what the book said and make change.
Are you rolling your eyes and thinking ‘yeah, right?’ That’s exactly what I was doing too.
That’s why I was so surprised to find that my mindset truly did begin to shift. I began to want to listen to personal development on audio in the car instead of the radio. I began to share the life changing gift of personal development with family and friends.
Yes, life changing. You read that right. I truly believe that investing in personal growth can be life changing for you. Just as we can study math, English and chemistry from the experts, we can study positivity, productivity, leadership and happiness from experts too. Will you try it? You give me ONE month of doing ten minutes per day, and tell me how it went. I promise you’ll see a change.
With that said, here are my top 5 favourite personal development books for your reading (or listening) pleasure:
What is it about? How your small, daily actions can be harnessed to compound into massive success in any area of your life.
Who is is good for? This book is great for personal development beginners. It is truly eye opening! Our daily behaviours have so much effect on the outcome of our lives.
The Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
What is it about? The story of how popular television creator, Shonda Rhimes, transformed her life by saying YES.
Who is good for? This book is great for individuals looking to push outside their comfort zones and live life to the fullest. It’s also a great read for those who feel unsure about the whole idea of personal development and want to ease in slowly.
The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins
What is it about? A simple discovery by Mel is the secret for achieving anything, regardless of if you “feel like it.” Mel describes how The 5 Second Rule can transform your life in any area from procrastination to health.
Who is good for? This book is great for anyone who feels stuck, has a big goal they would like to achieve, or a habit they’d like to kick. The 5 Second Rule is a fun, simple read that you can begin to apply immediately. This would be a great place to start for beginners who really want to test how personal development can impact their lives.
What is it about? Have you ever set a big goal only to come ¾ of the way done and then quit? We all have! Jon Acuff explains how to actually finish a goal while having a whole lot of fun.
Who is good for? This book is great for anyone with goals - personal and / or professional. It’s a very fun read and another great place for beginners to start.
The Go Giver by Bob Burg & John David Mann
What is it about? Bob and John explain through storytelling, how giving is the secret to success.
Who is good for? This book is great for entrepreneurs, business professionals, or individuals who deal with sales and service in their field of work. It reads like a novel with rich bits of personal development in each chapter. This is a great, eye opening book.
I hope you enjoy these book suggestions. I would love to know what personal development have you been reading (or listening to) lately? How has personal development helped you in your journey after cancer? Share your answers here.