These are some of the books that have helped me the most in my business and personal journey.
Business
Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money–That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not
by Robert T. Kiyosaki
Classic, essential reading for your journey to financial freedom. Covers basic principles like how self-employment is a lot more like having a job than having business or investment income. How to stop thinking “work 8 hours a day” and start thinking about your time as an investment. Change your thinking from “working for yourself” to “owning a business” or “owning investments”.
Personal and Spiritual
Non-violent Communication: A Language of Life
The more I learn of NVC, the more I’m drawn to it and the life-affirming consciousness behind it. This book teahes the basics and offers inspring examples of using it in what seem like hopeless situations: inner city schools, war zones, etc. Classes and groups exist around the world to learn and practic it in more depth. Here in Portland I recommend LaShelle’s classes.NVC, along with the basic “feel your feelings”, is the most effective tool I’ve yet found for resolving stuck emotional energy and patterns. When we untangle our self-judgement for having feelings and needs and develop compassion for ourselves, healing is almost automatic.NVC teaches us to understand the language our heart speaks.
How To Be An Adult
A concise handbook on how to resolve your childhood “unfinished business” and grow up. This is the owner’s manual to your life. It covers anger, fear, guilt, assertiveness, boundaries, drama, co-dependence, intimacy, and spirituality. I come back to this book again and again. It is compact and powerful.
The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity
by Julia Cameron
This book fundamentally altered how I view creativity, and by extension, money (to me, money is a creative energy). The book is about learning to open yourself to the flow of creativity that is within you all the time by healing the beliefs and habits that block that energy from flowing through you. It’s about believing in the goodness of your work. This book is a program which can be done in a group for support; search on Google for groups in your area.
Emotional Clearing: An East / West Guide to Releasing Negative Feelings and Awakening Unconditional
by John Ruskan
Explains in great detail how we suppress our natural emotions and how to stop doing that. An in-depth and effective guide to clearing emotional energy.
Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself
by Melody Beattie
The basic bible to codependence and how to move beyond it. Scour this book.
Now, Discover Your Strengths
by Marcus Buckingham
Amazing. Stop trying to shore up your weaknesses and focus on your strengths, because you’ll be way more effective and have way more fun. Buy a new copy of the book to get a passcode to take the test to understand your true unique strengths. My results surprised me!
StrengthsFinder 2.0: A New and Upgraded Edition of the Online Test
by Tom Rath
The second edition of Now Discover Your Strengths, the excellent book+test to discover and develop your true and unique strengths. The first book has more information, the second book has the passcode for the newer version of the test. I bought this one new, to get the passcode for the test, and the other one used.
Comfort Secrets for Busy Women: Finding Your Way When Your Life Is Overflowing
by Jennifer Louden
My favorite of Louden’s happily non-preachy Comfort Queen series, this book has a delightful narrative style and thought-provoking questions for journaling. The focus is on listening to your inner voice(s) and understanding what to do with what you hear. I don’t consider myself a “busy woman” as I try to cultivate an unhurried lifestyle, but this book appealed to me nonetheless. I have a busy head, shall we say, and this book helped me cut through the buzz and refocus.