Books That Expand Possibility and Strengthen the Mind from My Library of Life
Aug 10, 2025
“Books open our minds to all that is possible.”
Books have always been more than words on a page for me. They have been portals to new ways of thinking, catalysts for transformation, and mirrors reflecting back the lessons I needed most. Some have changed the way I see myself, some have shifted the way I show up in the world, and many have profoundly influenced how I serve and guide my clients.
Beyond their wisdom, books also strengthen the brain. Researchers have confirmed that reading activates a complex network of circuits and signals in the brain.
Over time, as our reading ability matures, these networks grow stronger. Enhancing cognitive function, deepening focus, expanding emotional intelligence and fuelling the magic of neuroplasticity: the ability the rain holds to rewire and reshape itself through experiences, learning and repetition.
I have spoken about neuroplasticity before, and I will continue to to as you all know how much I love to geek out, but let me share a truth with you.... reading is not just an act of gathering knowledge, it’s an act of shaping who you are becoming.
Join me on a deep dive into the books that have left the deepest imprint on my journey—the ones that have shaped my mindset, resilience, self-awareness, creativity and leadership. My personal library of life.
The ones that don’t just sit on a shelf but live in the way I think, feel, choose and lead.
Here lies a collection of titles and paragraphs that have held me, healed me and helped me find my way through life. Books that have been my companions through seasons of change, lighting the path, expanding my heart, strengthening my mind and deepening my spirit.
“Any time you sincerely want to make a change, the first thing you must do is to raise your standards.”
Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins is a deep dive into personal mastery, emotional intelligence, and the art of decision-making. His core message is simple yet powerful: we are always in control of our thoughts, emotions & actions, and the power to transform our lives lies entirely in our own hands.
Robbins doesn’t just talk about motivation; he talks about strategy—how to master your emotions, your finances, your relationships and your life by harnessing personal power and self-leadership. He reminds us that lasting change isn’t a matter of chance, but of conscious choice, aligned intention and consistent action.
Personal Impact: This book was a wake-up call for me. It reminded me that success isn’t about luck or raw talent—it’s about intention, clarity and the courage to raise your standards. It ignited my belief that I hold the steering wheel of my own life, and that my choices are the architecture of my future. It pushed me to set the bar higher—not just for myself but for how I guide and support others.
This quote I shared from this book beautifully ties into a masterclass I delivered last week on living by sensational standards because when we raise our standards, we raise the quality of our lives. You can step into the Sensational Standards Masterclass now.
“Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare.”
The work of Angela Duckworth she proves through research that passion and perseverance, not talent are the biggest predictors of success. In her book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverence she explores the science of resilience, showing that talent matters far less than effort when it comes to long-term achievement. Through her studies, she demonstrates how grit—a powerful blend of passion and sustained effort—is the true key to accomplishing meaningful goals.
Personal Impact: This book helped me see that effort matters far more than natural ability. It reminded me that every challenge I’ve faced and every moment of self-doubt has been an essential part of my growth. It reinforced my belief in the power of long-term vision and commitment, helping me appreciate my own journey and inspiring me to guide my clients in embracing the process rather than just chasing the results.
“Begin with the end in mind.”
The book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey is a timeless guide to leadership, effectiveness and integrity. Covey outlines seven powerful habits that can transform both personal and professional life from prioritising what matters most to leading with vision and values. His framework explores proactivity, prioritisation and effective communication, offering practical tools for living and leading with intention.
Personal Impact: I adopted the habit of proactivity from Covey and the practice of sharpening he saw—continually investing in self-care, growth and learning. These principles have shaped my approach to balancing the many demands of life while maintaining a sustainable rhythm in both my personal and professional worlds.
“Becoming is better than being.”
In Mindset:The New Psychology of Sucess by Carol S. Dweck, she introduces the concept of the fixed vs. growth mindset, showing how our beliefs about our abilities shape our success. A growth mindset means believing we can learn, evolve and improve through effort, feedback and continuous learning.
Personal Impact: This book fundamentally shifted how I view challenges, failure and progress. Instead of seeing obstacles as limitations, I now see them as opportunities for growth. It has also influenced how I encourage my clients to embrace the process, not just the outcome—to see each step, setback and success as part of their evolution. Stay tuned next week for a more in-depth review after recently finishing this book for the second time.
“The antidote to addiction is self-binding.”
In her dopamine eliciting book Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence, Dr. Anna Lembke explores the role of dopamine in pleasure and addiction, revealing how our brains have become overstimulated by constant gratification—through technology, sugar, social media, shopping and more. She offers practical strategies for restoring balance in a world of excess.
Personal Impact: This book deepened my awareness of how I consume pleasure, form habits and create boundaries. It made me far more mindful of my own consumption patterns and gave me powerful tools to guide clients in rewiring their nervous systems, cultivating healthier rhythms and finding sustainable balance.
“Are you paralyzed with fear? That’s a good sign. Fear is good. Like self-doubt, fear is an indicator. Fear tells us what we have to do.”
