.png)
Winter Reading List – 4 Books Between You and a Bright Future
- Ieysha Sanders
- Jan 22
- 4 min read
Winter is coming…
Well, technically it’s already here, but it's about to get even more wintry. With a big storm moving in bringing sub-zero temps, there’s really not a whole lot you can do besides wait for it to get warmer. Sitting inside and scrolling on your phone for hours each day can leave you feeling pretty gross (check out my last article on Seasonal Depression), so instead, why not read a book!?
The question is – which one?
The answer: It depends. What is it that you need before you can enter the next stage of your life? Confidence? Knowledge? Mental Toughness? All of the above?
Well, look no further. I have 4 books that you can read while you wait for the world to warm up. Each of them helped me in a specific area in my life, so hopefully they do the same for you!
This is my go-to book recommendation for anyone who’s looking to make improvements in their life. It’s an easy read with very practical applications that WORK. Basically, we are what we do. Our habits define the life we live. So, if you want a better life, you need to create habits that serve you and break the ones that don’t.
This book really helped me to see that I wasn’t the problem, my processes were. Every time I failed at losing weight, staying active, eating healthier, writing every day, or any other personal goal I set for myself, it wasn’t because I was lazy. It was because my process for achieving my goal wasn’t built for long-term success.
If you have a goal (or several) that you want to reach but you’ve tried and failed to get there, I implore you to read this book. Not only will it show you why you haven’t been able to reach your goals in the past, but it will also give you a system for reaching them in the future.
#2 – Financial Wisdom | The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
This is for my women in finance. And by that, I mean each of you who handle your family budget because “somebody has to do it.”
This book was super interesting, and it’s a pretty short read. It’s all about money misconceptions and where they come from, specifically here in America. You see, everyone looks at money differently. The way most of us view money here in the U.S. is different from how it’s viewed in other places In the world. This book breaks down those common money mindsets and how to improve on them.
Most people have a flawed view of money, and this book explains those flaws. It’s like a cheat code for the negative loops our brains get stuck in when it comes to financial success. You never have enough money, you have to keep up with the Jones’s, etc.
If you’ve found yourself thinking or feeling inadequate, like you’ll never reach your financial goals, this book is for you. It will help you see that maybe you don’t need more money, but a better mindset to steward the money you do have.
This book was super fun to read (as was Rachel’s first book, Girl, Wash Your Face) and really helped my confidence at a time when I needed it most. I had just started a new role at the company I work for and was a brand-new mom to my three-month-old daughter. I felt ridiculously inadequate and overwhelmed.
This book helped me to see that I was literally the only person standing in between myself and whatever I wanted out of life. I could make excuses about my circumstances, or I could stop accepting my current situation and start building a better one.
It made me realize that if Rachel or anyone else could follow their dreams and still be a good (not perfect, good) wife, mom, employee, and friend, then I could do it too, dang it.
This book is lifechanging. When you take a look at all of the books above, when you think about every goal you have, every challenge you face, and how you choose to handle it all, it leads us back to one place: the mind.
Craig Groeschel is a well-known pastor, leadership guru, and author. He explains how the mindset you have in all situations will determine the outcome. It’s been biblically and scientifically proven, and this book walks you through those concepts in a way that’s easy to understand. If you’ve ever struggled with self-doubt, depression, anxiety, or just plain-old negativity, this book can help you create better mental pathways and abandon the ones that harm you.
There’s a constant war happening beneath the surface of your being against the forces of good and evil. The easiest, most impactful way for the enemy to control you is by controlling your mind. So, he actively tries to. Every single day.
This book
helped me to identify the negative thought loops (or ruts) that I had been trapped in and find ways to stand on God’s word in order to break free from them. At the very least, it gave me a process for recognizing my thoughts. I can now see each thought independently, recognize the ones designed to help me, and begin to let go of the ones that are designed to hurt me.
Whatever you’re struggling with, I’m positive one of these books will help you to overcome it. Our quality of life boils down to how well we are living it, and these books will ultimately help you to live a better life. One on the path of self-improvement. And while that journey is the hardest one you’ll ever embark on, it’s also the most rewarding.
These are my top 4 books right now, but I know there are SO MANY MORE out there!
Comments