What I love about the books below is that the authors write in a practical, no fluff no puff way. Ultimately as we read them the questions we're wanting to know are 'what difference will these ideas make to my life?' 'Can I apply them in a practical way?' For me, the answer is always to try out the ideas and ensure the authors speak to you, in a way that allows you to apply the ideas.
As for me, when it comes down to it, I could easily spend £100 per week on self-help, personal and professional development and spirituality audiobooks - most easily. So, I've decided to talk about authors whose work I consistently find useful, illuminating and which, over the years, have helped me build the kind of life I enjoy waking up to in the morning.
SELF HELP - MELODY BEATTIE
Way back in 1996, Melody Beattie was one of the first authors I stumbled onto as I unwitting began a journey into helping myself live a better life than the one I was then living. Melodie Beattie is widely credited as giving the world the phrase Co-dependency (or co-dependence, co-narcissism or inverted narcissism) characterized by a tendency to behave in overly passive or excessively care-taking ways that negatively impact one's relationships and quality of life. It also often involves putting one's needs at a lower priority than others while being excessively preoccupied with the needs of others. Co-dependency can occur in any type of relationship, including in families, work, in friendships, and also in romantic, peer or community relationships. Co-dependency may also be characterized by denial, low self-esteem, excessive compliance, and/or control patterns. Narcissists are considered to be natural magnets for the co-dependent.
MONEY - ROBERT KIYOSAKI AND BARBARA STANNY
When I read Robert Kiyosaki's work, so much about my financial life fell into place - such as why with all my education, my financial life was unmanageable. If, like me, you have been led to believe academic education is all you require to ensure financial well-being and yet this isn't playing out in your life, Robert Kiyosaki's work will help illuminate the reasons for your financial condition and move you past it. The lifelong monetary problems experienced by his "poor dad" (whose weekly pay cheques, while respectable, were never quite sufficient to meet family needs) pounded home the counterpoint communicated by his "rich dad" (that "the poor and the middle class work for money," but "the rich have money work for them"). Whilst Kiyosaki firmly believes in education, he also believes that the education system does not teach financial intelligence. His teaching in the Rich Dad Poor Dad series, is about filling this gap in the system, and trying to help people who want to be helped out of the rut of a `safe secure job' into the freedom of real wealth.
Barbara Stanny - I've included Barbara Stanny's work because the combination of financial illiteracy and under-earning (who knew such a condition existed, even though I was living it!) wreaks havoc in your financial life. In her work, Stanny identifies a condition called underearning which basically amounts to habitually bringing in less money than it takes to support you. Stanny lays out the criteria for the condition and gives exercises for moving on. I'm always on the look out for her latest work as she's so practical.
She is also the five-time author of books including THE SECRETS OF SIX FIGURE WOMEN: SURPRISING STRATEGIES TO UP YOUR EARNING AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
BUSINESS - ROBERT ALLEN
I credit Robert Allen with introducing me to the concept of multiple streams of income. Like most people I had simply lived under the assumption that you work for a living. If you don't work, you don't make money. Robert's work consistently introduces me to new ideas about money and indeed new ideas about what qualifies as working for money. The idea that you can create an infrastructure which makes money and indeed have your money make money for you. Once you read his work and his concepts you have the 'aha' moment, the light bulb goes on and you say to yourself 'of course!'. Obvious once it's pointed out to you but if you've lived a life where parents were on single pay-cheques then these ideas will be a welcome relief to you.
CREATIVITY - NATALIE GOLDBERG
Often referenced as a ground-breaker in mind exploration through writing. I always look out for her work as she's relevant not only for writers but it seems to me anyone interested in freeing themselves from their interior critics - all the reasons we give ourselves for why we can't do/be/have what we really long to do/be/have. Natalie Goldberg studied meditation with Zen master Katagiri Roshi at the Minnesota Zen Center for many years. Then one day, knowing of her interest in creativity, he said: "Why don't you make writing your practice? If you go deep enough in writing, it will take you everyplace." Her work is a glorious way to by-pass all the critical wolves baying at us whenever we produce something original in whatever sphere in life, be it parenting, work, relationships or our relationship with ourselves - what she calls monkey mind. Monkey mind is actually a Buddhist term. It refers to mental activity that creates busyness which keeps us away from our true hearts. She's author of the most popular how-to-write book ever and she also happens to be Buddhist, irreverent, fun. That 'po-faced' spirituality which is often visited on us, is thankfully missing in her work.
SPIRITUALITY - MARIANNE WILLIAMSON
I've loved Marianne's work since I first encountered her in the mid 1990s. I had stumbled onto A COURSE IN MIRACLES in a bookshop in Camden town, here in the U.K. On buying the book and taking it home I opened to only to find myself thinking 'whaa-aa-aat is this!'. Synchronistically Marianne had tapes out (remember those?) and I began listening to her talks. Marianne defines A COURSE IN MIRACLES as 'the metaphysical thought system that teaches forgiveness as the road to inner peace and the remembrance of the unconditional love of God'. I credit her teaching with helping me sort out love from all the things that masquerade as love. A great sifting and discerning process began inside me which helped me 'see' how we can be controlled by those who insist they are loving and yet we are always hurting in their presence. In her new Audiobook, she sets out a course in weight loss founded on spiritual principles. At the time of going to publication, I've not heard it yet but I'm looking forward to it. Marianne notes that her "weight had merely been a physical manifestation of my need to keep other people at bay. I feared other people and I'd built a wall to protect myself. Practicing the Course, I'd learned to extend my hand across the wall. I learned ways to replace fear with love. I asked God to enter my life and make all things right. And the wall had disappeared."
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