If you’re looking for steady support through a season of change, a good book can help.
These five personal growth books offer practical guidance on creativity, courage, self-trust, and healing. Each one meets a different moment, and the snapshots below will help you choose what fits right now.
They’re written by authors with distinct voices and approaches, but they share something important: they make inner work feel clearer, kinder, and more doable.
Let’s begin.
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
BOOK SNAPSHOT
In Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert dives into the nature of creativity and the invisible currents of inspiration that are available to all of us. By sharing anecdotes from her life and others’ lives, Gilbert offers practical insights for moving past fear and embracing a curiosity-driven life. It’s a vibrant look at how creative thinking can shape every aspect of our existence.
IDEAS TO KEEP
- Creativity grows when you follow curiosity more than approval.
- Fear doesn’t have to disappear; it just can’t be the decision-maker.
- The freer you become, the less you need to be “perfect” to be worthy.
TRY THIS (1 MINUTE)
What’s one small creative act I can do this week just because it brings me alive?
Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
BOOK SNAPSHOT
In Year of Yes, TV powerhouse Shonda Rhimes reveals how a simple commitment, saying “yes” to things that scared her, sparked immense personal and professional growth. Throughout the year, Rhimes embraced speaking engagements, social events, and challenges she once avoided, gaining renewed confidence and self-worth.
IDEAS TO KEEP
- Confidence is built through action, not waiting to “feel ready.”
- Saying yes to the right challenges can rewrite your self-image.
- You can be grateful and still claim your effort, skill, and choice.
TRY THIS (1 MINUTE)
What’s one “yes” I’ve been avoiding that would stretch me in a healthy way?
Untamed by Glennon Doyle
BOOK SNAPSHOT
Untamed is a raw, honest memoir by Glennon Doyle, charting her journey to break free from societal expectations and fully claim her true self. Doyle shares personal revelations about divorce, motherhood, and falling in love again, revealing how living authentically demands courage, self-trust, and a willingness to leave outdated norms behind.
IDEAS TO KEEP
- Confidence is built through action, not waiting to “feel ready.”
- Saying yes to the right challenges can rewrite your self-image.
- You can be grateful and still claim your effort, skill, and choice.
TRY THIS (1 MINUTE)
Where am I living by “should,” and what would “true” look like instead?
The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest
BOOK SNAPSHOT
Brianna Wiest shines a light on why many of us stand in our own way and how we can dismantle self-defeating patterns in *The Mountain Is You*. Integrating research, personal stories, and practical strategies, Wiest empowers readers to develop self-awareness, build resilience, and confront internal struggles.
IDEAS TO KEEP
- The patterns that block you are often protective strategies that outlived their job.
- Real strength is trusting you can cope when things go wrong.
- Self-respect grows when you stop negotiating with what harms you.
TRY THIS (1 MINUTE)
What pattern keeps showing up and what is it trying to protect me from?
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
BOOK SNAPSHOT
Renowned psychiatrist Dr. Bessel van der Kolk explores how trauma reshapes the mind and body, impacting emotional well-being and trust. He discusses methods like neuro-feedback, meditation, yoga, and more to promote healing by harnessing the brain’s natural ability to adapt and recover.
IDEAS TO KEEP
- Healing isn’t only “thinking differently”; the body needs safety cues too.
- Supportive relationships are a core ingredient, not a bonus.
- Change becomes possible when you can notice your inner experience without getting swept away by it.
TRY THIS (1 MINUTE)
What helps my system feel 5% safer today (a person, a place, a practice)?
Conclusion
Personal growth is a journey, and these five books can guide you along the way. Each one offers helpful advice and fresh ideas to help you overcome challenges, be true to yourself, and feel more confident and strong.
Whether you want to be more creative, say “yes” to new opportunities, let go of old fears, stop holding yourself back, or heal from past struggles, these books can show you how. Take inspiration from their lessons and start moving toward a happier, more fulfilling life today.
Take the first step today, it begins with you.
