Some of my fav books that have influenced me most over the years...

Since I am a self-help book lover, I thought I would write my 1st blog post on the top books that I feel have influenced and inspired me most and share a little bit on what I gained most from my top 5! So here it is! Enjoy! I'm sure it will continue to evolve and be edited over the years, but for now I would rank these as my top 5, with The 8th Habit probably being the book that dates back to the earliest on my list, reading it back in 2006! Almost 20 years! Ah! Here's a little tid-bit on my top 5 at this time and they are linked in the title if you have interest in ordering it:

1. Untamed by Glennon Doyle

   I’ve read it 3 times and 2025 marks the 5 year anniversary since I ordered it!!! And now that I bring it up, I think I just might read it again! It’s truly life- changing! Here is a quote from one of my many Facebook posts about it over the years when I was reading it and posting about it -“Damn!!!! I’ve never read a book that has so many sentences that literally take your breath away how accurate they are in explaining life!!! This book makes you want to run to whoever is next to you and show them it because you’ve been that awe-inspired by it’s accuracy in relating to the human experience. That’s a gift. Once again, kudos to Glennon!” If you haven’t read it yet – YOU NEED TO! Trust me! There’s a reason I got “feel. it. All.” tattooed on the top of my foot after reading Untamed! You’ll understand after YOU read it.

2. The Gifts Of Imperfection by Brene Brown was my first introduction to Brene Brown! I purchased it the same day I stumbled onto her TedTalk link that changed my life! And this was before it even became viral and people started talking about her and her book, etc! I got lucky and just found her through website links and started watching the TedTalk – the very first TedTalk I ever watched and I was listening to her with my jaw literally dropped. In awe of her ability to put into words what I only wish I could and making common sense out of concepts, especially about shame and vulnerability! Listening to her and reading her words was like finding a place that felt just like HOME. I have read all of her books that have followed but nothing has spoken to me or changed me like The Gifts Of Imperfection! Speaks right to the soul.

3. The Power Of Intention by Dr. Wayne Dyer I read way back in my college years. Man, that takes me back and ages me to say the least! But this was really the 1st “self-improvement/life-enhancement” book that really influenced me and sunk in on a deeper level. I knew it was an important book and it definitely changed me. I also love Dr. Wayne Dyer’s energy as a whole. Very similar to that of my dad’s. There’s an aura of peace and wisdom and comfort that radiates from them. This was also around the time I just started Grad School for my Holistic Health degree and the word and concept of Intention became very significant for me and this book influenced me at the perfect time in my life and has been a guiding force ever since I read it.

4. The Power by Rhonda Byrne is a super quick read yet don’t let the small size of the book fool you for the level of wisdom in these words! It packs a punch of beautiful words that are spoken in a way that will definitely move you and change you. Rhonda is the producer of the movie The Secret from 2006 - which came out while I was in graduate school at St. Kate’s for the Holistic Health program and was a big topic of discussion in our classes. I never read the book, The Secret, but have seen the movie many times. Highly recommend if you’ve never seen it. This book definitely trumps it though by A LOT! It’s a deeper and more intimate discussion on the topic of soul connection and being in alignment on this journey of life.

5. The 8th Habit by Stephen R. Covey is my final pick. Was tough to decide which book goes into this spot to talk about – the others pictured follow close behind, but The 8th Habit is a whole life concept, not just a book. If you’re familiar with The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People, then you’ll understand this book. It followed from Dr. Stephen Covey after The 7 Habits was written, which is the basis of the whole Covey Planner and store and more importantly, lifestyle, that yes I live. I was introduced to The 7 Habits and Covey System by my Dad after my TBI and he was introduced to it as a result of my TBI and then saw the benefits of it and has incorporated the concepts into his own life and business since 1996. The 8th Habit is written very differently and is a softer and more spiritual side of The 7 Habits and is about finding your Purpose and then sharing your Gifts with the world, especially after setbacks in life. It’s a big thick book, but I read it very quickly and in my young 20s, during my college years. It made me have a better understanding of the big picture and intention behind The 7 Habits and Covey Planner and gave me more reason to live that philosophy and use those tools in my life. Don’t make the assumption that you’re content in life and therefore don't need it …. it has the power to influence you and how you perceive yourself, in more ways than one.

   
   

   I hope you are inspired to pick some of these books up and let them speak to you, hopefully, in a similar way they spoke to me and changed me!

   Happy reading and thanks for reading this blog post!

   
   

   Live well & keep surrendering to the zest of life ... ;)

   ~ Jen