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5 books you should read to help reconnect to your authentic self

Are you on a journey of self-discovery? Do you feel like you're living a life that's not true to your authentic self? 

If so, then you're not alone. Many people struggle to find their true identity and purpose in life. 

Being your authentic self means being true to who you are, your thoughts, feelings, and actions. It means embracing your uniqueness, strengths, weaknesses, and values without pretending to be someone else or conforming to societal expectations. 





It involves being honest with yourself and others and making choices that align with your beliefs and goals. 

Being your authentic self can lead to greater self-awareness, self-acceptance, and a more fulfilling life.

Fortunately, there are many books available that can help you on this journey. In this book suggestion blog post, we'll be showcasing some of the best books we've found that can guide and inspire you to find your true authentic self. 

Whether you're looking for practical advice, personal stories, or spiritual guidance, we've got you covered. 





So, let's get started! 


1. Authentic: How to be yourself and why it matters by Stephen Joseph


The hunger for authenticity guides us throughout our lives. People strive for joined-up living, where on the one hand what they say and do reflects what they think and feel, and on the other what they think and feel reflects who they are.

Stephen Joseph has pioneered developments in research into authenticity, drawing on the solid science of positive psychology to develop what has become one of the gold-standard tests for assessing authenticity. His and others' findings reveal that when people are in relationships in which they feel accepted, understood and valued, they drop their defences. They naturally begin to examine themselves psychologically, accommodate new information and live more authentically. What's more, the latest studies reveal that it is authenticity that leads to true happiness.

In Authentic , Stephen Joseph presents his fresh and inspiring perspective on the psychology of authenticity alongside practical advice and exercises for the reader. Drawing on the wisdom of existential philosophers, the insights and research of psychologists, and case studies from his own and others' clinical experiences, he shows how authenticity is the foundation of human flourishing - as well as how the ideas relate to debates about the importance of happiness.


2. Live True: A Mindfulness Guide to Authenticity by Ora Nadrich




Live True vividly illustrates and breaks down the philosophy of Mindfulness, and what it means to live in the present moment; authentically. "Mindfulness and authenticity are inexorably linked. It keeps us honest," writes Ora Nadrich in her timely, and much needed book on raising awareness and consciousness of who we are, and more importantly; who we are not. Each of the thirty brisk, informative chapters, not only showcase Ora's effective techniques for living in the present moment with authenticity, but also, in her knowledgeable, and warm narrative style, guides us through various aspects of effective Mindful behavior, while pinpointing the challenges that impede us from connecting to ourselves authentically, and the dangers of not living in total awareness. Each chapter then culminates with a unique, useful meditation for readers to practice: thirty meditations for each of the thirty days in a month to help us discover, awaken and connect ourselves - in a mindful way - to all those qualities and core values that make us unique only to ourselves.

In this thoughtful and straightforward book, Ora shares with us the principles of effective Mindfulness, and combines them with specific meditations that are simple, direct and applicable to everyone, and helps connect us to our true nature. Authenticity is her mantra.


3. The Gift of Imperfection (10th Anniversary Edition) by Brenè Brown 



NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • This tenth-anniversary edition of the game-changing #1 New York Times bestseller features a new foreword and new tools to make the work your own. 

For over a decade, Brené Brown has found a special place in our hearts as a gifted mapmaker and a fellow traveler. She is both a social scientist and a kitchen-table friend whom you can always count on to tell the truth, make you laugh, and, on occasion, cry with you. And what’s now become a movement all started with The Gifts of Imperfection, which has sold more than two million copies in thirty-five different languages across the globe. 
What transforms this book from words on a page to effective daily practices are the ten guideposts to wholehearted living. The guideposts not only help us understand the practices that will allow us to change our lives and families, they also walk us through the unattainable and sabotaging expectations that get in the way. 
Brené writes, “This book is an invitation to join a wholehearted revolution. A small, quiet, grassroots movement that starts with each of us saying, ‘My story matters because I matter.’ Revolution might sound a little dramatic, but in this world, choosing authenticity and worthiness is an absolute act of resistance.” 


4. Something more; Excavating your authentic self by Sarah Ban Breathnach


Dare to begin the journey. Within these pages lie powerful truths that can change your life...and inspire you to settle for nothing less than Something More.

You may have a beautiful home, a family you adore, and work that you enjoy. But why do you secretly sense that you need something more to be truly happy?

Because it's true.

The wisdom, warmth, compassion, and disarming candor of Simple Abundance has made Sarah Ban Breathnach's a trusted voice to millions of women. Now Sarah invites you on a bold, brave, and beautiful continuation of the journey to authenticity, the search for...Something More

In this eloquent and evocative book, Sarah Ban Breathnach encourages you to become an archaeologist of your Self: to plumb your past with its unfulfilled longings, forgotten pleasures, and abandoned dreams, to "excavate" the authentic woman buried inside.

Uncovering your authentic self will be challenging-but exhilarating. Assisting your personal "dig" will be hints and prompts from the lives of both celebrated and unknown women. These, in tandem with Sarah's own insights, will help you unravel your own mystery and recover the joy that has been missing from your life. Along the way, you will experience small but exquisite epiphanies that will help you come to terms with your past choices and reveal exciting new opportunities that lead to your destiny.

Dare to begin the journey. Within these pages lie powerful truths that can change your life...and inspire you to settle for nothing less than Something More.



5. How to be yourself: Quiet your inner critic and rise above social anxiety by Ellen Hendriksen (PhD)



Up to 40% of people consider themselves shy. You might say you're introverted or awkward, or that you're fine around friends but just can't speak up in a meeting or at a party. Maybe you're usually confident but have recently moved or started a new job, only to feel isolated and unsure.

If you get nervous in social situations--meeting your partner's friends, public speaking, standing awkwardly in the elevator with your boss--you've probably been told, "Just be yourself!" But that's easier said than done--especially if you're prone to social anxiety.

Weaving together cutting-edge science, concrete tips, and the compelling stories of real people who have risen above their social anxiety, Dr. Ellen Hendriksen proposes a groundbreaking idea: you already have everything you need to succeed in any unfamiliar social situation. As someone who lives with social anxiety, Dr. Hendriksen has devoted her career to helping her clients overcome the same obstacles she has. With familiarity, humor, and authority, Dr. Hendriksen takes the reader through the roots of social anxiety and why it endures, how we can rewire our brains through our behavior, and--at long last--exactly how to quiet your Inner Critic, the pesky voice that whispers, "Everyone will judge you." Using her techniques to develop confidence, think through the buzz of anxiety, and feel comfortable in any situation, you can finally be your true, authentic self.









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