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My Favorite Self-Help Books

01/25/2018 By Sarah Wyland

25 Jan

Favorite Self-Help Books

About ten years ago, I was in a really crappy place.

It all stemmed from a breakup. In hindsight, my period of struggling with depression and anxiety was brief – a few months, compared to those who spend their whole lives fighting feelings of sadness, worry, loneliness, the list goes on. But it was one of those seasons of my life that shaped who I am today. It was that season that propelled me into finishing my degree at Tennessee and pursuing my dreams of being a music journalist in Nashville.

Despite how awful those few months were, I’m grateful for them. I needed the tough times to prepare me for better times. Isn’t that how it works? Coal has to go through a period of pressure to become a diamond?

This season of my life was around the time The Secret was everywhere. There were stories on the news about it. Articles in every newspaper, on every blog. Oprah wouldn’t shut up about it.

I got curious.

A book that would tell me how to have the best life ever? Sign me up.

I had maybe $20 in my bank account when I went to Barnes & Nobel to pick up the book. It was the day before payday, so I gambled on whether I would need my limited cash between then and when my direct deposit hit the next morning. I bought a copy of the book, went home, and read it cover to cover.

I proceeded to put it’s teachings into motion. I made a list of everything I was grateful for. I recited that list every morning while getting ready for the day, and read over it every night before bed. I wrote down intentions, made a vision board… On it went.

And you know what?

Things changed.

I got happy again. I stopped moping around and started doing life. I went from vegging out in my bedroom, watching episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, to re-enrolling in night and online classes and working towards a goal with an intensity I had long ago lost, if I ever even had it.

That vision board? It had things on it like photos of Nashville, a college degree, the type of apartment I wanted to live in, a credit card, and the type of car I wanted to drive. I found a photo of it a few years later and realized I had achieved everything on it. I’m still not married to Jake Owen (he was my celebrity crush at the time and you’re supposed to dream big and nothing is impossible, so…), but for the most part, if it was on that cheap cork board, it happened..

And for what it’s worth, I met and interviewed Jake Owen.

Twice.

The Universe, y’all.

I’m going to dive more into these topics in the coming weeks – and probably sound pretty hippy dippy to some of you while I’m at it – but I believe finding The Secret helped me out of a dark place, and pushed me towards reaffirming my faith. It brought Matthew 7:7 to me: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you, and I have stood on it ever since, sometimes a little more steady than others.

The Secret led me to other books and tools. I wanted to share some of my favorite self-help books with you, should you be interested. Some of my favorite self-help books are Christian-based. Some are practice based, full of worksheets and assignments. And some are simply “good vibes” based. You may love one and hate the next. But, here they are.

The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho

Frankly, I think The Alchemist should be required reading. It’s an easy read – some even call it childlike – that tells the story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy, who learns to follow his intuition to find riches more valuable than anything he had ever dreamed of. There are so many wonderful quotes from it, but this is one of my favorites:

“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

Fine. Because there are so many, one more favorite for the road:

“Don’t give in to your fears. If you do, you won’t be able to talk to your heart.”

Add More ~Ing To Your Life – Gabby Bernstein

I’m a huge fan of Gabby Bernstein. I’ve read nearly all of her books. Add More ~Ing To Your Life is the first book after The Secret that really struck a note with me. It’s not Gabby’s strongest book, exactly – she gets better with each book – but she breaks down the idea of the Law of Attraction and living a more positive, love-filled life in a simple way that’s great for someone just beginning to explore some of these concepts.

The Universe Has Your Back – Gabby Bernstein

The Universe Has Your Back is another Gabby book, and it’s my favorite by her. I read it last summer, by the pool, over the course of a weekend. It dives more into changing fear to faith, something I really struggle with. Gabby also provides exercises to put some of her teachings into motion. It’s a practical book that I really connected with.

You Are A Badass and You Are A Badass At Making Money – Jen Sincero    

I read both of these Jen Sincero’s books over the last six months. I read You Are A Badass in the early fall, and just finished You Are A Badass At Making Money on the flight to Iceland last week. Both really hit me in the feels, if you will, and inspired me. They are similar to one another, but different enough that I feel both are valuable.

Uninvited – Lysa TerKeurst

Uninvited is the book I want to give every single person I love, young, old, male, female, and everyone in between. I’ve mentioned that 2017 was a year of “no” for me. This book, which hones in on rejection, was exactly what my soul needed when I read it. It’s one of the more Christian-based books, but it is still about the concept of having faith in God, the universe, whatever you believe in.

