Reading for Spiritual Wellness: 3 Books to Try

In the pursuit of spiritual wellness, it's important to absorb as much as we can from the various resources around us. One of the best sources of inspiration, motivation, and positive energy is reading books for spiritual wellness. In fact, insights from Psychology Today highlight how reading can benefit our mental and spiritual well-being. For one, studies have shown that reading may be as effective as yoga and humor in terms of reducing subjective feelings of stress.

At the same time, other studies have also shown that reading can help prevent cognitive decline. A 14-year-long study found that, regardless of education level, participants who read more were less likely to experience cognitive decline than those who didn't. Reading also has its share of physical benefits, including its ability to help you sleep better. For adults, reading before bedtime can reduce the time it takes to fall asleep and increase sleep duration.

Aside from the act of reading, what you read also greatly enhances your spiritual wellness. Nowadays, self-help books are especially popular for those seeking guidance and direction.

Books for Spiritual Wellness

Some books provide insights into specific situations in the writer's life that readers can relate to or identify with. In contrast, others may discuss ideas and themes that can help guide you toward better spiritual wellness. So let's grab a cup of Detox Tea and continue as I share three books you should check out for spiritual wellness (the last one is one of my favorites!):

1. The Gifts of Imperfection

In our lives, regardless of our goals or abilities, we tend to struggle with unattainable
expectations. While this can be external and come from other people around us, there are also unattainable expectations that we tend to set for ourselves. This can hinder spiritual wellness as we are less likely to strive for our goals or be open to new opportunities due to being held back by expectations.

I love Brené Brown's The Gifts of Imperfection, and it is one of millions of ebooks on Everand — an awesome subscription service where you can access a variety of ebooks, audiobooks, and more. The platform is also home to various podcast categories, which can help if you need a break from reading. The Gifts of Imperfection takes readers on a journey along ten guideposts to wholehearted living, helping you overcome unattainable and sabotaging expectations that tend to hinder you.

Buy The Gifts of Imperfection here.

2. Untamed

Released in 2020, Glennon Doyle's Untamed is a memoir that reads like a self-help book. If you're struggling with going against the status quo and stifling your emotions as a result of it, Untamed helps by providing insights on these struggles and unknowns. The book, full of applicable advice and direction, is also written well and poetic in its sharing of profound lessons.

At the same time, it's important to note that this is Doyle's third memoir, which details a narrative that is technically unique to Doyle and her personal life. Still, readers can still see bits and parts of themselves as Doyle talks about her journeys with themes and struggles like sobriety, eating disorders, parenthood, and friendship, ultimately leading to a theme and message of freedom and authenticity.

Buy Untamed here.

3. The Power of Now

Eckhart Tolle's The Power of Now is another crucial, popular, and powerful entry. This book's contents are as straightforward as its title and act as a transformative guide for readers to start embracing living in the moment. Tolle includes a range of practical advice blended with spiritual insights to help readers overcome thoughts and concerns about the past and the future.

Some of the lessons from The Power of Now include learning the practice of observing your thoughts without being attached to them, as well as embracing acceptance. By accepting each moment without resistance, you can prevent internal conflict and turmoil while giving you the mental and spiritual peace to choose the best answers and solutions to your problems and concerns.

Buy The Power of Now here.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the books we share today vary vastly in genre and approach to spiritual well-being. It's also important to note that some books may have more impact on you than others, so it's important to be open to the advice and lessons they freely share and use what applies to you. For more insights on spirituality, you may be interested in my other post "7 Chakras Explained & Chakra Foods for Balance", where I discuss how the seven chakras provide balance, cleansing, and healing for you, as well as foods to eat for optimal physical and spiritual health.