I have to admit, I consume a lot of self-help media. The books, collections of inspirational quotes, podcasts, blogs, apps. I love it all. When I was younger I tried to use it as a path to being someone different because I thought who I was may have been broken. It turns out it’s impossible to escape yourself so I didn’t get too far. And, I am not broken. I am very much a whole person with areas to work on. 

Now, I use it as tools to support who I am, where I am at, without the need or hope to be someone else. Yeah, I am sure I learned that in one of my books. I am committed to being comfortable with the uncomfortable areas of my life and, at times these resources, along with several other things like open conversations with my husband or a regular exercise schedule, help keep me honest with that intent. 

Here is my current self-help section.

Books

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. This book is about unleashing your creativity without fear and highlights the many different forms it comes in. Tapping into your creativity can be very therapeutic and rewarding. I read this book for fun when I was pregnant with Max without much creative ambition at the time. It planted a seed in me though that when the time was right I’d bravely embrace my creative side. Well, here I am doing just that. 

Rising Strong by Brene Brown. I already wrote a separate post about this book so I won’t spend much time on it, except to say that Brene Brown is a leading researcher on vulnerably, empathy and shame. The lessons I learned in her book gave be courage to be vulnerable during a recent and very tricky time in my life. If you don’t have time for a book, she also has TED Talks and a website to check out.

Brave Enough by Cheryl Strayed. I have become a big fan of Cheryl (yeah, I feel OK calling her by her first name). She is an author probably best known for the book Wild and also the host of a popular podcast that I will tell you about below. This is a collection of quotes she has gathered or come up with herself over the years. You can read this in one sitting and then keep it to flip through whenever you need some inspiration.

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. I have a tendency to worry too much about what has happened in the past and what might happen in the future. This book helps me stay present. Sounds simple, but 
is really quite difficult.

Blogs
Momastery written by Glennon Doyle Melton. I can’t recall how I found this blog years ago, but I am glad I did. She writes about her life and struggles with a lot of honesty. In reading her blog I learned the concept of having your insides match your outsides, that it’s ok to have a messy life and to be careful not to use the term “broken”. Her style is the opposite of me – lots of CAPS and !!!, but if you can embrace that, she’s got some real golden nuggets in her posts. 

The Bloggess written by Jenny Lawson. I don’t read her blog as often, but have read a few of her books and follow her regularly on social media. I was drawn to her because she has a hilariously dark sense of humor and uses it to talk about her struggles with mental illness. She has her own unique style of writing and is incredibly funny. I don’t suffer from a chronic mental illness, but appreciate her openness to share her experiences. Also, having a sibling with mental illness this provides more 
perspective on the topic for me.

Podcasts
The Happiness Podcast. This might be the most self-helpy of everything I have listed - the music, the voice of Dr. Puff -it's not for everyone. I throw this podcast on when I need a reminder that happiness is work and a choice. They are short and a little on the hokey side, but I always get something out of them. 

Dear Sugars. Dear Sugars is an advice column that Cheryl Strayed and Steve Almond turned into a podcast. I love listening to the questions that come in and the advice Cheryl and Steve provide. This is a good reminder that everyone is coping with something complex and we are not alone in our struggles.

Apps, etc
Calm App. This is a mediation app that I use intermittently. Sometimes I need to meditate daily for awhile to keep me calm and then other times I use it now and again. There are a ton of meditation apps out there. I like this one because I like the woman’s voice and there are plenty of free guided meditations to choose from.

The Positive Minds on Instagram. This might be a good start if you need a lift from time to time, but are not as into self-help as I might be. I love the quotes @thepositiveminds posts and like when they pop up among others important stuff I follow like Taylor Swift and Pop Sugar.