Rengganis Rizka Prasanti We have closed the year 2023, here comes 2024. The start of a new year can also be the start of your self-improvement journey, through new experiences and learning new things.
When it comes to self-improvement, mental health is something we need to have on the top of our list. After all, without a healthy mind, it’ll be hard to find our balance in life.
Nowadays, the resources we have to learn new things are limitless, from video guides, online classes, and even through podcasts. However, it’s still the wisest decision to learn from the experts in their fields, and one way to gain that knowledge is through reading a book.
Are you interested in adding mental health books to your 2024 reading list? Here are the top 3 mental health books that HelloReyo Team recommends.
Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life
Published in 1992, the book Peace Is Every Step is written by Thich Nhat Hanh, a renowned Vietnamese monk who to this day is considered an important figure in introducing the mindfulness concept in Western psychology.
For those of us who want to learn more about mindfulness, this book is the perfect read. The book describes how even in moments of chaos in our everyday lives, we still have the power to reclaim our peace and calm through the practice of mindfulness. Through short anecdotes, the book shares with us that finding peace of mind is an option we all have by slowing down, taking a step back to observe, being aware, and living in the present.
In addition to short stories and examples, the author also talks about meditation and breathing exercises to practice in the middle of our daily routine – while taking our daily walk, washing dishes, or driving a car – and reminds us to stay mindful, aware of every little action we’re doing, and find the beauty and joy in simple things.
Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself
Sometimes, to love ourselves more, we need to be able to say “no” to others. This book by therapist and New York Times bestselling author Nedra Tawwab shares with us the importance of setting healthy boundaries and actionable tips to practice them.
Boundaries aren’t something to be enforced only on certain aspects of our lives. We may find it difficult to set down boundaries with people closest to us, such as our partner, family, or close friends. However, having healthy boundaries can be a game-changer and improve our relationship. It shows to others that you respect yourself, your relationship with them, and their boundaries.
While it mainly talks about the importance of having boundaries and anecdotal examples of how having boundaries will help save our relationships, the book also shares with us that before we set our boundaries and communicate them to others, we need to get to know ourselves first. Knowing what we want and need, what is important to us, and where we draw the line will help us communicate our boundaries clearly to other people, and help them understand us better.
The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to Be Calm in a Busy World
In the midst of all the noise in our daily lives, we often forget to slow down, breathe, and reflect. The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down is another gem for those who want to learn more about mindfulness and how we can practice it in everyday life.
While the author, Haemin Sunim, is a Zen Buddhist teacher, the aspects he covered in this book are not limited to spiritual aspects only. The book is divided into eight chapters – Rest, Mindfulness, Passion, Relationships, Love, Life, The Future, and Spirituality, and contains short pieces of advice and essays regarding the matter.
This book is a must-have for those of us who often need to have small reminders to take a break and stay in touch with ourselves and our loved ones. With the contents broken down into small chapters that you can read and re-visit again when things get overwhelming, the book can be a gentle nudge for us to take a step back and reflect, calm down, and move along in our lives at our own pace.
Wrapping Up
The pursuit of growth and self-improvement is a never-ending journey. Share with us about your plans for mental health improvement – what books would you recommend to us and why?
References
Hanh, T. N. (1992). Peace is every step: The path of mindfulness in everyday life. Bantam.
Sunim, H. (2017). The Things You Can See Only when You Slow Down: How to be Calm in a Busy World. Penguin.Tawwab, N. G. (2021). Set boundaries, find peace: A guide to reclaiming yourself. Penguin.
