A few years ago I stumbled over the so called “self-development” and the idea of “spiritual growth” as an applied science. As I always tried to figure out how to improve my life, health and creativity – the practices I learned within the last years thanks to the great mentors I found, are priceless. I want to share with you a few books, which really changed my life, my perspective, my view on things and I’m convinced, everybody can apply this wisdom and become even happier:
1.Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
This book is genius and is about the power of vulnerability. Ever since I’ve finished this book I became so much more sensitive and compassionate to myself and to others. I was living in a hell of being a “strong woman”, whereas inside I was burning to show my goodness. The switch from the iron character to my true nature was very hard and I’m still a work-in-progress and find it often difficult to show vulnerability, but I know what power it has. Not in theory, but in real life.
If you want other people to open up very fast – show vulnerability and by that give others the “permission” to show their vulnerable sides too. Showing vulnerability always works and makes a shift from any normal relationship to an intimate one.
2.The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
This book is a guide to practical happiness. Everybody struggles with different things and Gretchen showed in her amazing book how to form new habits and how to get closer to your goals on a daily basis.
Since I read this book, for the very first time in my life I understood the art of “applied happiness” by, well, practicing it. I started to do little steps towards my goals. Awesome news: happiness can be practiced and then it becomes a new healthy habit, because not being happy suddenly starts to feel intensely bad.
If you don’t know how to start improving your life, this book is the best that can happen, because it shows step by step how happiness can be approached.
3.The School of Greatness by Lewis Howes
Lewis’ podcast “The School of Greatness” changed my life and still keeps on changing day by day. He speaks to my ear with his awesome guests and I feel as a part of something big. I feel as a part of a huge consciousness shift. He answers all the questions which are present, when you start to change your life. After listening to his podcast I bought his book and I wasn’t surprised that its freaking awesome. This book offers exercises, which help to get clarity about the purpose and goals. It gives practical simple tips on a better life and how to create a vision.
In his book Lewis opens up and tells his own story and in his podcast he “get’s naked” together with his guests and the incredibly touching success stories will make any ass move faster towards the goals.
Thanx to this book I started to believe in myself more and clarified how I want my day to look like, without being ashamed of the fact that I truly don’t want to work my ass off just in sake of money and yes, I want to go to the gym and eat fresh food every day and I want to have time for myself and the activities I love. I want to follow my passions and to go for a vision I believe in: a better life for me and others, a better world as much as I can support it to be better, a best version of myself that I can be. Nothing less than that. Every day.
If you aren’t clear about what to do next, but you know that your current life sucks – read this book and listen to his podcast. It’s life changing.
4.Crush it! by Gary Vaynerchuk
Ok, this dude just rocks. If you need some ass-kick and you want motivation to do something on your own – he should become your best friend. He doesn’t know, but he’s mine too 
Thanx to the videos and the book, I finally started to publish my articles and my vegan food-recipes and actually started to take actions towards something I believe in (even if I’m not clear yet, what the outcome will be). Gary knows business and spreads the best tool for life-business-success: self-awareness.
Tattoo it into your mind if you want to improve your life or business: self-awareness, self-awareness, self-awareness
5.Siddhartha by Herman Hesse
My personal favorite book. I’ve read it many times. I was always seeking for something bigger. I was and am seeking for growth, for answers. Today I know, that all I’m looking for is myself. My borders, my potential, my possible best self. Siddhartha is a great book for everybody who’s looking for a higher version of her/himself. It’s classy and breath-taking.
6.The Mastery of Love by Don Miguel Ruiz
One keyword: love. I love Don Miguel Ruiz and his “Four Agreements” is also an excellent book, but The Mastery of Love changed everything for me. I learned what it means to love, to care love, to show love, to respond out of love. It’s a daily practice for me until today, because it’s normal that people and situations sometimes suck and I just want to scream. But it mostly doesn’t feel good. Love always feels good. It’s a must-read to everybody who wants a deeper understanding what a “life out of love” means.
I read a lot of different books and blogs, which help me to improve my daily life. There are so many amazing writers, bloggers and vloggers, our there who share their experiences. I constantly read the updates of James Altucher, he’s kind of my modern guru. He’s real and he’s a human, who isn’t afraid of his failures and successes. He keeps on moving. I read the updates of Elizabeth Gilbert – she’s the modern spiritual, amazing, strong, vulnerable woman. Love her.
I read books and blogs of real people with real stories and not some spiritual guru-guide-crap. I believe in spiritual awakening, but I also want to function in the society and be a good person – the best I can be. I want others to succeed and want my own life to be a dream-come-true. That’s why I connect with people, who want the same: a happy life for themselves and others. I connect with people who are lead by love and goodwill. I read their blogs and books and reach out to them and if you believe it or not – they answer and they are there for me.
When some unreachable, at least so it seems, people answer my emails with a long, detailed reply, where I feel, that they really want to help me and are focussed on my questions – I know why they are as high. Those people are present for others and are burning for their success, that is why they succeed. They write books because they want more people to succeed, but they are more than happy to help individually, at least in my experience.
Those people are angels in our modern world, who move this world forward towards a better future. That’s who I’m striving to be as well. And if those people wouldn’t have published their thoughts and experiences in their books – how would I know that I’m not alone in my success and suffering? That is why we do it – to support each other …
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