One of the things that really helped me recover from depression was a commitment to saturate myself with inspiring and uplifting ideas.
I was viewing everything though a lens of despair, anger and inadequacy. I remembered being a positive person once, and wanted to find that part of me again. Can you relate?
In addition to getting 1-1 support, and seeking out friends who were also on a mission to find themselves, my day-to-day lifesaver was listening to audiobooks.
Audiobooks are awesome because they turn your long commute into a chance to gain insight and encouragement. They make chores and even workouts go by so much more quickly. Did I mention the inspiration and upliftment?
@Sascha Kohlmann http://tinyurl.com/ola35ad
Look, you’re busy, and sometimes sitting down for a few hours with a inspiring book is just not gonna happen. But that doesn’t mean you need to miss out some of the most transformational work out there.
Here are my top five audiobooks for coming back to life:
- Effortless Success by Michael Neill
I picked up this audiobook because, despite outward appearances to the contrary, I felt like a failure. I was also exhausted all the time, so effortless sounded good to me.
The best part about this recording is that it’s not a laundry list of to-dos for achieving success. He teaches a simple method for discovering what truly lights you up, a technique I’ve since adapted to the work I do with clients.
If you’re overwhelmed by the high expectations you’ve set for yourself, give this one a listen.
- The Power of Vulnerability by Brene Brown,
If you were raised to be tough, strong, capable, confident or cool, this one if for you.
Dr. Brené Brown’s work is the result of her research into what allows some people to live truly wholehearted lives. She explores the crippling effect of shame, and how it’s built in to the very fabric of our conditioning.
She reveals the mindset and behavior of people who are resilient and authentic, while also sharing her own challenges in practicing what she preaches.
What’s really special about this recording is that it is Dr. Brown herself, a brilliant speaker, teaching the best of her work to a live audience. This is so much better than the audio versions of her books, which are read by a professional narrator.
Her work on vulnerability has been a game-changer for me. I think you’ll love it.
- The Late Bloomer: Myths and Stories of the Wise Woman Archetype by Clarissa Pinkola Estes (Volume Four of the Dangerous Old Woman series)
What makes talent bloom? Ask what makes a tree blossom. They are the same…
a gestation can go long.. and nothing much shows above ground … But then, one day …”
If you’re afraid that life is leaving you behind, and you’re nowhere near as successful/accomplished/self-actualized as you “should” be by now, this will be a balm to your soul.
Dr. Estes, bestselling author of Women Who Run With the Wolves, uses her primal storytelling genius to dispel the notion that there is a set time your full unfolding.
- Finding Your Element by Sir Ken Robinson
Ken Robinson believes that finding your element – who you are, what your natural gifts are, what makes you come alive – is essential to your happiness. I agree.
He makes a beautiful case for education that seeks to help children discover their uniqueness, rather than fit them into a pre-ordained box.
Bonus: Sir Ken is also laugh out-loud- funny.
- Being You, Changing the World by Dain Heer
An uplifting, mind-opening book that cracks open your assumptions about life and your place in it.
Dr. Heer weaves his work using questions that slip past barriers you’ve created in your mind, and opens you up to possibility through curiosity.
It’s quite magical.
Ok now your turn – what audiobooks have inspired you?
Teray Garchitorena Kunishi, ND
Get in touch at http://www.deeplyhappy.com/contact/
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