If you know me at all, it’ll come as no surprise to you that I’m a student of life who loves to always be learning and growing! From online courses to blog articles, podcasts to YouTube videos, local classes, paperback books and audio books, I’m totally in my element whenever I get the opportunity to learn more about life, upleveling, and living optimally. 😎 And one thing I’d love to share with you about what I’ve learned thus far is the best mindset books for upleveling your life!
Table of Contents
Why books?
There’s nothing quite like curling up with a great book under a cozy blanket if you ask me! Reading books is a timeless way to learn; we don’t even need technology or the internet to make it happen.
Why mindset?
Don’t don’t get me wrong – as a holistic-minded clinician, I’m always down to nerd out on all the cutting-edge, clinical, sciency things like functional nutrition, herbal medicine, digestive health and immunity! But at the same time, none of that information is useful without the right mindset to tie it all together and anchor it into real life.
Knowledge is power – but only to the extent that we can take imperfect action and implement what we learn.
- I’ve observed that most people expend lots and lots of mental energy thinking about what they ‘should’ or ‘could’ be doing, or what they ‘want’ to do.
- Instead of taking action, they end up wasting years of time stuck in decision fatigue, aka “analysis paralysis”. This is because they have tried to skip over the foundational mindset work which they likely didn’t even know they needed!
What we believe and how we interpret the things that happen day to day will make or break the entire way we move through life (or don’t, for that matter).
Bottom line: Mindset is everything!
The top 9 best mindset books
Below is a list I’ve compiled of the top 9 best mindset books (in my opinion) as of 2022, based on what I’ve read thus far or am currently reading.
Each of the following books has supported me holistically, inspiring me to keep up-leveling and becoming a more awakened and empowered version of myself.
Enjoy, and let me know which one you plan to read first!
Affiliate disclosure: The links below are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones, by James Clear
“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity.” ― James Clear, Atomic Habits
In the world of nutrition and habit change, I’ve watched many people over the years try over and over again to go from zero to 60, inevitably getting overwhelmed and throwing in the towel – finding themselves back at “square one.”
In Atomic Habits, James Clear shares simple, actionable strategies for anchoring in small, sustainable yet powerful daily habits into your lifestyle and even your sense of identity, which is a key component of habit change most people totally miss the boat on.
This book is not just about setting and achieving goals, but about stepping into the version of you that you’re capable of becoming – and sustaining the kind of lifestyle that delivers the results you desire.
The mindset breakthroughs and habit hacks in this book are a complete gamechanger!
Do Less: A Revolutionary Approach to Time and Energy Management for Ambitious Women, by Kate Northrup
“What I’ve found is that when I focus on managing my energy instead of managing my time, I end up having enough time for the things that really matter to me.” ― Kate Northrup, Do Less
We’re more in control of our time and energy than we are taught to believe! Do Less by Kate Northrup was exactly what I needed to finally escape the “hustle culture” matrix I was stuck in for way too long.
After reading this book, I was able to start working SMARTER (not harder) so I could finally start making the most of my precious time and energy, ultimately living a more sacred and purposeful life.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re on a “hamster wheel” or struggle to make time and energy for more of the things that matter in life, I’m confident this book can help you, too!
Everything is Figureoutable, by Marie Forleo
“Nearly two decades later, I can say that the only thing that allowed me to take that leap was because a deeper, wiser part of me believed that somehow I’d be able to figure it out.” ― Marie Forleo, Everything is Figureoutable
This book is SO much more than a “ra-ra” cheerleading kind of self-help book! It challenges you to take ownership and responsibility for all aspects of life – the good, the bad, and everything in between.
In Everything is Figureoutable, there’s a lot of actionable ways to start turning all your amazing ideas and insights into action through what is often referred to as the “Be-Do-Have” thought model. (That’s the mindset model I’ve been operating from for many years now!)
If you’re feeling stuck and looking for a way to figure out what it is you want (and how to get it), or you’d like to make your ideas finally come to life, this book is for you.
High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way, by Brendon Burchard
“What we do with what we have tends to be far more important than what we have in the first place.” ― Brendon Burchard, High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way
I knew I needed to read this book after listening to one of Brendon Burchard’s podcast episodes in which he shared his story about getting out of a deep depression – and the wisdom he unlocked as a result.
Brendon Burchard realized after going through some deep existential trials and tribulations that what people really want (and need) is to feel alive. (Many people are coasting through life mindlessly on auto-pilot!)
He talks all about the concept of leveraging your time and energy to create more energy, which generates more time (cause when we have lots of energy, we get to make more out of the time we have!). High Performance Habits is a must-read if you’re looking to craft a sacred life, live with purpose, and make the most of your time and energy.