The Desire Map – Danielle LaPorte

I first heard of The Desire Map about three years ago. I bought it about a year later, and it sat on my shelf collecting dust until a few months ago. Once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. I read through the first half of the book – which is basically the theory behind feelings and intentions – and I’m now working through the second half, which is a workbook. If you’re looking to find your “why,” this is a great book.

Did I mention that you should read The Alchemist? You really, really should read The Alchemist.

The next self-help book on my to read list is Gabby Bernstein’s latest, Judgement Detox. I’m also going to give Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic another try. I made it about a quarter of the way through it before giving up on it over the summer. Maybe I’ll like it more the second time around?

Have you read any of these books? Any self-help books not on my list that you think I would love? Let me know!  

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01/25/2018 |

posted in: Books, Entertainment | tagged as: Mindfulness, Self-Improvement

About Sarah Wyland

Sarah Wyland is an ACE-certified personal trainer and nutrition coach, and a barre instructor. She enjoys strength training, encouraging women, and food. She's a coffee drinker, dog mama, and Tennessee Vol.

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Comments

  1. Nikki says

    01/25/2018 at 7:53 pm

    I read a lot, but I never read self help books. In fact I don’t really do any non fiction. Pretty sure I am beyond help 🙂 I have heard of several of these, and see them all over the place (especially the You are a Badass). I just haven’t given any of them a try.

    Nikki
    thefashionablewife.com

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Clients ask for meal prep tips all the time. At the end of the day, it's about finding a system that works best for your lifestyle. In general though, there are three ways to meal prep without losing your mind:
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
(swipe for more details!)
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
1) Pick 3 - Choose 3 meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and snacks for the week, prep them ahead of time, and have them in the fridge to grab and go throughout the week. This is a great option for those who don't mind eating the meals a few days in a row.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
2) Batch - Pick your proteins, veggies, and starches, take a few hours to prepare everything for the week, and mix and match meals throughout the week ahead. This is a good option for those who want both ease and variety. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
3) Prepare - If you like to cook, save time by prepping your ingredients ahead of time. Chop your veggies, marinate your meats, etc., maybe even pop a meal in the freezer. When you're ready to cook, everything is prepared and ready! This works well for those who enjoy being in the kitchen.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Meal prep doesn't have to be overwhelming. Play around in the kitchen, figure out a method that works for you. maybe even log a few "go to" recipes. There truly is no right or wrong way.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
What's your best meal prep tip?
I'm about to blow your mind.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
 Where your energy goes, your reality follows.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I discovered this idea about a dozen years ago and it changed my life. Call it Law of Attraction or call it hustle, but the idea is the same: where you put your focus, your reality unfolds.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Think about it.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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You decide it's time for a new job. It becomes a dominant thought. You daydream about the role you want while you churn away at your desk of your current job. You browse LinkedIn and Indeed for your dream job at every opportunity. You put time and effort into polishing your resume and cover letter. You. Want. A. New. Job.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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And then you get one. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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You focused on it. You put your energy there. You took action. You made it your reality. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
It can also go like this:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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You’re having a crap day. You woke up late, didn’t have time to dry your hair, spilled coffee all over yourself in the car, hit traffic, was late for work, the deli got your lunch order wrong… You spend your day waiting for the next crap thing to happen.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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You’re focusing on the bad. You’re expecting it. And it keeps on coming. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Where your energy goes, your reality follows. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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You get what you think about. You get it because that's where your energy is focused.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I want you to try something today. Think of a car. Any car. A Mustang. A Jaguar. A Corvette. Just pick one. Give it a color. I’m going with a white Range Rover.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Now, spend a few minutes thinking about that car. Google photos of it. Visualize yourself driving it. Once you’ve done that, notice how many of these cars you see in the next few days.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Let me know how it goes.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Remember - where your focus goes, your reality goes. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I’m about to see a lot of white Range Rovers.
First Monday in Los Angeles. First day of spring s First Monday in Los Angeles. First day of spring semester. First day with a couple of new 1:1 coaching clients. I like this Monday.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What's good about your Monday?
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sarahwyland

Sarah Wyland | Life Aligned
Know that saying "magic happens when you step outs Know that saying "magic happens when you step outside of your comfort zone"? It's true. Step out of it today. See what happens.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I just opened up a few more 1:1 coaching spots - a holistic approach to health, nutrition, fitness, and mindset. Step out of your comfort zone and DM me for more info. ❤️

