They say, “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.”
I’ve never really thought much about that quote until I started reading more; actually reading books and listening to books. I gravitate toward listening to books more than actually reading. In case you’re wondering, the University of California at Berkley studied MRI Brain Scans and found that reading books and listening to books had the same impact on brain activity.
I do enjoy reading but I get through more books by listening to them.
Regardless of how you prefer to read, it’s important to do so. Reading helps your brain, it helps your creativity, it helps you in so many ways mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. The more you do it, the easier it gets and the more you enjoy it.
My personal go-to’s for reading are self-help books. I’m constantly trying to improve, trying to grow, trying to learn, trying to fill my mind with positive, motivating, and challenging thoughts that will help me keep moving forward.
The quote “reading is to the brain what exercise is to the body” is so important to understand. With everything going on around us, I feel it’s important to fill my brain with things that are uplifting, encouraging, motivating, and educational because I want to be “unaffected” in the sense that I don’t want to stay in a state of low energy, of sorrow, of pain, of feeling heart-broken, of feeling depressed.
Do things happen in life? Yes.
Do they affect me? Yes.
Do I wish bad things wouldn’t happen? All the time.
I just don’t want those things to take over me. I want to acknowledge my emotions, learn from them, see if there’s anything I can personally do to help, and move on with my purpose. I enjoy personal development so much; it keeps me on track with my personal journey and God-given purpose, and when I fall, I don’t stay there for as long as I did before. PROGRESS!
Here are some books I’m reading now for my personal development:
WomanCode: Perfect Your Cycle, Amplify Your Fertility, Supercharge Your Sex Drive, and Become a Power Source
By Alisa Vitti, forwarded by Dr.Christiane Northrup
This book is wonderful in getting to know and understand your hormones and your female body a little more. It’s a book that has been giving me tips on how to heal from my PCOS symptoms. A quote that I’m really appreciating right now is, “The only way your hormones can achieve balance is if your body does the job, and only if you safeguard and nurture it with every meal and habit, every day to optimize your endocrine function.” I just love that! It helps me feel like I do have control over my body. Now it’s time to see and learn how.
The Paper Solution: What to Shred, What to Save, and How to Stop It From Taking Over Your Life
By Lisa Woodruff (from Cincinnati, actually Westchester, Ohio!)
This has really put me back on track with dealing with the day-to-day papers, errands, mail, etc. Lisa talks about the Sunday Basket, a filing system that helps you stay organized for the week. It is amazing and has been a godsend!
This book is a must-read! And no, I’m not getting paid for saying this. I just really find it helpful and it made me feel productive and have more of a handle of what goes on in my house, with my kids, with my husband, with myself!
Lisa wrote in her book, “A chaotic life isn’t just frustrating – it’s expensive. Clutter and disorganization can cost us financially, rob us of our time, take a toll on our physical health, impair our social interaction, and create significant opportunity costs in all aspects of our lives.”
She also talks about purging papers and teaches you a different way to keep track of papers and how to file. I’m still working on my purging, but I have my Sunday basket, which also gives me a sense of direction!
There’s a Spiritual Solution to Everything
By Dr.Wayne Dyer
How can I live at a higher frequency? How can I live a problem-free life? How can I practice and live this way in all the events of my life?
This book is a special book for me because it gave me a deeper understanding of how there is a spiritual solution to everything. We are not our thoughts. When asked to point to yourself, you point to your heart, not your head. Dr.Dyer talks a lot about being connected to spirit, to God, being in harmony, and reminding you that it is your mind that creates problems for you.
The author reminds you to have more faith, and believe that everything always ends up working out for the best. There are no mistakes, there are only lessons and personal growth.