Steven Pressfield delivers a powerful manifesto in The War of Art. This manifesto includes overcoming creative resistance, procrastination and the inner saboteur that keeps us from doing our most important work. He reframes fear and self-doubt not as stop signs but as guides pointing toward what truly matters.
Personal Impact: This book taught me to see resistance as part of the creative process, not proof that I’m on the wrong path. It’s the reason I can sit down to write, create, or dream big—even when fear whispers otherwise. I now share this mindset with clients, helping them honour their creative callings without waiting for fear to disappear.
“People express and receive love in different ways.”
The 5 Love Languages is book about understanding love in relationships, Dr. Gary Chapman identifies five love languages: words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time and physical touch. When we understand our own love language and that of those around us, our relationships can become richer and more fulfilling. You can read all about my reimagined version of the five love languages here.
Personal Impact: This book transformed how I communicate love and appreciation, deepening my connections with family, friends, and clients alike. It helped me express care in ways that truly resonate with others, fostering more meaningful and intentional relationships.
“Within every woman there is a wild and natural creature, a powerful force, filled with good instincts, passionate creativity, and ageless knowing.”
Within the pages of Women Who Run with The Wolves, Clarissa Pinkola Estés weaves myths, fairy tales and stories from around the world to help women reconnect with the Wild Woman archetype—the instinctual, intuitive, untamed self that has too often been buried beneath societal expectations. This book is both a reclamation and a remembrance, guiding women back to their inner knowing, creative fire and connection with the cycles of nature and the divine feminine.
Personal Impact: Each time I read this book it feels like a soul-homecoming. It gave language to the deep, instinctual pull I have always felt toward freedom, intuition and the sacred rhythms of life. It also reinforced my commitment to guiding women back to their own Wild Woman within—whether through vision therapy that helps them see the world (and themselves) more clearly or through intuitive wellness work that reconnects them with their inner goddess. Many of my clients have had their own ‘wild awakening’ moments and this book has often been part of that spark.
“Realise deeply that the present moment is all you ever have.”
In the pages of The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, he offers a profound guide to living fully in the present moment, dissolving the grip of past regrets and future anxieties. He teaches that true peace and freedom are found only in the now, through mindful awareness and acceptance of what is.
Personal Impact: This book shifted how I experience time, moments of overwhelm and inner peace. It reminded me that life is happening here, now—not in the stories I tell about the past or the worries I hold about the future. In both my personal practice and client work, it has become a touchstone for cultivating presence and reducing overwhelm.
“The opposite of happiness is boredom.”
Throughout The 4-Hour Work Week Tim Ferriss challenges traditional work models and offers strategies to optimise productivity, automate tasks, and design a life with more freedom. He redefines success beyond the 9-to-5 mindset, encouraging readers to question the rules they have been taught to follow.
Personal Impact: This book shifted how I think about time, energy and efficiency. It inspired me to think outside the box—about how I work, what I choose to prioritise and how to build a life centred on meaning, freedom and fulfilment rather than busyness.
"You are not the voice in your mind, you are the one who hearts it."
The Untethered Soul: A journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer is an exploration of inner freedom, presence and the art of letting go of the constant chatter of the mind. He encourages us to detach from limiting thoughts and step into life with greater clarity and trust.
Personal Impact: This book was a profound reminder to release resistance, trust the flow of life, and live with greater presence. It taught me to create space between my thoughts and my true self—opening the door to more peace, clarity and freedom.
“Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome.”
In this transformative work by Brené Brown , the pages of Daring Greatly explore how vulnerability is the birthplace of courage, creativity and connection. She dismantles the myth that vulnerability is weakness, showing instead that it’s the most accurate measure of our bravery. Through research and heartfelt storytelling, she invites us to step into the arena of life even when there are no guarantees.
Personal Impact: This book gave me permission to embrace authenticity in both life and work. It helped me share my story more openly, build deeper connections with others, and encourage my clients to bring their whole selves into every space they enter.
“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
Atomic Habits explores how small, consistent actions compound over time to create remarkable transformations. James Clear shows that lasting change comes not from radical overhauls, but from building effective systems and habits that work for you, not against you.
Personal Impact: This book taught me to focus on systems over lofty end goals. It reminded me that showing up every day, even in small ways, matters far more than occasional big leaps. Both in my personal life and in my work with clients, I have seen how these micro-adjustments can create lasting, life-changing momentum.
“Trauma is not just an event that took place sometime in the past; it is also the imprint left by that experience on mind, brain, and body.”
The groundbreaking work of Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk in The Body Keeps The Score reveals how trauma reshapes both body and brain, altering our capacity for joy, engagement and trust. He explores how healing involves not only the mind but also the body, offering approaches such as somatic therapy, movement, breathwork and EMDR.
Personal Impact: This book deepened my understanding of the mind–body connection in trauma recovery. It inspired me to integrate even more somatic healing techniques into my own life and in my work as both a vision therapist and intuitive wellness guide—helping clients release stored tension, restore nervous system balance, and reclaim a sense of safety in their bodies.
“The more we give love, the greater our capacity to do so.”
Dr. David R. Hawkins introduces The Map of Consciousness in Power Vs. Force, revealing how different emotional states vibrate at varying frequencies and shape our experience of life. He shows that true power comes not from force or control, but from inner strength and elevated consciousness.
