It’s the small habits that make for strong mental health; how you set the tone for your day, how you talk to yourself can all have an impact on the state of your mental health. What you read. Prioritizing your mental health and emotional well-being is especially important when you’re experiencing stress, like most students who are trying to manage online classes.
Whether it’s starting your day, taking a break from your busy schedule, or ending your day; reading is a great way to clear your mind, get off social media or wind down! It is essential for your happiness to put time aside for finding peace in your mind, body, and soul, and reading is one of the best ways to do that.
Here are three highly recommended books to help you start your self-help journey!
1. The Four Agreements: A Personal Guide to Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz
Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, The Four Agreements is a concise book that offers a powerful code of conduct that can transform your life into a new experience of true happiness and freedom. The four agreements include:
- Be impeccable with your word.
This agreement empowers you to use the power of your word for love and only say what you mean.
- Don’t take anything personally.
This agreement encourages you to not think everything is your fault and that you don’t have control over others’ actions.
- Don’t make assumptions.
This agreement emphasizes the importance of asking questions and communicating to others what you really want as clearly as you can.
- Always do your best.
This agreement inspires you to (under any circumstance) simply do your best and avoid being so hard on yourself.
This book can help you apply these agreements to your daily life, challenge and break negative habits against yourself and avoid self-abuse and regret.
2. The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment directs readers to understand the importance of living in the present moment, and to go beyond the thoughts of your past and future. This is more of a heavy read and may be difficult to grasp, as it is focused on spiritual enlightenment.
This book can help you be more present, begin to live in the “now” and recognize how being too caught up in the future or past may affect your emotional and personal growth.
3. Inspired Wisdom Word Search: Yoga for the Brain by Cristina Smith & Rick Smith
While working through the Inspired Wisdom Word Search, you will find that there is an empowering message or reading that connects to each puzzle you solve. Once all the words are found, there is also a hidden quote or affirmation that gets revealed. I personally recommend working on a new word search before you sleep, and to utilize this book as a way to stay off of social media before bed.
This book can help you exercise your brain, practice self-affirmations and have fun with a purpose.
Whether you are trying to make big lifestyle changes, or simply looking to introduce a little bit more balance in your life, these books are great resources to get you started! If you decide to check out one of these, let us know by tagging us on Instagram or Twitter @HerCampusSJSU.