Books I Read in 2018 That Made Me Better

I devour personal development books like they’re going out of style. No shame either because they have totally rocked my world in the best way. Over the summer I did a lot of heart work and mindset shifting to get to the place that I’m at now. I’m always making it a priority to continue learning + growing.

Books like these have been water to my roots over the last year so I wanted to share them with y’all!

I make it a priority to read at least a chapter a day of a personal development book. And I also go into reading them with an open mind. I know that not everything in them will speak to my soul so it’s kind of an” eat the fish leave the bones” approach for me. Aka I don’t live and die by the words in these books (and I don’t even agree with everything in all of them) but I was able to extract some big mindset principles from them and apply them to my life.

In no particular order:

one. Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

I said no particular order but this book was a game changer. I don’t easily become attached to public figures but Rachel Hollis speaks straight fire to my soul! In this book she lays out lies that we tell ourselves about ourselves and provides strategies and tools to overcome them.

Tagline: Stop believing the lies about who you are so you can become who you were meant to be
Recommend if: you are looking for a quick, easy, uplifting read that gives you a kick in the pants to get stuff done

two. Cultivate by Lara Casey

I started reading this book at the very end of 2017 and finished it at the beginning of 2018. I actually tried to read this at the beginning fo 2017 but it wasn’t resonating with me at that time in my life so I set it aside. I’m so glad that I picked it up when I did. This book provided me with encouragement as I figured out how to run a business, be a graduate student, and manage all the other life roles I have.

Tagline: A grace-filled guide to growing an intentional life
Recommend if: you are looking for a biblical-based feel good read that gives you tools for embracing where you’re at in life as you work toward where you want to go.

three. Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller

This book completely changed how I run my business. It took me from treating my business as a little side hustle to going all in and really clarifying my message to reach more customers well. This is a very business oriented book but to be honest, a lot of the principles that are discussed can be applied to clarifying your life’s direction, too. After reading this book I was on fire to clarify my brand’s message and really step into what I wanted it to be.

Tagline: Clarify your message so customers will listen
Recommend if: you want to take your business to the next level with tangible tools that can be implemented immediately

four. Essentialism by Greg McKeown

I think I underlined 80% of this book. It’s not a light and airy read but it is so full of wisdom nuggets. I would reread lines because they were so powerful and spoke to me in such a deep way. Reading this book helped teach me that it’s not about doing more but about doing fewer things well. There are a lot of graphics included that really helped solidify the information which was great for a visual learner like myself.

Tagline: The disciplined pursuit of less
Recommend if: you feel overwhelmed by the clutter of your life and are seeking ways to define your true priorities in life

five. Being Boss by Kathleen Shannon + Emily Thompson

I’ve listened to the Being Boss podcast for years so I was stoked to find out that the ladies released a book. And let me tell you - it did not disappoint. First of all, it is full of beautiful visuals that compliment the information provided. I’ve adopted some of the methods and tools presented in this book over the last few months (like The Chalkboard Method, for example) and they have totally changed my mindset and how I view my business. I go into each day knowing what I am working toward and why I am working toward it thanks to the help of this book.

Tagline: Take control of your work & live life on your own terms
Recommend if: you are an entrepreneur who is seeking how to run your business well while you live your life happily

six. High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard

Rachel Hollis recommend this book and if Rach says to do it - we do it. This book was a doozy in the best way. It took me the longest to read of the bunch because it was just JAM PACKED with wisdom. Brendon’s book has helped me learn what causes burn out and what I can do to make sure that I don’t fall victim to it. He mentions lots of research and studies, making it a heavier book, but like I said, the outcome is wisdom on wisdom.

Tagline: How extraordinary people become that way
Recommend if: you desire to show up in all areas of your life as the best version of yourself without burning out

And an honorable mention:

seven. Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis

This book doesn’t come out until March so I’m telling you now that you need to go to Amazon and pre-order it rn. I was sent an advanced copy and I think it took me all of two days to devour this baby. If you liked “Girl, Wash Your Face” then you will love “Girl, Stop Apologizing”… promise. It’s another truth-filled coffee date with Rach vibe and it’s full of things that you already know but that you need to hear. Rachel talks about showing up for yourself and doing so without feeling guilty.

Tagline: A shame-free plan for embracing and achieving your goals
Recommend if: you are the kind of girl who says sorry for being who you are and you want to create new thought patterns that encourage you to own who you are and crush your goals bc you freaking can

What is the best book that you read in 2018? Let me know so I can add it to my 2019 reading list! I’ve already started tackling some and can’t wait to share them!