Blogging and reading go hand in hand. Someone who writes a lot, generally reads a lot too. So, while I’ve taken a couple months off of writing blog posts, I have been filling that time with lots and lots of books. Some books I’ve listened to on Audible, others I’ve read on my Kindle. I believe it’s not how you consume books that matters, but just the fact that you are getting access to the words!
These 5 books to nurture your soul come from a summer that has been pretty hectic and jam packed with stressful activities- moving across the country, buying land, becoming a homeowner, and entertaining guests every other weekend. It’s been a lot, but my reading list has kept me grounded.
I hope you find these reads useful and comforting as you embark on another busy season. Allow yourself to slow down. Soak in the words. Enjoy.
5 Books to Nurture Your Soul
- Signs by Laura Lynn Jackson
- This book was suggested by a friend of mine after I told her my latest “sign” from my brother. I told her I had been seeing his name everywhere, “Jackson,” and that I never realized how common it was until after he died. She said that she thought I would love this book Signs, but she couldn’t remember the authors name… When I looked it up, I quickly realized that my brother also wanted me to read this book when I saw his name (!!!) on the cover in all caps. It has been a really therapeutic read for me regarding grief. If you’ve lost a close loved one, this book might inspire some hope. I like it a lot because it gives you some tools to connect with your loved ones on the other side.
- Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown
- I’ll admit that I love everything written by Brene Brown. This book, just released Nov 30, 2021, is super relevent, timely, and addresses some really important concepts. Brene is an expert and making the complicated simple. In Atlas of the Heart, she maps out complicated human emotions and gives you a roadmap for navigating complicated/mixed feelings. In a world that wants everything to be black and white, Brene is embracing the gray areas.. and helping others see how beautiful those shades of gray are. There is so much richness to be gained from dissecting our emotions and getting to the root of “why” we’re feeling this type of way. Reading it has allowed me to have a greater capacity for compassion for others as well as self-compassion for myself. DO NOT MISS THIS ONE.
- Conscious: A Brief Guide to the Fundamental Mystery of the Mind by Annaka Harris
- Fan-tas-tic read. I’d give it ten stars if I could. I’ve never heard anyone articulate the slippery concept of ‘consciousness’ so finely, precisely and in so few words. This book on audiobook is only 3 hours, so yeah, it is super short. But, packed into those brief pages is a totally perspective shifting and mind expanding read. Definitely give this one a chance. I’m planning to read it again on Kindle just so I can absorb the information a little better.
- The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober by Catherine Gray
- I really enjoyed this book. It helped me realize that I actually have great boundaries when it comes to alcohol. Even though I don’t consider myself an ‘alcoholic,’ it never hurts to reexamine your relationship with toxic substances, right? This book was a green light to embracing the JOY in abstaining from alcohol, rather than the FOMO. There’s no judgement in this text… Just honest perspective and some helpful perspective-shifting tips for those on a sobriety journey or for those just simply trying to cut back.
- The Comfort Book by Matthew Haig
- This book was so… comforting. Funny enough. It feels like a modern day Chicken Soup for the Soul. Every chapter, every page includes a moment of insight so clear that you can’t help but understand. Here’s one quote from it to give you a taste: “It is a strange paradox, that many of the clearest, most comforting life lessons are learnt while we are at our lowest. But then we never think about food more than when we are hungry and we never think about life rafts more than when we are thrown overboard.”
I’ve read (or started to read) some others, but I haven’t gotten far enough to recommend them. Do you like reading lists?? Comment below and tell me what is next on yours… 😉 📕
