Merriam-Webster defines self-love as an appreciation of one’s own worth or virtue and a proper regard for and attention to one’s own happiness or well-being. It’s something that I know I could use more of and it’s something I know the world around me could use a lot more of, too.
A bit of self-love is in order for us all: dedicating the proper time and attention to the unique things we each need for our health and well-being. What does self-love look like for you? Yoga? Cooking? Sleeping a bit more? Going on a run? Playing with your kids? Watching a movie? Taking a hike? Reading? Going on a drive? Fixing something?
Self-love looks different for everyone and books can help us figure out exactly what that means to each of us.
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Atlas of the Heart by Brene Brown
In Atlas of the Heart, Brown takes us on a journey through eighty-seven of the emotions and experiences that define what it means to be human. As she maps the necessary skills and an actionable framework for meaningful connection, she gives us the language and tools to access a universe of new choices and second chances—a universe where we can share and steward the stories of our bravest and most heartbreaking moments with one another in a way that builds connection.
Untamed by: Glennon Doyle
This book has changed the way I look at the world, especially how I look at myself. Each page is inspiring and uplifting, but also complex and challenging, as Glennon invites us to rethink the memos we have accepted as the status quo of our lives. I devoured this book quickly on the first reading and savored each word on the second, truly using Glennon’s stories to rewrite my own. I imagine I’ll continue this transformative work on the third reading as well.
To Shake the Sleeping Self by Jedidiah Jenkins
On the eve of turning thirty, terrified of being funneled into a life he didn’t choose, Jedidiah Jenkins quit his dream job and spent sixteen months cycling from Oregon to Patagonia. He chronicled the trip on Instagram, where his photos and reflections drew hundreds of thousands of followers, all gathered around the question: What makes a life worth living? In this unflinchingly honest memoir, Jed narrates his adventure–the people and places he encountered on his way to the bottom of the world–as well as the internal journey that started it all.
The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris by Jenny Colgan
This book was pure delight, from start to finish. When I finished the last page, I cried. I cried for Anna, for Claire, for Thierry, for Laurent, for Alice, for Richard and for myself. I cried for all the ways I saw myself in the pages of the book and for all the ways I wish I did. Because honestly, I expected a delightful little read filled with chocolate and sweetness, not a delightful little read filled with chocolate and sweetness and steep life lessons I needed to learn right now: about life and really living, about love and insecurities, about family and the bonds that tie us. My quote notebook is filled to the brim and so is my reading heart.
Heart Talk by Cleo Wade True
True to her hugely popular Instagram account, Cleo Wade brings her moving life lessons to Heart Talk, an inspiring, accessible, and spiritual book of wisdom for the new generation. Featuring over one hundred and twenty of Cleo’s original poems, mantras, and affirmations, including fan favorites and never before seen ones, this book is a daily pep talk to keep you feeling empowered and motivated.
Home Body by Rupi Kaur
Rupi Kaur constantly embraces growth, and in home body, she walks readers through a reflective and intimate journey visiting the past, the present, and the potential of the self. home body is a collection of raw, honest conversations with oneself – reminding readers to fill up on love, acceptance, community, family, and embrace change. Illustrated by the author, themes of nature and nurture, light and dark, rest here.
Add 30 Things I Love About Myself by Radhika Sanghani
This book gave me all the feels: I laughed, I laughed louder, I cried, I sympathized, I got angry and yes, I even blushed. A lot. The story begins with Nina celebrating her 30th birthday in a jail cell, determined to build her life from the bottom up with the advice from a self-help book she was given while being held overnight. What comes next is a roller coaster of emotions as Nina vows to find 30 things she loves about herself before her next birthday. And while she experiences some pretty deep learning experiences, Sanghani keeps it light and laughable, a lesson readers can bring to their own lives, too. This book has changed the way I view myself, the ways I react to those around me and the possibilities that I’ve never reached for in the past. I’ve already started my own list and have cracked open a newfound sense of adventure for daily living thanks to Nina. She’ll sit on my shoulder for a long while…and I’ll still be blushing.
Yoke by Jessamyn Stanley
Funny, thoughtful, inspiring, and deeply personal essays about yoga, wellness, and life from author of EVERY BODY YOGA, Jessamyn Stanley. Stanley explores her relationship (and ours) to yoga (including why we practice, rather than how); wrestles with issues like cultural appropriation, materialism, and racism; and explores the ways we can all use yoga as a tool for self-love.
