[DAY 71 OF THE DEEP END PROJECT]
- FIRE STARTER SESSIONS BY DANIELLE LA PORTE
- YOU ARE A BADASS BY JEN SINCERO
- THE UNIVERSE HAS YOUR BACK BY GABRIELLE BERNSTEIN
- OUTRAGEOUS OPENNESS BY TOSHA SILVER
- THE WAY OF INTEGRITY BY MARTHA BECK
Books are my Love Language. My first memory of reading a book was “Alice in Wonderland”
It was my sister’s book. She is 4 years older than me. Since she had zero interest in reading it, I stole it and devoured it.
I was mesmerised by Alice’s adventures. I couldn’t believe that such a thing could exist in the Author’s mind. I loved how the book transported me to a place that didn’t really exist.
I was hooked.
From then on, my mom would bring books for me. We didn’t have local libraries and getting access to English Books was not that easy.
Near my mom’s office, every Friday there used to be a Truck. The guy used to sell books out of it. Some of the books he sold were written during World War I. Some were no more in publication.
One such book was When Daddy was a Little Boy by Alexander Raskin. He was a Russian Soviet Writer.
I remember I had a massive ear infection that was so painful, I wasn’t able to eat or even my mouth. My mom handed me the book in the hope that it would distract me from the pain and it totally worked!!
Books have carried me through ear infections, puberty, breakups, high school drama and beyond.
When I started my business, nothing could prepare me for the emotional & spiritual aspect of running a business.
As usual, I turned to books.
There are 5 books that have particularly been life changing for me. Each has come to me as a Guide, exactly at the right time.
Today I want to share with you how each of these books have helped me in becoming more of myself and as a result a much better businesswoman
- Fire Starter Sessions by Danielle La Porte – One night, I was putting my toddler to bed. I was rocking him, scrolling Instagram when I saw this quote by Danielle La Porte “We all are looking for places to put our pain”
Something stirred inside of me and I straight away went to Amazon to order Fire Starter Sessions. My soul needed it.
I was a new business owner (less than 4 months in) and inspite of getting great success at my business, which was shocking to me, something was amiss. I knew that if I wanted to be successful while being happy, I had to put my pain in the right place.
This book catapulted my journey into Mindset, questioning my beliefs, personal growth and Spirituality. But instead of my life getting better, it got worse.
- You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero – Fire Starter Sessions led me to You are a Badass. I cracked open my brand new copy on an Airplane ride to Chicago.
Jen talks about the concept of “Life often turns to shit before it turns to shinola” very early on in the book. That’s the part I read on the Airplane, got triggered and shut the book down.
“What???? This means to get what I want, something awful has to happen in my life? What utter BS” I thought to myself.
Within the next 4 hours, my life did turn to shit. I lost my mom, unexpectedly, suddenly and 7466 miles away, without getting a chance to say goodbye.
I picked up the book again, several weeks later. Jen through her book became my life coach during that trying time. But once again, this book was just a stepping stone towards something bigger.
- The Universe Has your Back by Gabrielle Bernstein – Jen Sincero introduced me to meditation. She made it sound super simple and life changing. After my mom’s death, I didn’t know what to do with my pain. So I took it all in my meditation and surrendered it there.
I wanted to get better at it and I am not sure how but the book, Universe Has Your Back landed in my lap.
It opened my world to another layer of Spirituality. I was meditating more. I started having Mystical Experiences. I also felt this strong connection with my mom during my meditations. It was almost like I could hear her, feel her presence. I kept going back for more and more.
My business started thriving. I was happier and I really started believing that The Universe indeed had my Back. - The Outrageous Openness by Tosha Silver – Universe Has Your Back had me hooked into the Spiritual, Mystical, Quantum Physics world. I read so many books on it, some great, some average, some a mish-mash of what I already knew.
Early 2020 (before the Pandemic), I had started feeling a pull to go deeper in my Self Exploration. I was doing a Life Coaching Practitioner Program where my friend and coach, Taryn Watts, talked about the importance of Surrender.
She suggested the book, Outrageous Openness by Tosha Silver.
I can’t describe this book in words. It’s impossible. You have to experience it.
All I can say is that, I had my life before Outrageous Openness, and I have a life after it.
All of Tosha’s books are based on the practice of Surrender which doesn’t mean giving up. It means giving over.
A strange concept for a world that lives on control, hustle and push.
Surrender is a practice. It is also the hardest thing to do. And, it is life’s most important lesson. - The Way of Integrity: Finding the Path to Your True Self by Martha Beck – So I am going to be honest. This is new. I just read it, so I am not sure if this book is going to be life changing for me or not but the way it’s come to be has certainly been very synchronous.
Ever read a book that is your book? I mean it’s the book you want to write or is writing?
The Way of Integrity is that book.
I wasn’t going to read this book. I am in the throes of writing mine and I didn’t want to know what was in it, you know in case I get sidelined or even influenced.
But can I just say that this book did not leave me alone!!!
Everywhere I went, it was there. It fell out of bookshelves right in front of me. This happened twice, so ultimately I bought it as a gift for a friend.
I didn’t read it.
Then one day, I went to the library and it happened again. I checked it out, read it in a week, and loved it!!!
There were so many synchronicities. Infact, there is a concept Martha wrote that I experienced in my meditation months ago.
Anyhow, I returned the book to the library and got a call 15 mins later that unfortunately they can’t accept the book back because it has some water damage and I have to pay the fine.
Remember I said, books are my love language? I keep them with love and I had no idea how the water damage happened but I had no problems paying for it.
This morning, I went to the library to pay the fine and the librarian said “we don’t usually give the book back, but I feel this belongs to you.” And just like that, The Way of Integrity made it back home to me.
I am yet to find out how it will be a catalyst for change at this point in my life, but given how I have always been guided by books, I am certain there’s more here for me.
Have you read a book that’s been life changing? Tell me about it here!