Have any self-help books or therapy changed your life/mindset?

[FloralLove]

Have any self-help books, therapy or any other methods of personal development changed your life or your mindset and, if so, how? For example have they helped identify defense mechanisms or behavioural patterns that you were unaware you had?

I have never read a self-help book before but I was recommended Honoring the Self by Nathaniel Branden. I am maybe a third of the way through and I already feel like it has helped me so much. I feel like I never took personal development or self-help seriously before as I guess I kind of thought it was all fluffy pseudoscience (sorry if that sounds rude, I realise that is an ignorant viewpoint to have). I have anxiety and the book has really helped me see that my anxiety (mainly health anxiety) is because I have this core belief that I cannot cope with life which is common with low self-esteem. I "cannot cope with life" even during good times when life is at its easiest/happiest/simplest so I definitely could not cope if anything bad or different happens. Ever since realising that I have felt my anxiety decrease as I release that even with the things I am terrified of happening, I would cope and life would go on. It is such a simple revelation but it has taken all of the power and intensity out of the things I have anxiety about.

Stop Thinking Start Living by Richard Carlson. Once I realised I was an ‘over thinker’ and responded to ‘negative thoughts’ I read this. It gave me mechanisms to let go of negative thoughts, prevent overthinking and live more in the present. I admit It took determination but I am so free from dark thoughts and worry that it was well worth it. I enjoy my life. Best wishes with getting your mind under control.

The courage to be disliked

... helped so much

Find the format a bit unusual but it serves its purpose.

I read lots that have helped in my career, often not the whole book but snippets from them. No idea which books the useful ones come from and some of it I've probably assimilated into my personality without realising they originally came from a book!

Favourites are:

• never pass up the opportunity to do someone a favour
• the power of a genuine compliment
• buy the best quality you can afford
• train your successor
• dress for the job you want not the one you have - hated on MN, where people are determined to believe you're judged for your professional ability not your appearance.
• pick it up an deal with it - an anti procrastination mantra from the days when most work arrived on your desk in paper form!

Thanks OP Im going to give that book a look.
I suffer health anxiety.

One book that has greatly helped me turn a corner is Paul David's 'At last a Life'.
( Not specifically for health anxiety but a great read for all anxiety sufferers imo.)

All of Louise Hays books, they're basically about loving yourself. Her beliefs on how thinking influences everything in your life are very powerful and have helped me throughout my life.

Agree with Girlie The following changed my life:

www.amazon.co.uk/You-Can-Heal-Your-Life/dp/0937611018/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&crid=XPQJ9G3EGALW&keywords=louise+hay+you+can+heal+your+life&sprefix=louise+%2Caps%2C156&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1593964898&sr=8-1

Two things I remember learning are that if I don't love myself why would anyone else love me and how not to allow other people's negativity to remain in my mind. I visualise it written on a piece of paper which I screw up and mentally throw it back at the person with considerable force.

Yes a website called CBT4PANIC. It's free and at first I thought it was stupid lots of cartoon pictures explaining stuff. I read it over a few nights and it changed everything. It made sense how I was feeling and helped me deal with my thoughts. Try it it's really good.

Thank you for your replies - I will definitely check out all resources that have been mentioned.

The Artist’s Way. It’s a coursebook to refresh creativity and self-belief. I have read /done it three times and every time learnt something and made big leaps personally, and in my professionally.

I have been listening to Paul McKenna’s self-hypnosis CD Change Your Life in 7 Days since it came out. Meditation has never worked for for me but this is a brilliant substitute.

I learnt the Gayatri Mantra plainchant on a yoga retreat and it’s genuinely life-changing. I can’t recall the meanings of the words and I’m not religious but something about this chant is a magic bullet for anxiety.

Different subject entirely, but the book Rich Dad Poor Dad transformed my money management, probably because I read it just before starting my first proper job.

Vitamin D3, 5HTP, and iron supplements transformed my physical health but I wouldn’t advise self-medicating.

The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel Van den Kolk, about what the experience of trauma, it is a transformational view of how it affects people and their lives, and what can be done to support recovery. If you’re interested in mental health and therapy its very helpful.

The other one I read which I liked but isn’t quite my style was ‘Make Your Bed’ by William McRaven about the importance of order and values in life. He was a US Navy Seal, it’s very inspirational, particularly for young people.

‘About what the experience of trauma does to people’ that was meant to say.