Discover How to Create Lasting Change in Your Life
As the holidays take over our attention, it’s almost time to focus on the new year approaching. A great way to do this is by reflecting on 2022 as a whole. Many of us might’ve made goals at the start of 2022 that we haven’t kept up with. However, we can truly change our habits in 2023 thanks to the help of some amazing books! Here are some books that will help you set achievable goals in 2023…
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Using psychology, biology, and neuroscience, Clear describes the techniques you could use to form better habits. While he uses science to explain these changes, he simplifies complicated topics so you can relate ideas to your life. One of his main points is that change happens slowly; believing you can change completely overnight is unreasonable. Being patient with yourself and recognizing the small amounts of progress you make is more important. And the best part about these tiny changes is that they have a huge impact. Another main point of Clear’s is that we have to start believing we are what we want to become. I know this can sound confusing, but if you want to start running more, call yourself a runner; if you want to get into cooking, call yourself a chef. It doesn’t matter how skilled you may be, but believing that your identity will be impacted by your new habits is the best way to start.
The Book of Mistakes: 9 Secrets to Creating a Successful Future by Skip Prichard
If traditional non-fiction self-help books aren’t captivating enough for you, Prichard’s book may be for you. Prichard uses a fictional story about a man named David to describe his own input about what it means to be successful. In this book, readers become aware of how often they may be repeating mistakes and not changing their actions. This awareness and wisdom through learning more about David’s story is very helpful to reflect on your own life. A crucial takeaway from this book is to avoid being jealous when someone is successful and instead be curious about what you could apply to your own life. Like many self-improvement books, Prichard explains how a change of mindset is key not only about how you view yourself but also how you view others.
Hard Goals: The Secret to Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by Mark Murphy
Murphy’s research in this book scientifically explains how the brain plays such a role in the ways we set goals. In simpler terms, Murphy has broken it down into an acronym of H.A.R.D. goals. H stands for heartfelt, emphasizing how important it is to have emotional connections with your goals. A stands for animated, which highlights what we imagine ourselves being in the future as if we watch a movie of our successes. R stands for required, showing how necessary it is to start working on your goals as soon as possible. Lastly, D stands for difficult, recognizing that the process is not easy but is definitely worth it in the end. By simplifying professional and personal goals into this acronym, Murphy takes his readers through what they hope to achieve themselves and how to best go about it.
The Desire Map: A Guide to Creating Goals with Soul by Danielle LaPorte
For those of you who don’t enjoy scientific explanations, LaPorte’s book talks about goals from a more spiritual perspective. At the end of the day, setting goals can be a very moving experience, and it comes down to the deepest form of yourself. This book dives into not only what your goals are but why you want these goals and who you want to become. By looking at your innermost feelings and desires, you will better understand what you want and can achieve in all aspects of your life. One of LaPorte’s messages is that learning how to positively change your life doesn’t mean you should be hard about the negative parts. It isn’t easy to create change in your life, especially if you are someone who easily falls into routines. So, by being easy on yourself and understanding that change is a difficult process, you will have a more pleasant experience setting and achieving goals.
Your Best Year Ever: A 5-Step Plan for Achieving Your Most Important Goals by Michael Hyatt
While it isn’t necessary to set goals for the start of every year, we fall into this pattern. For that reason, this title feels especially relevant, as we hope that 2023 is your best year ever! To prepare for the rest of December, reading Hyatt’s book should give you some clarity for next steps to improve your new year. Hyatt goes over ways to avoid feeling stuck when your habits don’t seem to be making any difference. Regardless of your goal, it is important to understand that change can be frustrating and challenging. Hyatt also discusses how to make your goals difficult to give up on. We’ve all seen the people who go to the gym for the first few days of January but immediately give up; Hyatt’s techniques ensure that you create the most productive goals yet.
By reaching for what appears to be impossible, we often actually do the impossible; and even when we don’t make it, we inevitably wind up doing much better than we would have done.
Michael Hyatt
At Discover Books, we hope that you have a great holiday season filled with family, friends, and books! We hope these books will help you change habits and set goals for whatever it is you want to do. Remember that change is never simple, and habits can take a long time to form. All of these books may make it seem easy and quick, but it’s always more important to search within yourself for who you want to become. Whether it’s for the rest of December or into the new year, setting goals is very productive, and relying on books like these can keep you focused on your path. As always, we hope you let these stories live on, and happy reading!
Be sure to keep an eye out for our 2023 Reading Challenge-coming 12/28/2022! This year’s challenge will have bonus points & more to help keep you motivated.
