I have previously expressed my love for books and reading here. But I haven't touched on the books that, once read, have left me with a different perspective on life and have changed me. These are not a one-time read and done kind of books. They have become pillars for me and I turn to them over and over, when I feel that life comes crashing down, for any reason.

These are books that on many occasions have lifted me up and reminded me of what's important. They've also taught me how to handle life's less happy moments or how to become a better or more efficient person. I'm still a work in progress, the reason why I say that these books are not a “one-time read and done”.

One of my life-long goals is self-growth. I firmly believe that we humans are ever-evolving and we change every single day. These changes are many times subtle, but, if you really think about it, every experience we go through transforms us little-by-little. So without much further ado, I'll jump into the list.

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• You Can Heal Your Life by Louise L. Hay. The author, Louise has dedicated her entire life to helping others while healing herself. Years ago I was severely depressed, and through some miracle, I found her "You can heal your life" book. I read it, did the exercises, and repeated her affirmations daily, before going to bed, and as often as needed. Before I knew it, I was feeling better. I created some of my own affirmations as well, to attract some of the things I wanted in my life. I do believe that because of these “exercises” and because of having a clear vision regarding what I wanted, I found my husband when I had given up on love. We're not perfect nor have an ideal relationship, but we share the same beliefs, loyalty, and vision for our life together, which is more than I can ask for.

• The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. - Whatever it is you believe in, I am convinced at this point in my life that we attract what we think/believe. If we controlled our minds and thought a bit, our lives would improve. This book opened my eyes and made me a bit more careful about my thoughts.

• How the Secret Changed My Life by Rhonda Byrne. This is a very inspirational book with stories from people who have learned to apply the previous book's teachings and envisioned to life the things they wanted.

• The Woman I wanted to be by Diane Von Furstenberg. If you're looking for an inspirational life, look no further than the incredible woman and designer Diane Von Furstenberg. All I could say after I finished this book (I'm actually listening to it these days), was - WOW! This woman really knows how to live, love, work, create an empire, and take care of herself. Read it and let me know what you think about it yourself.

• #GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso. This book is full of practical advice and takes you through Sophia's path to creating the well-known Nasty Gal brand. Whether you are working on building your own brand or simply learning how to run your life, this book is a must-read for the girl boss in you.

• Ayurveda (Idiot's Guide) by Sahara Rose. This book has changed the way we eat and even live. Who knew that scraping your tongue is just as important as brushing your teeth? This book was eye-opening in many ways and has become an important guide in our lives.

• Awaken the Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical, & Financial Destiny by Tony Robbins. Do you notice a certain theme going on here? Yes, I am fascinated by controlling my mind and emotional state to create the life I want. Like I said above, I am a work in progress but most of all, I want to master the art of emotional intelligence, as in not letting emotions overrun me in day-to-day life and learning how to enjoy the moment, despite it not being "perfect". If you haven't heard of Tony Robbins, then you've been living under a rock. This man built himself up from a sad, depressed person to the entrepreneur, coach, and philanthropist he is today. There is so much to learn from him, and this book I believe is the first step in figuring out how we, too, can grow.

• How to win friends and influence people by Dale Carnegie. I’m currently reading this book and I know I’ll be adding it to this list and referring back to it over and over. It’s a good reminder of the fact that we’re all different while holding true to the old saying “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”. It puts things in perspective, and while I don’t 100% agree with everything written in there, it’s a thought-provoking, eye-opening book we should all be reading.

These books all have changed my life, attitude, or mind somehow - I hope you find them just as helpful as I have.

If there's anything for you to take from this post, is that WE have the power to change our lives for the better. That is the reason I wanted to share these inspirational books with you all. Please tell me, have you read any of these?

Until next time.
XOXO,
Em