YouTube Channel: Mind, the mental health charity
May is Mental Health Month and recently, there has been a tremendous amount of support and love for everyone affected by mental health illnesses. What people may not realize, however, is that taking care of your mind is just as important as taking care of your body, finances, home, everything. Our brains, thoughts, as well as our emotions help make up who we are. This is why we should show the same love and care to our mentalities. May these 10 books remind you just how special and unique your mind is.
1. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell
Sometimes we get too caught up in our mind and fall victim to it, instead of realizing that we have the power over our thoughts. Everyday we have a choice on whether or not we will think and act positively or negatively. This book is an insightful and realistic tool to remind us that even if we don’t have power of anything else, we DO have control over our thoughts.
Source: Amazon
2. Integrative Mental Health Care: A Therapist’s Handbook by James Lake M.D.
Take it from a therapist directly! Dr. Lake gives his professional take on the best ways one can take care of themselves mentally and, overall, use healthier coping skills to deal with stress and emotionally-charged situations.
Source: Amazon
3. The Power by Rhonda Byrne
You may be familiar with this book cover and that is because it is the sequel to the New York Times Best-seller, The Secret. If you found The Secret to be life-changing and overwhelmingly helpful, you will most certainly not be disappointed with the author’s follow-up book. The Power provides more focus primarily on the importance of peace, spiritual health, and self-love.
Source: Amazon
4. Mind Over Mood, Second Edition by Dennis Greenberger Ph.D. and Christine A. Padesky Ph.D.
When things go downhill and people don’t react the ways we expect them too, our emotions can sometimes take the wheel and drive us well into an emotional, and perhaps even a mental, breakdown. These are just some examples of factors that can drive our emotions wild and distract us from the bigger picture. Mind Over Mood is a beneficial guide simply because it teaches us, gradually, how to take power back from the emotions that, can often time, take us straight over the edge.
Source: Amazon
5. 8 Keys to Practicing Mindfulness: Practical Strategies for Emotional Health and Well-being by Manuela Mischke Reeds
An uplifting self-help book that focuses on teaching the reader the eight main ways they can make their emotional, mental, and overall lives more positive, encouraging and happy.
Source: Amazon
6. Get Some Headspace: How Mindfulness Can Change Your Life in 10 Minutes a Day by Andy Puddicombe
Meditation does not always have to be associated with religion or spirituality. While that is a great way for some people to get in touch with their higher power, meditation has also proven to have significant benefits to the mind and body. Andy Puddicombe’s book encourages readers to take just ten minutes a day and just be. It is so easy to get swept up in the business of life, we forget to just live, breathe and enjoy being alive.
Source: Amazon
7. Better Than Normal by Dale Archer
Our unique attributes and character qualities make us each who we are. Oscar Wilde was right on the money when he said, “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” We only have one life and I hope you know that your life and existence does make a world of difference. This is a great novel to pick up to remind you that your quirks and flaws can be used to your advantages and are not things to be ashamed of.
Source: Amazon
8. Goodnight Mind by Colleen E. Carney Ph.D. and Rachel Manber Ph.D.
I’m sure that most of us have had nights where our brains simply just will not shut up! No matter what we do, no matter how much we try and tire ourselves out, we keep finding something to worry and think about. This book is a blessing to many, as it speaks about practical ways people can learn to disconnect from the worries and business of the day and just escape into dreamland.
Source: Amazon
9. Switch On Your Brain by Dr. Caroline Leaf
Serotonin is a key chemical in the brain that is responsible for happiness. Though our body chemistry does have an influence, of course, on the way we think, feel and react to the world around us, genuine happiness stems from what motivates you, what you love, and what you are passionate about. This is a wonderful book to pick you up if you are in need of ways to get those creative and positive juices flowing again!
Source: Amazon
10. Well Stressed by Sonia Lupien Ph.D.
Stress is inevitable and there rarely is a day that it does not impact us in one way or another. It doesn’t even have to be our own stress, though we can get easily stressed out by seeing our friends, co-workers, or family members worrying about something. Thankfully, there are healthy and effective ways to deal with stress head-on and this book tells us some of these coping skills.
Source: Amazon
Happy lives start with happy minds!
Featured image via Pulse Headlines
