Happy Mindful Monday again Y’all!
I hope you had an amazing weekend, but now it’s back to the grind, so LET’S GET THIS BREAD! Today I have a short list of books I’ve been using/reading to become more mindful. If you’ve been wondering where to even start, this is how I started my journey and hopefully you connect with them in some way!
(All books are linked & none are sponsored) Enjoy!
The first two books I’ll touch on are both Christian & prompt based. I find that when I tie a spiritual aspect into my mindfulness practices I am more capable of stepping outside myself, leading into a deeper reflection and thought process.
100 Days of Grace & Gratitude by Shanna Noel with Lisa Stilwell
- This book is a daily devotional. I love the prompts and verses it uses, for example just today the prompt read: “Did you know that your mind literally expands on whatever you focus on? If you focus on what you’re afraid of, your mind expands with fear and gloom. If you think about what you’re grateful for, your mind expands on optimism and contentment. So if you start your day with negative thoughts, stop! Make a conscious decision to take those thoughts captive and think on whatever is true and pure and lovely. After you do, the feelings will follow, and before you know it, peace will rule your day.” And of course the excerpt is followed by some verses that relate to it.
- The next page is blank for you to write and reflect. Ending the page is a prayer you can say when you are finished. I’ve done the first 4 pages intermittently, but starting today I’m challenging myself to do it daily for the next 100 days!
- And to top it all off, it’s so cute! It has a bullet journal style without all the hassle of making your own 🙂
Cultivate – A Grace-Filled Guide to Growing an Intentional Life by Lara Casey
- I couldn’t put this book any better than the excerpt that’s on the back: “Written as part encouragement anthem and part practical guide, Cultivate offers wisdom from God’s Word alongside lessons author, business owner, and mom Lara Casey has learned in her garden. Woven throughout is her personal story, which helps release readers from the pressure to achieve and gives them freedom to move from planning to planting a meaningful legacy.”
- I mean, how great is that?! There’s even a section that helps you practice saying No, and if you’re a people pleaser like me, this really hits home. Out of 230 pages, there’s a prompt on almost every page for you to dive deep into yourself; your needs, your wants, your goals, your life aspirations!
These next two books have no prompts, but make you think just as much. Both written by strong successful women & basically, this is their advice to you and me!
Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis
- I’m sure you’ve heard of this before, and if not here’s your introduction!
- This book is a #1 New York Times Bestseller for a reason. Rachel goes IN on her flaws and things she struggled/struggles with. At the end of each chapter, she lists what has helped her through her flaws and struggles. She is so relatable! In one chapter she talks about her Diet Coke addiction, how she beat it and how that experience has actually helped her quit other bad habits. I could use this for my LaCroix addiction!
- Highly recommend. I read this on vacation and I couldn’t put it down!
- Again, I’m using what’s on the back of the book because it puts it so perfectly! “Drawing from her own transformational experiences, Shannon Kaiser’s program utilizes an empowering process that encourages you to go on adventures for your soul so you can: Achieve your goals. Remove limiting beliefs and self-sabotaging patterns. Feel freedom from fear and live with purpose and passion. Be unapologetic about your innermost desires. And make happiness your natural way of life.”
- In the introduction you get to know Shannon and where she started. She struggled with major depression, eating disorders, drug addiction, and poor life choices in general (like bad boyfriends). That’s a really hard place to start, but she has overcome it all and changed her life completely by shifting her mindset.
- This book has a few prompts included, but it’s more about her teachings and her story. The book is very inspirational and can be applied to anyone’s life, no matter where you’re at in your journey. She has some really good advice!
I hope at least one of these caught your eye today, they have helped me a lot through my mindfulness journey! Also, if you have any recommendations please comment, I am always looking for another good read.
Happy reading!
The Surrender Experiment helped me greatly!