A Dynamic Mentality

Hey Friends! Happy first of the month!

Hope all is well and that you are enjoying every bit of the summer, wherever you are.

I’m so happy you’re here.

So have you ever had a book that made you think about things differently?

Maybe you’re someone who is in need of some really good, thought-provoking books to read…

Well, look no further, because in today’s post, I’ll be highlighting the books that really changed the way I thought.

These books have helped me to look at life through a different lens, taking with me ideas and beliefs as I navigate through this thing called life.

I hope these books help you find some clarity and perspective in your life too.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at no cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase. Thanks!

1. The Alchemist/El Alquimista By Paulo Coelho

This Book is EVERYTHING.

So back story, I read this book twice! Once in Spanish and again in English. This was the first book that I read in less than a week. Both times!

I read this book when I was struggling with depression.

I was receiving outpatient treatment for my mental health out of the country, staying with family and my cousin recommended me to read this book.

She said that it helped her with similar issues she had and it gave her a sense of purpose.

When she offered it to me, I read it and I was HOOKED.

I got my own copy in English when I got back to the states, read it again and the same message CAME THRU. It was as good as the Spanish version I read.

The book talks about this guy, named Santiago, who has an extremely vivid dream about discovering treasure in the Pyramids of Giza.

Suddenly inspired by this dream, he decides right then and there, that he is going to set out and find the treasure.

A tale about going after your dreams, the main character encounters feats, like meeting an Alchemist who gives him direction in how to achieve this dream and…

Well, I’m not gonna spoil the book for you, but I will leave you with this really awesome quote:

And when you really want something, the Universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.

excerpt from The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Grab a copy of The Alchemist here.

2. The Shack/La Cabaña by WM. Paul Young

This is another book that was recommended to me by my cousin.

Not gonna lie, I was taken aback by this book.

I only read it in Spanish, but it was amazing and gave me so much spiritual clarity.

The book follows a man, named Mackenzie (Mack) Allen Phillips, grieving the loss of his daughter, Missy, who was abducted on a family vacation and evidence showed that she was murdered in an abandoned shack in the middle of the Oregon wilderness.

In the four years he spends grieving his daughter, he gets a note from God, inviting him back at the shack for a weekend.

Against his better judgment, he goes back to the shack and the rest… is history.

Personally, I fell in love with this book because it helped me dive deeper in my relationship with God.

When I cry or feel emotions, I know it’s evidence of brokenness. And more importantly, it’s evidence of healing.

excerpt from The Shack by WM. Paul Young

Grab your copy and find out what happens in The Shack here!

3. How to Do the Work: Recognize Your Patterns, Heal from Your Past, and Create Your Self By Dr. Nicole LePera

I was going through a really tough time and I realized that I kept finding myself in a pattern and cycle of trauma that I knew I had to break.

So I kickstarted my own self-healing journey.

And this book was an amazing stepping stone into it.

In this book, Dr. LePera talks about patterns that we fall into when we’re in relationships, how the past can creep up on us even when we least expect it.

What I like is she references other books that talk about similar topics, gives readers strategies/journal prompts on how to create yourself and a life that is authentic to you.

Best of all, she talks about her own self-healing journey and how the strategies she’s outlined in the book have lead her to have a better relationship with herself and others.

I loved it because it was a breath of fresh air and it was just what I needed to learn more about my inner child and the kinds of parents I had growing up.

Why I was the way I was and how to change for the better.

From there, I was able to get a better mindset .

What’s more is I can take these strategies with me as I move forward in my life.

We can unlearn and relearn as adults, even if we’ve endured significant trauma in our past. We can harness the power of our bodies to heal our minds and the power of our minds to heal our bodies.

excerpt from How To Do The Work by Dr. Nicole LePera

If you’re ready to jump into your self-healing journey, but don’t know how or where to begin, grab your book here.

4. Single On Purpose: Redefine Everything. Find Yourself First. By John Kim

I read this book late last year on my first solo trip (read more about that here)

I realized I needed to heal from the relationships and quite frankly learn more about what it is that makes a relationship, well, work.

In this book, John Kim writes about how basically, you should still be in the mindset of continuous growth.

Because what happens a lot of times is when we are single we make a plan to build ourselves up, commit to new goals, find new hobbies, and essentially learn to have a life outside of work and something completely all our own.

The author highlights that the moment that we meet someone new and ultimately get into a relationship with said person…

All of that internal work that we have done goes out the window and in comes all these patterns of spending all your time with the person you are with so much so that it becomes your life.

So one of the big things that the author talks about is essentially having a life.

Allowing yourself to have a life that isn’t at all tied to being with someone.

A life that is authentic to you and helps you grow in the ways you want for the goals you have in mind.

It’s what he calls being “single. on purpose”

Which is honestly so cool.

I found this book to be really well-written and well-articulated, and like Dr. LePera he pulls from his own experiences on how he became “single. on purpose” and how it lead him to lead a life that aligns with his goals and values.

I learned that even in relationships there should be boundaries set and the ability to allow you and your partner to have a life, while also being committed to each other’s growth.

It’s easier to get into a relationship to fix a feeling of hopelessness or boredom. But the call is coming from inside the house – until you resolve the disconnection with who you really are, it’s going to haunt you. No “perfect” partner can replace that.

Single. On Purpose. By John Kim

If you are in need of a no-bs guide to being single on purpose and growth, snag a copy here!

5. Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find – and Keep – Love By Amir Levine and Rachel Heller

This book right here… Mind. Blowing.

I read this shortly after ending things with someone after realizing that I still have things I need to work through.

During this time, I found myself in this pattern that I couldn’t shake and this book opened my eyes to attachment styles and how they influence relationships.

The book breaks down the 3 types of attachment styles: anxious, avoidant and secure.

Not only does this book help you pin-point what your attachment style is, but it helps you work towards having a secure attachment style.

It does an amazing job in giving you prompts at the end of each chapter to make sure you understand how to apply the strategies in your life, so that when presented with an issue that arises you can respond in a way that is not only honest but helps the other person know what it is you need.

Remember an activated attachment system is not passionate love. Next time you date someone and find yourself feeling anxious, insecure and obsessive – only to feel elated every once in a while – tell yourself that this is an activated attachment system and not love! True love, in an evolutionary sense, means peace of mind.

excerpt from Attached by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller

So if you want to dive deeper into learning about attachment styles and learn how you can navigate your dating life a little bit better, click here!

With all that being said… Happy Reading!!

I hope you enjoyed reading about the books that have changed my life.

Let me know if you’d like to see more posts about really good books in the comments below!

Sending you a ton of love and light your way,

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