Personal Impact: This book transformed how I understand energy, emotions, and human potential. It deepened my awareness of how our vibrational state influences our reality and inspired me to integrate energy consciousness into my work, guiding clients toward emotional regulation, self-awareness and higher states of being.
“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.”
The classic work Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill distills decades of studying the most successful people in the world into a blueprint for cultivating abundance and success. He emphasises the power of desire, faith, persistence and a clearly defined purpose, showing how mindset and action work together to create extraordinary results.
Personal Impact: This book reminded me that vision, belief and consistent action are non-negotiables in both life and business. It strengthened my own practices around visualisation, goal-setting and taking aligned steps—while also influencing how I help clients clarify what they want and take brave, intentional action toward it.
“If you don’t prioritise your life, someone else will.”
Greg McKeown offers a powerful guide to living and working with clarity in Essentialism by focusing only on what truly matters. He challenges the modern obsession with doing more and replaces it with the art of doing less, but better. Essentialism is about saying no to the non-essential so you can say a wholehearted yes to the things that align with your highest values.
Personal Impact: This book taught me to eliminate distractions and simplify not just my schedule, but my decision-making. It gave me the courage to decline opportunities that weren’t aligned, freeing up energy for what matters most. Now, both in my personal life and as a vision therapist and intuitive wellness guide, I apply this principle daily—ensuring that my “yes” is a true and intentional yes.
“Your body is your soul’s address in the physical world.”
Your Body Will Show You The Way is a segue for Ellen Meredith weaves together the wisdom of energy medicine, intuitive listening and somatic healing to guide us back into relationship with our body. She shows that our bodies are not simply vehicles, but active partners in our growth, healing, and decision-making. Through stories, practices and gentle invitations, the book teaches us how to listen to the subtle signals of our body, interpret its language and respond in ways that restore balance and vitality.
Personal Impact: This book deepened my relationship with the wisdom of my own body. It taught me to treat sensations not as inconveniences but as messages—a form of soul-to-self communication. As a vision therapist and intuitive wellness guide, I have shared many of Ellen’s approaches with clients, helping them trust their body’s guidance when navigating stress, emotional shifts or healing journeys. It’s a reminder that our bodies are not just along for the ride—they are leading us home.
“Clarity about what matters provides clarity about what does not.”
In Deep Work by Cal Newport makes a compelling case for the value of deep, undistracted work in a world that thrives on interruption. He shows how to train your mind to resist the pull of distraction and immerse yourself in high-value, cognitively demanding tasks. Deep Work isn’t about working more hours—it’s about working with greater intention and focus, producing work that truly matters.
Personal Impact: This book helped me restructure my days so I can protect time for my most meaningful projects. It reminded me that in both my roles as a vision therapist and intuitive wellness guide, presence is my greatest tool—whether I am crafting a treatment plan, writing, or holding space for a client. By embracing deep work, I’ve learned to give my full energy to one thing at a time, allowing my work to feel more purposeful and my mind more at ease.
“To change is to think greater than your environment, and to think greater than the circumstances in your life.”
Dr. Joe Dispenza blends neuroscience, epigenetics, and quantum physics together in Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself to show how we can break free from the subconscious patterns that keep us stuck. He explains how our thoughts, emotions, and habits create our reality and how changing them can lead to profound transformation. Through meditation, mental rehearsal and elevated emotional states, he offers a framework for rewiring the brain and reconditioning the body to a new way of being.
Personal Impact: This book deepened my mindfulness practice and gave me powerful tools for both personal and professional transformation. I have used these principles to shift my own thought patterns, release old emotional triggers and step into a more intentional, aligned version of myself. In my work as a vision therapist and intuitive wellness guide, I have seen clients absolutely light up as they realise they can become conscious creators of their reality, not passive participants in it.
“The braver we are, the luckier we get.”
In Untamed, Glennon Doyle invites us to question the conditioning, roles, and ‘rules’ we’ve been taught to follow—and to reclaim the life that feels true, not just acceptable. Through raw stories, powerful metaphors, and fierce honesty, she encourages breaking free from societal expectations and living in alignment with our deepest truth. This is a manifesto for self-liberation, self-trust and unapologetic authenticity.
Personal Impact: This book was a mirror, showing me where I was still playing small or following scripts that were not mine to start with. It reminded me that my intuition is my compass, even when the world tries to hand me a map that doesn’t fit. As a vision therapist and intuitive wellness guide, I have used many the lessons from Glennon clients—helping them ‘untame’ their own vision of life, step out of the boxes they have been placed in and move toward what feels wild, real and wholly theirs.
Books have the power to shift our perspective, expand our minds, open our hearts and ignite transformation. They challenge us, inspire us and remind us of all that is possible.
There will always be more books to explore and share here on Wild Wellness Blog because each one leaves its own unique imprint, shaping who we are and how we see the world.
Which books have transformed your thinking, opened your heart or sparked change in your life?
Let’s build our library of wisdom together. Share your favourites in the comments so that side by side we can continue expanding, evolving and turning the pages of possibility.