As creative dreamers, we need support on our journeys to changing the world and shining our light as far as the eye can see. These books are sure to give you the emotional support, encouragement, and inspiration needed to start your journey, follow your dreams, and see your way through the obstacles along the way.
You know how when you were in school, you would enroll in a class and get a list of required textbooks to make it through the class? Well, these books are like my required reading for life school. I think that everyone should read at least one of these books on their life journey. Extra credit if you read all of them! You’ll be a happier human for it.
Spiritual guidance for your journey
These books are more on the spiritual side than the tactical side when it comes to going after your dreams. I still highly recommend them because I truly believe that it’s 80% an inside job and 20% external action job when you’re taking the chance on going after something that means a lot to you.
Sure, you’ll need to send that email, make that call, book that trip, or do whatever is necessary for what you’re specifically going after, but first you have to gain the courage and the self-confidence to even take your idea seriously and then take the action to make it happen. These books will build up your mental and emotional reserves and kick start your engines to get dreaming and doing!
Disclaimer: While reading books outside of your comfort zone, remember to check in with yourself and feel what rings true to you. Take the messages that feel right and leave the rest, but still try to be objective and notice any limiting beliefs that you may be clinging on to when your instinct is to immediately reject a new perspective.
Let’s jump right in!
holy grail creative dreamer fuel
If you were to only read one of my recommended books, I would highly recommend you choosing one of these 4 below.
You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay
You Can Heal Your Life was my FIRST ever new age spiritual book. Louise Hay is the GOAT of holistic spiritual healing. My mom gave me this book when I moved home from NYC right after college and was moping around the house defeated and dejected about where my life was going. This book and the accompanying DVD was my life raft to get me out of that hopeless place. It was a nice change to have my mom recommend something other than bible scripture for my problems. She shared with me that she watches the DVD every couple of years and it was something she relied on in her early 20s.
I ate up the processes in this book and i’m sure you will too! This book is heavy on affirmations but really highlights how our thoughts create our reality and goes through various sections of life and how its teachings can apply to help you shift your mindset and thus shift your reality. Also, I’m a big believer in the mind-body connection, so whenever I have any body ailment, I pop open the glossary in the back of the book to see what though pattern or emotion might be the root cause.
You are a Badass by Jen Sincero
I love that these books can really take me back to a phase in my life. I read this book while sleeping on my sister’s friend’s couch in LA a couple months before moving there. I was bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready to chase my dreams of becoming a screenwriter. This book was pivotal for giving me the tools for intentional manifestation. I loved Jen’s fun and comedic writing style and the way she presented the concepts.
I felt this book to be the most approachable for showing how our thoughts create our reality and giving practices to really pin down where we’re holding ourselves back from greatness. I recently re-read this book in quarantine as I like to read a chapter upon waking up and it held up! Great reminders we all need when going after the life of our dreams!
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
This BOOK! Oh man. This book is on docket to be re-read soon. I remember I read this book around the time of my Rock Bottom at 23. I was sitting in Starbucks just starting my blogging journey with my last blog and this book was my creative fuel. If I can point to any one book for the reason why I’m so picky and dead set on living a creatively aligned life, this has to be it.
It’s tough feeling like being creative isn’t a viable career path, especially if you grew up with business and science-minded family members like I did. This book was so helpful in giving me permission and confidence in my creative skills and abilities. If you’re doubting your creative voice, this book will show you how to embrace your creativity, dance with inspiration, and kick fear to the backseat as you journey towards the life of your dreams.
“Creative entitlement simply means that you are allowed to be here and that –merely by being here — you are allowed to have a voice and a vision of your own.”
Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic
The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo
Sooo Good. Unlike the books above, this book is written more in the form of a parable as we follow the protagonist, Santiago, on a journey to find buried treasure. He encounters obstacles and meets guides along the way and shares timeless wisdom that can be applied to all of our journeys. Most famously, the quote, “and, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
If you’re feeling hopeless or despondent about ever improving your life, this book will be a pick-me-up. I also highly recommend this audiobook as a great listen. The reader takes on the voices of the story perfectly so that you can really envision it!
Soul Healing For Bumps Along Your Path
On a creative journey, you’re charting new waters and exploring new land. It’s almost guaranteed that you’ll face resistance and may get knocked down a few times. When that happens, reach for one of these books to get your mindset straight. Know that you’re not alone and many others have walked the tough road of trying something new. These books will give you the tools to face the tougher moments that come when going after your dreams.
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
This book is foundational to all humans if you ask me. It’s a short simple read. Easy to digest. And the teachings are timeless. I love whenever a book can portray the beauty of simplicity. It presents 4 agreements to make in order to live a happy life and I have yet to find any compelling arguments against them! My favorite agreement and my personal life assignment is the third agreement, Don’t Take Anything Personally (I wrote about it in a recent newsletter!).
The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer
Not gonna lie, this book is pretty advanced. You may need to read it a couple of times over a couple of years to fully absorb it but it is worth it in the end. It is uber spiritual, more so in the middle and second half of the book, but if you have a sense of spirituality in your life and a connection to a greater field of consciousness, you’ll probably be open to pondering the thought processes of detachment and enlightenment.
Whether or not you choose to adopt any of these thought processes for yourself is up to you. For me personally, I have found the chapters on removing your inner thorn and transcending the tendency to close to be extremely helpful. The backbone of this book is very similar to thought work which I love to study through The Life Coach School Podcast and Unf*ck Your Brain podcast. It will show you how to detach from the ego as we discussed in my last blog post and find peace and freedom with what’s showing up in your life.
Loving What Is by Byron Katie
Also sort of advanced reading, but so super powerful. When you can reframe and turn around any negative thought or feeling you’re having, you can face anything. The processes in this book are referred to as “The Work” and are truly life changing for learning radical acceptance (also mentioned in a past newsletter).
My favorite teaching from the book is how she sets up minding your own business. She says there’s my business, your business, and God’s business. We are only responsible for our own business and by going through the “Judge Your Neighbor” process we can use our judgements to learn about ourselves and ultimately gain more peace. This book low-key helps with codependency now that I’m thinking about it.
Another amazing quote: “When you argue with reality, you lose, but only 100% of the time.” Pick this up when you’re really feeling like a victim and like nothing is going your way. You’ll learn to reframe, stop taking things personally, and get the strength to get back on that horse!
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Have you read any of these books? What would you add to the list? Share in the comments or send me your thoughts in a DM! I’ve read some more tactical books for going after your dreams that give more tangible productivity tips. Perhaps I’ll have to make a second list to share those too. Hope you enjoyed and happy reading!
