Inspiring Books

These books changed my life in a profound and positive way.

Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain by Sharon Begley. One word to know from this book-neuroplasticity. It is the ability to change your brain's structures and functions in a fundamental way throughout life. The conscious act of thinking about one's thoughts in a different way changes the very brain circuits that do that thinking. Such willfully induced brain changes require focus, training and effort. Changes come from within.

Authentic Happiness by Martin E. P. Seligman, Ph.D. The founder of the branch of Psychology known as Positive Psychology, he explains the scientific evidence that is being discovered that we can increasse our happiness set point by taking concrete steps in our lives. And he explains in great detail how to go about increasing your happiness set point, even including exercises to complete and surveys to gauge certain aspects of your personality. The website that goes along with the book is really great too (www.authentichappiness.org).

The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale. This book was written before Positive Psychology was born. It is has a religious overtone, but it is full of practical advice for leading a more fulfilling, happy life through positive thinking. It is also full of useful exercises and uplifting ancedotes about people who changed their lives through positive thinking.

These are just a few of the books that have inspired me over the years. I actually read all three of these books in the past year. They inspired me to think more positively, and as a result, I have been happier and more positive things have come to pass.