Reading self-help books are one way to help increase self-awareness and insight. If you are a reader, this blog is for you, and if not; that’s okay! These are all topics that can be learned and explored through therapy.

Winnie-the-Pooh himself, for example, personifies the principles of wu wei, the Taoist concept of “effortless doing,” and pu, the concept of being open to, but unburdened by, experience, and it is also a metaphor for natural human nature. In contrast, characters like Owl and Rabbit over-complicate problems, often over-thinking to the point of confusion, and Eeyore pessimistically complains and frets about existence, unable to just be. Hoff regards Pooh’s simpleminded nature, unsophisticated worldview and instinctive problem-solving methods as conveniently representative of the Taoist philosophical foundation.

Resource: https://www.benjaminhoffauthor.com/

The resource explains how, forgiveness, this practical and powerful tool is believed to have immediate impact by bringing relief while unleashing love that has been blocked by personal resentments. Through the magic of reversal taught in this useful reference, readers can change their understanding of forgiveness and free themselves from the grip of resentment and hatred.

Resource: https://www.giftofforgiveness.net/

A 2006 book written by American social psychologist Jonathan Haidt. In it, Haidt poses several “Great Ideas” on happiness espoused by thinkers of the past—such as Plato, Buddha and Jesus—and examines them in the light of contemporary psychological research, extracting from them any lessons that still apply to our modern lives. Central to the book are the concepts of virtue, happiness, fulfillment, and meaning.

Resource: https://www.happinesshypothesis.com/

Emily Nagoski has a PhD in Health Behavior with a doctoral concentration in human sexuality from Indiana University (IU), and a master’s degree (also from IU) in Counseling, with a clinical internship at the Kinsey Institute Sexual Health Clinic. She has taught graduate and undergraduate classes in human sexuality, relationships and communication, stress management, and sex education.

Dr. Nagoski argues that beneath all these inquiries is a longing to know that personal sexual experience is normal. Her answer is a resounding “yes.” Men and women have myriad sexual preferences, anatomies, accelerators, and brakes. This diversity is normal. Dr. Nagoski hopes to empower her readers with research-based practices and knowledge that she believes can lead to more enriching and loving sexual experiences. The book explores three major themes: You Are Normal, The Mythology of Sex, and Reframing Personal Sexual Experience.

Resource: https://www.emilynagoski.com/books

What exactly is sexual attraction and what is it like to go through the world not experiencing it? What does asexuality reveal about consent, about compromise, about the structures of society? This exceedingly accessible guide to asexuality shows that the issues that aces face—confusion around sexual activity, the intersection of sexuality and identity, navigating different needs in relationships—are conflicts that all of us need to address as we move through the world. Also represented are disabled aces, aces of color, non-gender-conforming aces questioning whether their asexuality is a reaction against stereotypes, and aces who don’t want romantic relationships asking how our society can make room for them.

Resources: https://www.beacon.org/Ace-P1747.aspx

Gender Queer involves topics such as gender euphoria, gender dysphoria, and asexuality using both narrative and illustrations. They begin telling their story from childhood to the present day and include many monumental experiences in their life: their first period, learning about what it means to be transgender, first relationship, and numerous others.

Resources: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Gender-Queer-A-Memoir/Maia-Kobabe/9781549304002

In this breakthrough book, clinical psychologist Lindsay Gibson exposes the destructive nature of parents who are emotionally immature or unavailable. You will see how these parents create a sense of neglect and discover ways to heal from the pain and confusion caused by your childhood. By freeing yourself from your parents’ emotional immaturity, you can recover your true nature, control how you react to them, and avoid disappointment. Finally, you’ll learn how to create positive, new relationships so you can build a better life.

Discover the four types of difficult parents:

Resources: https://www.newharbinger.com/9781626251700/adult-children-of-emotionally-immature-parents/

The book leads readers through a process of self-discovery and healing, helping them identify the emotionally-charged language of their worries and fears that link to unresolved traumas in their childhood or family history. Through provocative questions, relevant case studies and a series of body-centered exercises, readers are guided to become detectives, mining their family history to unearth the source of their issues. Ultimately, readers learn how to convert old, fearful images into ones that bring strength and healing. It Didn’t Start with You is the first book of its kind to offer step-by-step guidance to help people break the cycle of destructive inherited family patterns.

You will learn:

Resource: https://markwolynn.com/it-didnt-start-with-you/

This book is about pleasure. It’s also about pain. Most important, it’s about how to find the delicate balance between the two, and why now more than ever finding balance is essential. We’re living in a time of unprecedented access to high-reward, high-dopamine stimuli: drugs, food, news, gambling, shopping, gaming, texting, sexting, Facebooking, Instagramming, YouTubing, tweeting . . . The increased numbers, variety, and potency is staggering. The smartphone is the modern-day hypodermic needle, delivering digital dopamine 24/7 for a wired generation. As such we’ve all become vulnerable to compulsive overconsumption.

In Dopamine Nation, Dr. Anna Lembke, psychiatrist and author, explores the exciting new scientific discoveries that explain why the relentless pursuit of pleasure leads to pain . . . and what to do about it. Condensing complex neuroscience into easy-to-understand metaphors, Lembke illustrates how finding contentment and connectedness means keeping dopamine in check. The lived experiences of her patients are the gripping fabric of her narrative. Their riveting stories of suffering and redemption give us all hope for managing our consumption and transforming our lives. In essence, Dopamine Nation shows that the secret to finding balance is combining the science of desire with the wisdom of recovery.

Resource: https://www.annalembke.com/dopamine-nation

If any of these titles piqued your interest; give them a read! See what more you can learn about yourself. As with any self-help book, PLEASE take it with a grain of salt, take what works, leave what doesn’t. Not every example will resonate with everyone and that is okay! If any of these topics interest you or you want to talk to someone about them, please contact Life Enhancement Counseling Services at 407-443-8862 to schedule an appointment with one of our licensed mental health counselors.