Life is complicated; there’s no way around it. And with all of the trappings of daily life, it’s easy to lose sight of what really matters. Along those same lines, we’re constantly bombarded with advertising and other media telling us that we should have more, do more, buy more, and be more. What we need to do, though, is slow down, take note of small beauties, and learn to live more simply. Here are seven books to help you do just that.
1. Loving My Actual Life: An Experiment in Relishing What’s Right in Front of Me by Alexandra Kuykendall
Kuykendall, finding herself overwhelmed with how busy her life had become and how lackluster it felt, took an initiative to wipe her calendar as clean as possible and add back one thing per month in an effort to rekindle her appreciation for the ordinary parts of life that get lost in the busy-ness. Her book is an excellent reminder that the seemingly mundane is, actually, quite beautiful.
Source: Amazon
2. The Gift of Nothing by Patrick McDonnell
Suitable for adults and children alike, McDonnell’s book featuring the characters from his famous comic strip, Mutts, is a reminder that the best gifts aren’t things, but friendship and love. Mooch the cat struggles with finding a gift for his best friend Earl the dog, and eventually realizes that “nothing” is the best gift possible.
Source: Amazon
3. Only Love Today: Reminders to Breathe More, Stress Less, and Choose Love by Rachel Macy Stafford
Stafford, author of the highly successful Hands Free Mama blog, offers her thoughts on disconnecting from electronics and being present in the current moment, appreciating life’s little pleasures, and finding joy in every season of life.
Source: Amazon
4. Simply Tuesday: Small-Moment Living in a Fast-Moving World by Emily P. Freeman
Freeman is another blogger-turned-author who writes about finding joy in the simple parts of everyday life. She offers insight into our present culture which places great importance on being busy and doing and buying more. Freeman explains how to avoid that trap and enjoy the present moment, embrace change, and be a blessing to others.
Source: Amazon
5. The Joy of Less: A Minimalist Guide to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify by Francine Jay
Francine Jay of Miss Minimalist penned this guide to help folks learn how to gradually move forward a simpler life. She offers a “STREAMLINE” method that can be applied to anything from living spaces to life events, greatly reducing everyday stress and freeing us up for what really matters.
Source: Amazon
6. Grace, Not Perfection: Embracing Simplicity, Celebrating Joy by Emily Ley
Ley’s book is geared toward women and how easy it is for them to get caught up in so many responsibilities and to struggle with the idea that they should be the perfect wife and mother. Her guide encourages women to embrace “grace,” rather than feeling inadequate for not living up to an unrealistic ideal.
Source: Amazon
7. You Can Buy Happiness (and It’s Cheap): How One Woman Radically Simplified Her Life and How You Can Too by Tammy Stroebel
Stroebel, blogger at Rowdy Kittens, together with her husband Logan, pared down their lives and moved into a tiny home on wheels. In this book, she writes about their journey and how it made them happier than they’d ever imagined. Filled with practical tips and research, her book is a great tool in the effort to simplify.
Source: Amazon
I hope you’ll be able to use some of these books to ground yourself, and that the tools they include will help you live simply, love deeply, and give abundantly.
YouTube Channel: Kirsten Dirksen
Featured image via Wow Amazing
h/t Business Insider