📸: @yoimpeyton
[SAVE THIS POST] MEAL PREP TIPS: 3 Ways to Meal Pr [SAVE THIS POST] MEAL PREP TIPS: 3 Ways to Meal Prep Without Losing Your Mind
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Clients ask for meal prep tips all the time. At the end of the day, it's about finding a system that works best for your lifestyle. In general though, there are three ways to meal prep without losing your mind:
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
(swipe for more details!)
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
1) Pick 3 - Choose 3 meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and snacks for the week, prep them ahead of time, and have them in the fridge to grab and go throughout the week. This is a great option for those who don't mind eating the meals a few days in a row.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
2) Batch - Pick your proteins, veggies, and starches, take a few hours to prepare everything for the week, and mix and match meals throughout the week ahead. This is a good option for those who want both ease and variety. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
3) Prepare - If you like to cook, save time by prepping your ingredients ahead of time. Chop your veggies, marinate your meats, etc., maybe even pop a meal in the freezer. When you're ready to cook, everything is prepared and ready! This works well for those who enjoy being in the kitchen.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Meal prep doesn't have to be overwhelming. Play around in the kitchen, figure out a method that works for you. maybe even log a few "go to" recipes. There truly is no right or wrong way.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
What's your best meal prep tip?
I'm about to blow your mind.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
 Where your energy goes, your reality follows.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I discovered this idea about a dozen years ago and it changed my life. Call it Law of Attraction or call it hustle, but the idea is the same: where you put your focus, your reality unfolds.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Think about it.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
You decide it's time for a new job. It becomes a dominant thought. You daydream about the role you want while you churn away at your desk of your current job. You browse LinkedIn and Indeed for your dream job at every opportunity. You put time and effort into polishing your resume and cover letter. You. Want. A. New. Job.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
And then you get one. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
You focused on it. You put your energy there. You took action. You made it your reality. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
It can also go like this:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
You’re having a crap day. You woke up late, didn’t have time to dry your hair, spilled coffee all over yourself in the car, hit traffic, was late for work, the deli got your lunch order wrong… You spend your day waiting for the next crap thing to happen.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
You’re focusing on the bad. You’re expecting it. And it keeps on coming. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Where your energy goes, your reality follows. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
You get what you think about. You get it because that's where your energy is focused.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I want you to try something today. Think of a car. Any car. A Mustang. A Jaguar. A Corvette. Just pick one. Give it a color. I’m going with a white Range Rover.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Now, spend a few minutes thinking about that car. Google photos of it. Visualize yourself driving it. Once you’ve done that, notice how many of these cars you see in the next few days.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Let me know how it goes.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Remember - where your focus goes, your reality goes. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I’m about to see a lot of white Range Rovers.
First Monday in Los Angeles. First day of spring s First Monday in Los Angeles. First day of spring semester. First day with a couple of new 1:1 coaching clients. I like this Monday.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
What's good about your Monday?
I’ve been reflecting on this idea as I move into I’ve been reflecting on this idea as I move into my Los Angeles apartment. I’ve had every sort of feeling over the last 24 hours, from sheer excitement to sheer terror and worry about “how am I going to do this?!” But then I remember that I’ll never know unless I try.

What’s that thing you want to try but you keep talking yourself out of it?
Enjoying this cross-country road trip while also l Enjoying this cross-country road trip while also looking forward to developing a new routine, getting back into the gym, and eating all the vegetables. Knox just wants to get out of the car and play ball some more, maybe crash the beach.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What are you most excited about in 2021?
Consistency > Perfection.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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80%. That's all I ask of my clients. Complete 80% of the month's workouts, stick to macros 80% of the time, keep the right mindset 80% of the time. Most of the time, clients exceed my expectations, but 80% is doable. 80% is livable.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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We tend to want to go from 0 to 100. We want to go from sedentary to Fittest on Earth. We want to go from fast food every day to gourmet chef in a week. It doesn't work like that. We burn out, get frustrated, and give up.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The tortoise had it right. Slow and steady wins the raise. Consistency reaches goals.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I'm taking on new 1:1 coaching clients. If you're looking for someone to program your workouts, calculate macros, and help you break through your mental roadblocks when it comes to reaching your goals, send me a DM or click the link in my bio. I'd love to chat.
My word for 2021: Settled.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ My word for 2021: Settled.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I let my 'Word of the Year' come to me through God/spirit/universe, whatever you want to call your higher power. Sometimes its whispered to me. Sometimes it comes to me through a note or even a TV commercial. This year, it came to me through one of @KaileyDickerson's Instagram posts. I'm borrowing her word for 2020, but this is the right word for me in 2021.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Settled.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Settled in Los Angeles, in a new apartment, a new community. Settled in my own skin, in who I am, in what I want. Settled in a world that likes to throw chaos at us hard and fast. I liken it to a hurricane – the eye is calm while winds and rain swirl and thrash around it. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I shared more about my Word of the Year + my 2020 goals (not resolutions - see post from earlier this week) as well as my Word of the Year for 2021 (it was 'Yes') on the blog. Link in bio.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What's your word for 2021?
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