Limitless: Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, and Unlock Your Exceptional Life, by Jim Kwik
“If you are struggling to reach a goal in any area, you must first ask: Where is the limit? Most likely, you’re experiencing a limit in your mindset, motivation, or methods—which means that it’s not a personal shortcoming or failure pointing to any perceived lack of ability.” ― Jim Kwik, Limitless
This is another book I’m currently reading, as part of a mastermind that I’m enrolled in. The wisdom and insights in this book are truly mind-blowing.
I’m kind of obsessed with living life holistically. Holistic living means having a holistic mindset!
In Limitless, Jim Kwik uses a combination of wit, humor, and neuroscience to distill down the 3 key dimensions of mindset required for successful implementation: belief/self-worth, motivation,/conviction, and methods/strategy.
He also teaches his readers the priceless skill of HOW to learn in a way that we actually focus and retain any and all relevant and pertinent information, which opens doorways to limitless possibility.
Marry Yourself First: A Modern Woman’s True Story of Healing the Heart, by Nicole Russo-DeSouza
“I had never considered this idea before. What if I did deserve all good, just for being me? I had always thought I needed to be a good girl,or a good student, to get good grades, go to college, get the right job, and achieve outside things in order to be deserving of good things… It was an interesting paradigm and one that needed cracking.” –Nicole Russo-DeSouza, Marry Yourself First
This is a book I wish I had growing up! I always believed I had to live life a certain way to be “good enough”. To look a certain way, to be the “nice girl”, etc. It held me back a lot. I spent my teenage years and early 20s people-pleasing, saying “yes” to things that I really didn’t want to do, and putting my needs last.
Too many people are moving through life not giving themselves the love and respect they deserve because they feel unworthy.
Nicole Russo-DeSouza’s stories, insights and breakthroughs on her own self-love journey are relatable, inspiring and enlightening. If you too have struggled with feeling unworthy of love, or you’ve had a tendency towards people-pleasing, and you believe those patterns are holding you back, Marry Yourself First is a must-read!
The Power of One More: The Ultimate Guide to Happiness and Success, by Ed Mylet
“Strength grows in the moments when you think you can’t go on but you keep going anyway.” – Ed Mylet, The Power of One More
We don’t get the results we want by taking one giant leap overnight; we achieve results over time by taking a series of thousands of individual baby steps. Those who succeed are those who keep going.
In The Power of One More, Ed Mylet shines light on the power of taking just one more step slightly outside the comfort zone each day, which serve as gateways into the breakthroughs and momentum which move the needle forward over time.
The insights and revelations you can achieve from this book will inspire you to continue taking one more step outside your comfort zone over and over again!
The Universe Has Your Back: How to Feel Safe and Trust Your Life No Matter What, by Gabrielle Bernstein
“The next time you get hung up in a victim mentality over why something isn’t working out the way you planned, simply say this prayer and realign with love: “Thank you, Universe, for helping me see this obstacle as an opportunity. I will step back and let you lead the way.” ― Gabrielle Bernstein, The Universe Has Your Back
When we align ourselves with the path on track with our soul’s mission and purpose, everything works out for the best. This book has confirmed my lifelong belief that God/the Universe do indeed have our back. Things happen FOR us, not to us!
In this book, Gabby Bernstein shares profound teachings from her own journey, which will not only help you to live more in alignment, but to begin moving away from fear and doubt, towards having sincere trust, faith, and understanding that things can always work out.
Imagine all that you can accomplish when you’re no longer living in a state of fear, doubt, or disempowerment!
You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life, by Jen Sincero
“The only failure is quitting. Everything else is just gathering information.” – Jen Sincero, You Are a Badass
This book is a no-BS wake-up call for anyone and everyone who has wasted too much time and energy worrying about what others think. This book is also non-negotiable for whoever is stuck in a perfectionist mindset!
The reality is that perfectionism and negative self-talk are the only things holding you back from working towards achieving your big dreams and goals.
The relatable stories, perspectives, wit and humor in You Are a Badass will inspire you to finally own your power, cut through liimting beliefs, and step into the version of yourself that you are meant to become!
Best mindset books: final thoughts
Mindset is the foundation on which all change and transformation are built. We can’t progress or succeed in any area of life without first being in the right mindset. (Sometimes we’ve gotta slow down before we can speed up!)
No matter what kind of journey you’re on, mindset work is not optional in my opinion. I’ve personally been reading a new mindset book every 3-6 months for the last decade. That said, I’ll be sure to continue to update this post as I read on and learn more!
In lieu of helping you to move out of “decision fatigue” and “anxiety of overwhelm”, please don’t worry too much about which book you’d like to begin reading first. (Feel free to bookmark this page, so you can refer back to it as a reading list or wish list.)
I hope some or all of the above mindset books can help you to identify and cut through your limiting beliefs, so you can live a truly rich and fulfilling life on all levels. Whatever you decide, make sure you go at your own pace. There are no deadlines to progress! Moving forward is moving forward. Please know that I’m rooting for you!
To your success,
–Jenna
