Growing means improving ourselves and the relationship we have with the people around us. Here are the best personal growth books to read to enrich and enhance your personal and professional life.
What is that saying like? "Whoever you are standing still is lost."
Everyone talking about having to grow, develop, evolve--almost kind of like a must For anyone who wants to achieve something important in their life.
But what is meant by personal growth?
Like all somewhat broader concepts, it can be interpreted in various ways and from various perspectives. We can say that it is a process of change with the aim of improving oneself and one's relationship with others, through the development of all those potentials that are hidden within us. But it also means learning new and positive ways of interacting with other people, courageously overcoming the difficulties we encounter, and knowing how to make the best of every situation.
The question you might ask yourself now is: Why should I invest time and energy to improve myself?
Let's say that evolution and maturation are kind of part of our nature. If you think about it, the version of you at 40 is definitely different from the version of you at 20, right?
Whether you like it or not, life itself is pushing you toward change: the world is moving so fast, that to keep up you realize you have to question virtually every day who you are and what you do. Being aware of this allows you to realize that investing in yourself is the best thing you can do.
Okay, so how to do it concretely? It's simple: by being inspired by others!
One of the cheapest and most immediate ways to do this is in fact through reading books. The problem is, however, that there are so many of them that you may struggle to find the one that is right for you.
But don't worry: I have selected for you 9 of the best books for personal growth. Each can help you in different situations; that is why I have divided them into categories, to help you in your selection based on what you need most.
Here they are!
#1 Mindset books.
The mindset is crucial: a wrong mindset could make all your efforts in vain. Even before you do anything, I advise you to assume a certain "mindset" that is functional to ensure you persevere and persist and reach a more conscious point of view as soon as possible.
Your erroneous zones - Wayne Dyer
Would you get on a boat knowing that there is a hole that is taking on water? Probably not. This book tells you how to become aware of your harmful and self-destructive behaviors and how to succeed day by day in undoing them through an appropriate attitude. It tells you that the recipe for happiness is all in all quite simple: just identify and overcome all the obstacles that can preclude it. The author describes 11 "erroneous zones" that can upset you and that, when eliminated once and for all, will produce a great positive change in your life.
Slow and Fast Thinking - Daniel Kahneman
This book is a true masterpiece on the subject of problem solving: it explains how and why we make our decisions, emphasizing all those mechanisms that mislead us (the so-called cognitive biases). The author takes you on a journey to discover the human brain's ways of reasoning and thinking by presenting two contrasting types of thinking: the fast and intuitive ones on the one hand and the slow and reflective ones on the other. He shows what the advantages and disadvantages of both are, how to balance them, what traps you might fall into, how to avoid them, and how to use them to your benefit instead.
Think and enrich yourself - Napoleon Hill
A must read that has inspired so many people: he explains all the tools to open your mind and project yourself into the perspective of increasing in every area of your life. The author bases his philosophy on a positive mental attitude and proves how valid and relevant the concept of self-actualization, understood as both financial independence and spiritual wealth, is for anyone who wants to succeed. The book incites action and the application of 13 principles, the key word of which is. perseverance: makes you understand how it is possible to master the mind with self-discipline and control and accomplish anything you can conceive.
#2 Books to change habits
When you have the right mindset, the next step is to become aware of your habits to change them, if necessary, or introduce new ones. Even the motivation larger, in fact, tends to fade over time-that's why the only way to keep doing whatever it takes to get where you want to be is to make it an established, daily practice.
The Power of Habits - Charles Duhigg
Most of the choices you make every day are not the result of conscious reflection, but of habits, which affect your health, work, and personal relationships. In this book the author shows you how they are formed, how much they affect you, and how to change them to act on aspects of your character or intervene in more difficult situations. He starts with theoretical and scientific explanations, with examples, stories and failures (including from successful companies), and then gives you a plan to follow to manage them and prevent them from controlling you.
Habits for high performance - Brendon Burchard
Why is it that some people succeed more quickly and maintain their success? We often think that people who achieve extraordinary results possess innate qualities, but this is just an alibi we give ourselves so that we don't have to go through the work and commitment required to become high performers. Success and happiness is the combination we all hope to achieve. But how? In this book, the author provides the answers: based on extensive research, he lays out practical, real-world ways to adopt the six habits to use in your professional and personal life.
#3 Books on time management and productivity.
When the results start coming in, one of the greatest skills to develop is learning how to manage time to be more productive. This is a key step in any personal growth journey-you will not find a single successful person who has not made it a routine to do what it takes to keep their productivity high.
The Miracle Morning - Hal Elrod
The book tells you how to transform any aspect of your life in the fastest way possible: by waking up early every morning. In fact, this allows you to do many things with a fresh mind, gain time and face the day with a feeling of being ahead of others. Useful even if you are among those people who find it virtually impossible, it suggests a method that integrates 6 extremely effective personal growth techniques and solid principles for getting more free time and improving your life.
The 7 rules for success - Stephen R. Covey
This book clearly addresses the important issues of productivity (professional and personal), habits for achieving success, and human relationships. It proposes a "method" that, when properly applied, allows you to increase your ability to achieve your goals, but also to develop better private and work relationships.
#4 Books on human relations
You know it well, as a human being you are a being social: You cannot do anything in your life without interacting and engaging with the people around you. That is why relationships with others are as much the basis of your personal growth as your mindset or daily habits. It is important to be able to identify the most important ones and know how to cultivate them so that they support you in your evolution.
How to treat others and make friends - Dale Carnegie
Reading this book is the starting point for learning how to get along with others and build the winning relationships you need to achieve your goals. This requires having the right attitude, which is that of sincere interest. The author points out some methods and also gives practical examples to win people's trust in just a few moves. It's not about manipulation; it's about figuring out how to get off on the right foot with anyone you'll have a chance to interact with.
Give and Take - Adam Grant
"Why helping others drives our success" is the subtitle of this book, which shows you the importance of being generous to achieve your goals in business. The author divides people into three categories: the takers (those who only take), the matchers (those who aim only at "I give so that you give") and the givers (the generous), showing the advantages the latter have. It presents the three main elements that form the basis of success (hard work, luck and talent) and introduces a fourth key factor: bringing others to oneself, which is the real key.
Conclusion
So, do you think there is something that is right for you?
You will see, you will gain many benefits in the professional sphere as well: a personal growth path can only increase the perception of your authority In your industry.
Before concluding, I want to leave you with a few tips on how to approach these texts so that you make the most of all the benefits:
- Keep pen and paper handy to take notes;
- Decide that you want to learn something before you even start reading;
- Decide that you will implement at least one piece of advice or strategy that you read;
- Keep an open mind and lower your defenses about your beliefs and convictions.
I am sure you will be able to find some interesting insights in these readings and that they will be able to make a difference in your personal growth and in the race toward achieving your goals.
Best of luck!
Photo by Ed Robertson on Unsplash