Books that Changed My Life

Now and again, I come across books that shift my way of thinking entirely. In this post, I will share some of the non-fiction books that changed my life.

If you’re a curious soul like me, and you have a soft spot for philosophy, then you’ve probably already heard about, listened to, and read some of Alan Watts’ work, if not all of it. But, if you haven’t, I would highly recommend doing so.

His way of thinking is fascinating, and I found it to be eye-opening on so many subjects.
I, for one, struggle with the fear of not knowing what happens to us after we die, and Watts’ thoughts around this, in particular, helped calm me down a little. But all in all, Watts’s thoughts and writing helped me shift my perspective and look at things differently than I did beforehand.
I recommend listening to them as audiobooks or just searching him up on YouTube.

The Book by Alan Watts

Out of Your Mind by Alan Watts

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I’ve written a post about this book and the diet culture that I didn’t know I was in a relationship with. You can read it here.

Megan’s book was a real eye-opener for me. I kind of knew that diet culture was all around, but I had no idea just how extreme it is or how much I’ve let it affect my life. This book made me realize just how hard I’ve been with myself and my body over the years.

This book made me look at food, advertisement, and exercise in a whole new way. It has given me a much more healthy relationship with food, a passion for body positivism, and I’m now the biggest @bodyposipanda fan!

Body Positive Power by Megan Jayne Crabbe

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I never thought about just how powerful it is to ask people for help. I’m one of those people who tried for way too long to do everything on my own because I was afraid that I would lose control of my creativity if I asked anyone else for help. Silly, right? I still struggle with that at times.

Palmer writes about how far you can come by just asking for help. By letting yourself be open, and to not be ashamed to ask if there’s something you need or want. It taught me the power of connection, especially when living a creative life.

Amanda Palmer has such a presence, and I got lost listening to her voice and her story. A fascinating read/listen!

The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer

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Yes! Yes! And more Yes!

I loved the message that Shonda Rhimes delivers in this book. I often find myself worried way too much about the “what if’s” of absolutely everything, and that can make me say no to opportunities, and then I end up regretting my decision to say no later on. Year of Yes made me realize just how powerful saying yes can be and how that can open unexpected doors that lead to places you couldn’t even imagine.

After reading this book, I’ve been more mindful about the responses I give to opportunities that present themselves to me. It was very inspiring and made me super motivated.

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

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I just finished this book and I loved it so much! It had lots of great ideas and tips for any creative wanting to make their passion into a career, which is exactly what I’m trying to do at the moment (more on that in another post soon). I flew through this (listened to it on Libby) but I ended up ordering myself a copy so that I can go back to it later on in this process.

Cathy Heller had so much to share from her own experiences and also from the many people she’s had on her podcast, and it motivated and inspired me so much!

I definitely think that this is a good read for anyone who’s thinking about taking the leap of quitting that day job and go in pursuit of that career that you really want!

I’m so grateful that I randomly stumbled across this audiobook, and I will be reading it more than once. I will also start to listen to her podcast from now on to keep that inspiration and motivation up.

Don’t Keep Your Day Job by Cathy Heller

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Have you read any books that were life changing? I would love to hear about it!

💛If you buy via my affiliate links, I get a small commission 💛

February + March 2019 📚 Wrap Up

Diet Culture – The Relationship I Didn’t Know I Was In

I’ve never been on a diet. Never had a diet plan. Never felt the urge to diet. Or have I?

I’ve pretty much always been quite slim, but with some shifts up and down, depending on how dedicated of a workout routine I had. I never thought of myself as part of the diet culture. The thought didn’t even cross my mind. I just saw myself as a healthy (most of the time) person who enjoyed taking care of my own body.

I had no idea how wrong I was. Looking back now, I find it terrifying to know just how much. It turns out that diet culture and I have been in a relationship since before I was a teenager, and I had to turn 31 before I even knew about it!

Click on the cover if you want to know more about the book💖

I started listening to Body Positive Power by Megan Jayne Crabbe (bodyposipanda on Instagram) on Audible, and that’s when everything changed. I was on my way to work (lost in the audiobook while staring out the bus window) and then Megan started talking about the young age when girls (and a lot of boys as well) start to feel conscious and insecure about their bodies. She talked about the shame that we feel whenever we binge, and the restraints we put on ourselves to stay or reach a certain body weight or body type, and all of a sudden I felt sick to my stomach. I had goosebumps all over my body, and not in a good way!

I was sitting there, traveling back in time, and watching myself pinch and poke at my own body. I heard myself making excuses to other people (and to myself) for how I was no longer as fit as I used to be, but I was getting back into shape soon. I remembered the shame that I’ve felt, more times than I can even count, for the indulges of sweets and cakes when I was convinced that I should have eaten something else.

I felt nauseous thinking about how mean I’ve been to myself. How much I’ve mentally beat myself up because of a toxic culture, and I didn’t even know that I was doing it.

I’ve been on a self-love journey for some years now, and even though I’ve learned to appreciate me, my body and what it can do, I had no idea that I was putting so much strain and negativity on myself because of the media and the culture that I’ve grown up with. I thought I had a healthy relationship with my own body, and in many ways I do, and at the same time, I don’t.

It was such a shock, and it hit me like a punch to my soft, beautiful tummy. Why am I being so cruel to myself, when I don’t need to? When the only ones who are profiting on that kind of mental beatdown and cruelty is an industry that’s fueled with lies, power, money, and other people’s pain and insecurities?

I have followed Megan’s Instagram for a long, long time, and I’ve been rooting for her and the whole body positivity movement! But little did I know that I would end up completely baffled, and eternally grateful for being able to learn from her. To hear about her experiences, her knowledge, her pain, and her triumphs. I had no idea that a person that I’ve never met would be able to change the way I see myself and my body.

Megan, you are a force of beauty and nature, and this post is a declaration of love for the positive and true energy that you put out into this world!

I’ve cried a fair amount of tears while listening to Body Positive Power, but I’ve also learned to see myself in a new way❤️It’s a body positive journey, it’s hard, but it is also wonderful at the same time.

This was a wake-up call that I didn’t even know I needed! And I’ve never been more ready to break up and out of the toxic relationship with the diet culture that I had no idea that I was in❤️

Body Positivity is a movement needed NOW, more than ever, and I’m happy to say that I am a part of it! I will shout it to the world with my words, my voice and my art! The shame and mental beating have come to an end, and a whole new level of self-love and discovery has begun!

Thank you Megan, and thank you to the whole community of beautiful body positive people out there❤️My body and I am eternally grateful for all that you do, and all that you share!