Best Mindset Books Part One
Dear Readers,
I have been told that good writers are also avid readers. With that being said, I want to invite you to read the words of those that have moved, inspired and changed me.
Please Note: This is by no means a complete list.
PART ONE: Great First Starts and For the Love of Science
Great First Starts:
These are generally shorter books that do not require you to question what you already “know” as reality. You will find concepts that will start to shift your mind, open you up to new ways of being and hopefully glimpses of a paradigm shift.
The Four Agreements
Author don Miguel Ruiz
“If you live in a past dream, you don't enjoy what is happening right now because you will always wish it to be different than it is. There is no time to miss anyone or anything because you are alive. Not enjoying what is happening right now is living in the past and being only half alive. This leads to self-pity, suffering and tears.”
This is a great first read into understanding mindset, because the book is short, written simply yet eloquently and there are only four major concepts to take away. Be Impeccable with Your Words, Don’t Take Anything Personally, Don’t Make Assumptions and Always Do Your Best. So simple and yet when applied…life changing.
You Are A Badass
Author Jen Sincero
“Deciding means jumping in all the way, doing whatever it takes, and going after your dreams with the tenacity of a dateless cheerleader a week before prom night.”
The title gives you a clue to how Jen Sincero approaches the concepts on mindset discussed within this book. She uses language to get your attention, humor to put you at ease and her own stories of failure and triumph to remind you she is just like you, a human being having a human experience. She blends a light-hearted comical approach with concepts that are anything but, while also offering directions you can apply in your own life.
The Science of Getting Rich
Author Wallace D. Wattles
“and bear in mind that the only way in which you can assist the world in growing rich is by growing rich yourself through the creative method—not the competitive one”
Again, another short I mean really short book, that tackles some heavy mental roadblocks written in an eloquent language. This book helped me have a better relationship with money and wealth, opened my eyes to what it means “To Be Rich”, and how my own judgements surrounding money and wealth were preventing me from expressing my full capabilities.
The Obstacle is the Way
Author Ryan Holiday
“The obstacle in the path becomes the path. Never forget, within every obstacle is an opportunity to improve our condition.”
The Obstacle is the Way, is a short easy read that mixes history and growth mindset. Read about historical events that could have stopped people in the tracks and how those obstacles ended up being opportunities or gifts. Find inspiration from those that repeatedly failed and had hardship followed by misfortune and still found a way to persevere.
The Prophet
Author Kahlil Gibran
“Love one another, but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.”
This book was gifted to me by mom, and it has been a reference ever since. The writing is beautifully poetic and which mimics the messages found within, pure beauty. The Prophet is split up into short chapters on specific concepts. If you’re looking for insight on marriage, being a parent, love or even death there’s a chapter that offers guidance and insight on each.
For the Love of Science
I am a scientist at heart, meaning show me the data. Show me the experiments, let’s see the statistics surrounding the concepts and these books do just that.
Positive Intelligence
Author Shirzad Chamine
“The Survivor Brain is wired to say no and preserve the status quo. For a human being, the status quo means continuing to be alive; saying yes to something new and unknown could literally lead to death. The Survivor Brain is wired to prevent that.”
This book and program came out of left field for me. I had only enrolled in the PQ Coaches program as a favor to one of my fellow coaches (coaches need at least three members in their pods). I had been studying mindset for almost ten years, meditating for eight years, daily meditation for two years and practicing daily gratitude for five years. What more could I really learn? What this book gave me, was a way to not just label a thought as a thought but as a specific saboteur (based on factor analysis there are ten of them). Labeling thoughts as Avoider, Pleaser, Hyper-rational etc. gave me a deeper understanding of the lies, characteristics and feelings behind these Automatic Negative Thoughts. Doing this allows one to create space between self and saboteur enabling the use of discernment and not judgement. The program also offers a scientifically proven approach to strengthen the neural pathways (and myelin sheath around the neurons) to the Prefrontal Cortex, parts of the left brain and the empathy circuitry, where the sage powers of empathy, innovation, exploration, activation and navigation are housed.
Power vs Force
Author David R. Hawkins MD PhD
“the body can discern, to the finest degree, the difference between that which is supportive of life and that which is not.”
Power vs Force breaks down feelings such as apathy, anger, courage and joy into frequencies of energy. Then using kinesthetic testing, he proves that the body knows what we want even when the mind may be confused or telling us otherwise. Being in the body, moves you out of your limbic system and away from fear, allowing you to make choices rooted in love.
Coaching with the Brain in Mind
Authors David Rock and Linda J. Page PhD
“At 0.5 second before an action, instruments register brain’s (unconscious) readiness potential.
At 0.2 second before the action, we become aware of the urge to act.
At 0 second, we act.
It is in that gap of two-tenths of a second between awareness and action that we can decide not to do what we have unconsciously generated as an option for action.”
After I kept pestering my own coach for resources on neurology and coaching, this is the one and only book he suggested. This reads much like a textbook, learning first about physics, taking those concepts and linking them to neurology and psychology. It also provides practical applications when it comes to coaching. By understanding how the brain works, you can then coach your clients in a way that uses their brain for them instead of against them. This is not an easy read, and I would suggest creating a book club to allow for conversation and greater understanding.
Thinking Fast and Slow
Author Daniel Kahneman
“The world in our heads is not a precise replica of reality; our expectations about the frequency of events are distorted by the prevalence and emotional intensity of the messages to which we are exposed.”
According to Kahneman we have two systems of thinking, System One, Fast: emotional and intuitive and System Two Slow: deliberate and more logical. Most of our decisions are made before we are even cognitively aware of them, and our previous decisions and biases are used in our decision-making process often without us being aware of it. Both systems have positive and negative aspects depending on how they are used and the amount of available caloric energy present. Using both of them together will allow for the best use of your intuition and introspection without decision paralysis from overthinking.
Let me know your thoughts! Have you read any of these books? Which one sparks your interest?