There are those times of the year when the confidence hits the absolute rock bottom and regardless of all the attempts you make, it only sinks low. Quite like a bad day in casino when every bet you make turns out to be a failure and you look at your pockets to see if you have money left to go back home. Although, the latter could be resolved in the current time with the rise of online casinos but lifting your mood after the repercussions of bad luck could be really tricky sometimes. Even our choices get questionable at times like these. For example, instead of reading something that’d mushroom your confidence, you’d wet a book about heartbreak with your tears—which clearly would do no good to you.
But no need to worry now. We’re here to quell all the toxicity around you with some of the best books in the market that’d help you boost your self-esteem.
“I want to live my life with low-self-esteem”
– Nobody
Although there’s a slew of books out there to help you for that matter, picking out the one that fits your situation could have the essence of rocket science in it. For some motivation stems from the real experiences, while some need rock-hard discipline to help themselves. To make things easier, we’ve amassed different kinds of books that will help you make peace with yourself and boost your confidence — whatever might your issue be, be it your body, your toxic surroundings or your cynical self. Let’s have a look.
1. Daring Greatly by Brené Brown*
Speaking about self-help books without mentioning Brené Brown feels awfully criminal and unjust for the readers. If you don’t know her, here are a few things you should know about this great author —that will surely intrigue you into reading her work or listening to her famous Ted talks—she’s a researcher, social worker, PhD and an avid enthusiast of subjects related to human feelings related to self-esteem.
What makes her stand out among other writers in this subject is the research that her books manifest.
This book is for you if: You’ve been an introverted fellow your whole life— this book might bring the winds of change.
The book offers its reader a different perspective—a positive one—about their vulnerabilities. Our vulnerabilities are often the root of most of our emotional woes—like shame, anxiety, fear, that ultimately hit on your confidence—and take a toll on our emotions, often making our self-worth questionable for us. Not to mention, they also make you miss out on some of the life-lasting experiences just by the fear of mere shame. Brené encourages you to make peace with your vulnerabilities in a positive way and rather embrace them.
After reading this book, you’d be covering—or dealing with— your scars by wearing a smile, not makeup.
Best quote from the book:
“Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness.
2. Unfuk Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and into Your Life (Gary John Bishop)*
Quite a title for self-esteem redemption, eh?
There are times when you think everything in your life is falling apart and often the episodes of existential crisis follow you. While people advise you to take control of your emotions and don’t contemplate a lot about life, the book makes its readers believe that they have the control of their life in their hands and they can do whatever they want if they start taking the right actions from the very day.
This approach of educating the readers through this book is along the lines of the famous saying, “Actions speak louder than words.”
This book is for you if: You overthink and your crippling negative self-talk is pulling you back constantly.
The book gives its readers the much-needed reality check to put an end to all the procrastinations and excuses people protect—or perhaps hurt—themselves with.
Some of us think a lot, and at times, the negativity in our heads convinces us of very little of ourselves. The strategies that Bishop provides in his book focus on taking actions. He tells his readers that our way isn’t as complicated as we make it. We can have control of our circumstances only by doing, not thinking.
All in all, this is a brilliant book as it doesn’t give you the false fixation of convincing lies, instead, Bishop tells you—quite like an elder brother—you could be whatever you desired to be.
Best Quote from the book:
“You must first accept that while there are things that have happened in your life that you had no say in, you are 100 percent responsible for what you do with your life in the aftermath of those events. Always, every time, no excuses.”
3. Healing your emotional self: A powerful program to help you raise your self-esteem, quiet your inner critic and overcome your shame (Beverly Engel)
Yes, she’s the same author who wrote ‘The Nice Girl Syndrome’.
All of us don’t have the luxury of having a sound childhood. Emotional abuse and parental neglect at a young age could make one’s self-confidence flimsy.
This book is for you: If the events of your childhood have had an impact—in lowering— on your self-esteem.
This book aims to heal the wounds of tough childhood that are often caused by parental neglect or emotional abuse. It offers many stories to give perspective and a fresh lens to see life with. History can’t be changed but each moment from the future goes through your present and becomes your past. So, we’re writing history every moment.
As the title says, it’s more of a program than an inspirational read. It’s good to be critical about yourself —as long as it stays healthy— but there are times when your inner critic holds your back and ultimately hits hard on your confidence. Beverly’s writing would feel like an arm around your shoulder with the best pep talk that you’ve had in years.
You’d have a more respectful and worthier image of yourself in your mind after reading this book.
Best quote from the book:
“Once you have become aware of your distorted image you have of yourself, you can begin to reject the inaccurate mirror your parents provided and replace it with a more accurate reflection.”
4. You’re a badass: How to stop doubting your greatness and start living an awesome life (Jen Sincero)
You’re going to be an absolute rebel after reading this book and you’d kick everybody who comes your way—if that’s what you’re thinking what this book is about, that’s not the narrative Jen wants to give her readers—although it’s a proper no-BS book. She’s a popular life coach who has helped people with her work and tips on sex life and this is among her finest opus.
It is about knowing yourself better and bidding farewell to toxic and futile surroundings.
This book is for you if: Your confidence is affected by how the world thinks about you and constantly feel the need of being validated.
Could you make everybody happy? Forget that, the important question is, do you really need to make everybody happy? You’d find your answers to questions like these in the book.
If you think your self-worth can’t be achieved cold turkey, this book might change the way you think. Jen encourages her readers to part ways with all of the things that hold them back and focus on their dreams instead of how the journey is going to shape.
Don’t be surprised if you end up having fewer friends and more purpose in your life after you finish reading this book.
Don’t be surprised if you end up having fewer friends and more purpose in your life after you finish reading this book.
Best Quote from the book:
“If you’re serious about changing your life, you’ll find a way. If you’re not, you’ll find an excuse.”
There’s a reason why self-help books have been buzzing for many years. However, the general narrative of books by many people these is often reckoned to be along the lines of walking down the alley of cheesy self-help street and going on self-dates. But it’s not as cringy as you might think. If you still have doubts, you can give this a go by treating it as a guilty pleasure if you feel like. Oh, and you don’t have to literally set a foot in a bookstore or library if you’re worried about that (of course, you think a lot)—thanks to Amazon’s Kindle!
If not all, I hope at least one of these books would instill you with the right amount of self-worth and confidence and help you live a rosier life. Happy reading!