The Top 10 Books for Personal Growth and Development You Need to Read

I'm always looking for ways to improve myself, while also accepting where I am. One way that I educate and inspire myself to grow is through reading. I've read sooo many books and have been very happy with what I have learned, which is obviously why I keep reading them. Sometimes it just takes a different perspective to make a change. The key is to actually apply what is learned, otherwise reading the book in the first place is pointless. Below are ten must-read books for personal development.

The Mood Cure: The 4-Step Program to Rebalance Your Emotional Chemistry and Rediscover Your Natural Sense of Well-Being

This book helped me understand more about how keep myself in a better mood without any unnecessary chemicals. I'm someone who doesn't use alcohol, medications, and rarely consumes caffeine, as I believe it is best not to rely on chemicals, so this book was just right for what I needed to hear that aligns with my standards. Of course I want to improve my mood. Who doesn't? It not only benefits me, but also those around me so it was great learning how to become more balanced in this way.

What's Eating Us: Women, Food, and the Epidemic of Body Anxiety

As someone who has sincerely struggled with accepting my body throughout my life, this was very helpful to me. I had gone for periods of time during my adolescence and young adulthood where I ate nothing or at least very minimally. Other times, I would binge. And after going through pregnancy, I had found myself experiencing body anxiety once again, although I refused to let myself fall back in my harmful habits. This book was very beneficial by reminding me not to be so hard on myself and to love my body as it is. Of course I am still trying to move towards being more thin, but accepting my body as it is helps me to be more patient with the process and go about it the healthy way, and also reminds me not to beat myself up over unrealistic expectations.

Memory Rescue: Supercharge Your Brain, Reverse Memory Loss, and Remember What Matters Most

I really liked that this book emphasized that what my brain is or has been, does not have to be how it is going forward. Sometimes I find myself in that all or nothing thinking where I think "well, it already isn't perfect so I may as well give in and give up." This book was a good reminder that I can make changes now that will change the future health of my brain. It really made me think about how I want to be mentally present as I grow older, so I can (and should) start preparing for that now. Of course, it is never too late to begin making healthier choices, however my mind will be better off if I start now rather than when I am already starting to notice the harm.

Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline personality disorder was something I did not really fully understand what it meant. I had heard a lot of the stigma surrounding it and had seen plenty of people who have it to know somewhat of how presented, it but did not know what it really was. After reading this, I have a much better understanding of what borderline personality disorder is and some of the similar tendencies that I have. In general, it has helped me to better understand my own emotions and why they may be so strong at times. I have become more aware of problematic tendencies that I have and how to improve upon them.

I Would but my Damn Mind Won't let Me!: A Simple Guide to Help you Understand and Manage Your Complex Thoughts and Feelings

This was a shorter and more simply explained book that helped me understand my own problematic ways of thinking and new ways of approaching them. It also made me think of simpler ways of explaining these ideas to other people who may not have gotten a degree in psychology. The book also had several worksheet-style pages where time could be taken to thoroughly reflect and write out and work through ways of thinking and feeling.

DBT Skills Training Manual

This manual helped me understand the DBT skills more effectively and the reasoning behind some of them. I was somewhat familiar with DBT skills before but this significantly improved my understanding as well as how to run a better DBT skills group. I think anyone can benefit from DBT skills, so it was definitely helpful to me to understand how to better regulate my emotions, interact with others more effectively, and when each type of skill may be more applicable.

Alcoholics Anonymous

I am not an alcoholic but I decided to read the Big Book anyway after attending a couple of open meetings. It helped me understand addictions much better as well as what AA is and how to better support someone who may be experiencing an addiction. In a way, I feel like there are other things that we may be "addicted" to that some of the same concepts can be applied to. For example, social media and junk food. Often, we have some form of habit that we are trying to justify, get rid of, or learn how to manage. I learned that sometimes the problem is not necessarily the social media, junk food, video games, or whatever else it might be, but sometimes the problem is that we are the type of person who can not participate and remain in control. It's a new perspective that I had not previously considered.

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

This book also helped me gain a better understanding of what AA is. Again, I found many of the same ideas and concepts to be applicable to different aspects of my own life. It helped me to accept myself where I am in my own personal progress and also reminded me not to judge or pressure others who are also stuck in their own habits or lack of progress. We all are on our own journey and what matters is that we are kind to each other no matter where they may be on theirs.

Chasing Cupcakes: How one Broke, fat Girl Transformed her Life (and how you can Too)

I like that this book directly showed me how I am in control and responsible for every aspect of my life. It was very empowering. Whatever it may be, sometimes I have felt like a victim to my circumstances. However, I am in charge of what I choose to do and I can make a different decision at any moment. In some ways I have already learned to take charge of my life, and in others it was helpful to have that reminder that things don't have to happen to me or continue with a certain pattern just because it always has. I can change the pattern and I don't have to put it off or make a bunch of excuses to justify continuing the old pattern.

Your Fully Charged Life: A Radically Simple Approach to Having Endless Energy and Filling Everyday with Yay

With how busy and exhausting life can be, it was nice to have a reminder of some simple ways to add some energy and excitement back into life. Especially now that I've started my internship an hour away from my home, am still going to school, and am raising a four-year-old, I really need that boost. Little things really can make a difference. Whether it be being friendly and smiling, wearing clothes that make you feel happy, having a positive attitude, getting exercise, accomplishing something, etc. They all add up and can make a difference in energy levels and excitement.