A new year can be the perfect time to begin or continue your self-love journey; sometimes it takes a fresh start to truly find yourself.
If you are interested in beginning — or have already begun — any kind of introspective lifestyle, you’ll know that reading can be a great way to step back and gain a new perspective. Just like the average college student, I never used to read during my few hours of free time per day, but taking a step back from social media and choosing to immerse myself in a good book can be more effective than one may think. Reading can be a great form of self care!
I’ve compiled a list of some amazing books that have personally helped me through this journey of self-love — even if you’re not an avid reader, you can still enjoy these quick reads.
- “The Sun and Her Flowers” by Rupi Kaur
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Rupi Kaur —The New York Times Best Selling Author of “Milk and Honey”— created a second book of poems all about femininity, self-love, and relationships. It highlights the good, the bad, and the ugly of finding yourself and sharing that love with someone else. It deals with heartbreak, acceptance, and blooming.
- “You Are A Badass” by Jen Sincero
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The title is pretty self-explanatory, but this book delves into embracing yourself as an individual and understanding the power you hold everyday. Her book details the best ways to let go of trivial insecurities that tend to plague us more than they should, and it’s perfect for anyone who’s ready to let their confidence shine.
Some of her words are still included in my daily affirmations, and it adds a fun, comedic element to this life that we too often take so seriously.
- “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck” by Mark Manson
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While not explicitly focused on self-love, this book was a great eye-opener in terms of recognizing how many small things we dwell on daily. Life can be filled with so much anxiety as it is, and Manson’s book focuses on the small sources of this that can plague us more than they should.
It’s not a cure-all for anxiety or insecurity, but it certainly gets you thinking about why we focus so much on the things we cannot control, and the ways in which we are perceived. News flash — those things do not matter!
- “The Gifts of Imperfection” by Brené Brown
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As one of my favorites on this list, Brown’s book takes a deep dive into our imperfections and how they turn us into who we are meant to be. When we try so hard to hide our imperfections, we’re actually just covering up the unique parts of ourselves that make us who we are.
This was a great way to discover my own insecurities, and how they should be celebrated rather than disguised.
- “Radical Self-Love” by Gala Darling
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Businesses thrive off of women’s insecurities, so many of us grow up being taught all the ways in which we “aren’t good enough.” Sometimes, it gets to the point that any type of self-love and acceptance feels radical; Darling’s book delves into the pieces of love and acceptance that we tend to glaze over, but that can have a huge impact on how we view and talk to ourselves.
In a world where self-love is scarce, we owe it to ourselves to explore the ways in which we have been deprived, and give it back to ourselves however we can.
Takeaway:
Self-love is not linear, and cannot be achieved through one action on its own. Reading these books will not allow you to fully love yourself, but adding them into your self-love journey can take you further than you might realize.
Even if you’re not a reader, give these a try; self-love is all about discovering new interests and understanding that you are worth your own time. If you find yourself scrolling through social media for hours during the day, take a chunk of that time out to read a few chapters of these books —or any others like them.
There is peace and serenity that comes with exercising your mind and illuminating your soul.