Books On My Nightstand, Part 2
It has been a MINUTE since I last blogged, but I’m excited to be back! Below are a few books I’m currently reading, followed by the ones I have next on my wishlist! Let me know if you have any questions or comments—I’d love to hear from you!
1) Toxic Positivity by Whitney Goodman. I have followed Whitney’s instagram for many years and have always been inspired by her work. For those wondering what “toxic positivity” is, let me give a quick synopsis. Toxic positivity is caused by the feeling you get when someone tells you something cliche like, “Don’t worry about it!” or “Everything happens for a reason!” when you are struggling with something hard. Our culture is obsessed with happiness and it can be hard to empathize with people when it makes us uncomfortable. Goodman reminds her readers that it’s okay to feel a range of feelings and allow them to flow through us, instead of define us. Her writing is full of helpful guidance, empathy and support for anyone wanting to lead a more genuine and connected life.
2) Brain-Body Parenting by Mona DelaHooke Polly has been a powerful and impactful book. Delahooke combines her expertise in child development to offer clear and practical ways for caregivers to best help their children grow and promote resiliency. This guide is essential for people trying to teach their children how to handle big emotions and self-regulate. I am always reminded while reading parenting books, how important it is for me to check in with myself before my children. DelaHook provides more insight on how to check in with ourselves first when triggered by our kids, so we have the tools we need to attune and connect with our children in the best way.
3) I found myself drawn to Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne at a time when I was feeling overwhelmed with motherhood. This book has provided the groundedness I was hoping to feel after reading it. Payne encourages readers to go “back to the basics” and not focus so much on providing children with all the things that can complicate childhood like too much screen screentime, busyness and constant stimulation. There has been a lot of things to be anxious about the past few years, and Payne reminds us how to “keep things simple” by creating rhythms and routines to provide peace and security for the entire household.
4) 9 Types of Leadership by Beatrice Chestnut has been very thought-provoking. Chestnut is my go to guru for all things Enneagram, so I am not surprised I have thoroughly enjoyed her challenges and thoughts on leadership. As always, her writing offers a deeper understanding and insight into the world of the 9 different personality types. She provides information on how to best challenge and motivate each type to be and perform at their best. I come away with more self-awareness and encouragement for how to practically support others in a more conscious way.
5) Atlas of the Heart has been a slow, but impactful read for me. It is a large book that reviews the extensive research Brené’s team did to create a review the differences between 87 emotions that humans experience. Each chapter gives language and voice to the nuances of each emotion, with examples to accompany the descriptions. This is a book that I see myself referring to when needing to explain a complex feeling someone is experiencing. There is a video series on HBO Max where Brené teaches to a live audience about this book, which I have also enjoyed.
The next books on my list are Atomic Habits by James Clear & The Body Keeps Score by Bessel Van Der Kolk. I look forward to diving in and leaving a review in the weeks to come!