We all have times when we overthink and let self-doubt get to us. We tend to question ourselves, analyze our behavior and search for areas for improvement. This is usually useful and good except when we get too deep into it and shake our own self-confidence. People and situations should be analyzed so we can get the lesson, but there is no use in overthinking and creating plots in our heads that don’t actually exist.
In those times, we should be particularly careful about what we feed our minds, eyes, and ears with. It is true that we become like the people we spend the most time with, the books we read, the movies we watch.
Whenever you feel a bit down or notice negative thoughts too often, I suggest you find these books to read. I have read them for the second time recently and decided that I must share what amazing messages they convey:
The Greatest Miracle in the World – Og Mandino
Mandino was an American author whose books have sold in more than 50 million copies, translated in more than 25 languages and he has also made it to the National Speaker Association’s Hall of Fame. He was the president of Success magazine until 1976. However, he was not born super-rich and successful. After his military duties, he became an insurance salesman and at some point, he was even contemplating committing suicide. Many self-help books helped him overcome hard times in life and he became one of the world’s most famous authors.
The Greatest Salesman in the World is one of his most famous books. I have bought this book (and The Greatest Miracle in the World) as a gift to friends so many times. They are both amazing.
The Greatest Miracle in the World is about people who have touched the bottom and don’t see the point of life anymore. It’s about a real or maybe not so real person, Simon Potter, whose job is to find people who have hit the bottom, don’t see the way out and help them realize their worth. He is showing them how, regardless of their current circumstances, they are the greatest miracle in the world.
So, if you are not feeling so well and you are going through a hard time in life, take this book, it will make you feel better and bring you self-confidence for sure.
Most humans, in varying degrees, are already dead. In one way or another they have lost their dreams, their ambitions, their desire for a better life. They have surrendered their fight for self-confidence and they have compromised their great potential. They have settled for a life of mediocrity, days of despair and nights of tears. They are no more than living deaths confined to cemeteries of their choice. Yet they need not remain in that state. They can be resurrected from their sorry condition. They can each perform the greatest miracle in the world. They can each come back from the dead…
Og Mandino, The Greatest Miracle in the World
For he is not poor who has little; only he that desires much… and true security lies not in the things one has but in the things one can do without.
Og Mandino, The Greatest Miracle in the World
Peaceful warrior – Dan Milmen
This book is based on a true story. It’s about a professional athlete who had a serious accident and has been told that his athletic performance will never be at the same level as it was before. He must find his inner strength, self-confidence and connect with himself in order to get through all challenges. There is a movie with the same name so if you prefer watching over reading – go for it, although I always recommend books.
It is easy when everything is okay, but life puts us in hard situations so we can grow and become stronger. It is only when faced with a challenge, with calamity and uncertainty that we get back to ourselves and realize the importance of working on yourself.
In the book, Den has the help of (again) real or not so real character, Socrates, who guides him through some of the most important life questions and lessons. For professional athletes, their most important tool is their own body. So when the body gets damaged, it takes a lot of mental strength, work, and patience to grow from that situation, heal physical and mental wounds and get back into the world of professional sport.
He learns that in order to change anything in the outside world, he needs to change himself first. The most important tool, after all, is not the body, it’s the mind. The pain is there to teach us something and to make us rest and learn.
We control our emotions by recognizing them and allowing them to pass through us. You have all the power and everything you need to change your life. The present is like it is, but there are many different versions of the future – you can choose today what kind of future you want for yourself and you have the power to get it.
Den Milmen The Peaceful Warrior
No excuses – Brian Tracy
If you feel pity for yourself and always blame other people or circumstances for what is happening to you, you might not like this book. It is very to the point and while reading it I had the feeling like he is kicking me and yelling: “Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You got yourself here, but you can get yourself wherever else you want to be”.
He says that the most important thing about success is not what we need to know in order to be successful but who we need to become. Discipline is the key skill we must have if we want to succeed. Your outside world is a reflection of your inner world. That’s why is very important to get to know yourself, build your self-confidence and constantly work on yourself.
There are only three conditions for success: First, decide what it is that you really want in the world (set goals). Second, decide what price are you willing to pay for it (what habits you need to build). Third and the most important, decide firmly that you will keep paying the price until you reach wanted success (practice discipline).
Brian Tracy – No excuses
The Code of the Extraordinary Mind – Vishen Lakhiani
This book is so great it deserves a separate blog post. You can read three takeaways from The Code of the Extraordinary Mind here.
Main takeaways
All these books have some similar and powerful teaching we should always remember (and be reminded of):
- Our mind is the most powerful tool we have – it can make our life miserable or wonderful
- Love is the most powerful energy in life – it moves us. We should do everything with love
- We must not think that it is only when we reach our goals that we will be happy. We should be happy in order to reach our goals. Happiness is the journey
- Responsibility is always ours. When we say I am responsible for everything that is happening in my life – my health, my looks, my career, my love life, friends & experiences that I have, we realize that we are creators of our lives and we can make whatever we want out of it
- Smile more and add humor and fun in everything you do. If you are not having fun while you are working and living, what’s the point?
Let me know how you like the books and share your suggestions. What are other books that are boosting self-confidence? If this post is useful for you, share it with friends and sign up for my mailing list.
