5 Self-Help Books That Transformed My Self-Discovery and Healing Journey
Today, I want to share with you five books that helped me in my own self discovery and healing journey. I know that coaching or therapy isn’t always accessible for everyone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make progress, take care of yourself, and feel better about your life in general.
Books are an amazing tool for growth and healing—like portable mentors ready to guide you whenever you need them. So without further ado, let's get into it.
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1. Recovering from Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay Gibson
If you have struggled with putting yourself first and setting boundaries with difficult people, especially with parents who are always demanding something from you, this book is a total game-changer. It’s ideal if you’re navigating relationships with emotionally immature parents—whether narcissistic or not.
The book provides scripts to help you set boundaries and a bill of rights for adult children that is both affirming and empowering. The author’s examples make the content relatable, easy-to-follow, straightforward and impactful. Check it out if this is something that you're needing right now.
2. Think Indigenous by Doug Good Feather
If you’re committed to decolonizing your mind and your bookshelf or seeking a more intuitive way of living, this book is for you. Doug Good Feather, a Lakota author, offers a perspective-shifting guide to decolonizing your mind and reconnecting with nature.
This book taught me to look at life through an Indigenous lens and profoundly influenced how I move through the world ever since. One idea that really stood out to me while reading this book is: everything you need to know about life, you can learn by observing nature.
3. Lame Deer, Seeker of Visions by John Fire Lame Deer and Richard Erdoes
Told through stories by Lakota medicine man John Fire Lame Deer, this book is deeply entertaining, thought-provoking, and transformative. It challenges notions of modern life and inspires you to live authentically and in harmony with nature.
The storytelling is so captivating that words can’t quite capture its magic. If you’re seeking wisdom and connection to something greater, trust me—this book will stay with you.
4. The Creative License by Danny Gregory
As the title suggests, this is a book all about giving yourself permission to be the artist that you truly are. This book is great for anybody who is struggling to call themselves creative or artistic. The book will walk you through what creativity is all about, the approach, the mindset in order to let ourselves create with ease.
This book gave me permission to embrace my identity as an artist/creative when I was trying to figure it all out at just 15 years old. Gregory’s hand-illustrated pages and approachable advice encourage you to stop overthinking and simply start creating. It almost reminds me of the same kind of attitude I picked up from punk rock in its call to action: pick up the pen, the guitar, or whatever medium you love and just go for it!
Danny Gregory also has his own YouTube channel, the Sketchbook School, where he is still very active and teaches art in a fun and accessible way. I think it’s the perfect companion to go along with this book, so check it out!
5. The Art of Whimsical Lettering by Joanne Sharpe
If you’re somebody who struggles identifying as an artist and/or creative, loosening up and having fun, but wants an easy entry point into art making and creative expression, then hand lettering may be just the thing for you.
Hand lettering is the art of drawing letters and it’s one of the most accessible art forms because most already have so much experience with writing letters. Unlike most other books on hand lettering—which tend to be more technical and design oriented— Joanne Sharpe’s approach is relaxed, fun, and playful, which will inspire you to express yourself without taking things too seriously.
What’s best is that you can take hand lettering and combine it with other art forms like art journaling and collage, which will help you to expand your skills and truly create something unique. This book is filled with inspiration and encouragement page after page and it will constantly encourage you to use your intuition and have fun. It’s the ultimate companion for letting your creativity shine.
Closing Thoughts
As you can see, books are powerful tools for self-discovery and healing, especially when other resources aren’t within reach. The key is to be self motivated and actually read the material, so that you can make the most out of it. I hope this list has inspired you and gotten you excited about what you’ll be reading next.
Until next time, stay creative!
Renata is a creativity coach empowering neurodivergent and multi-passionate women of color, to use creativity as a tool for self-discovery and healing, so they can let go of feeling inadequate and insecure and start experiencing more confidence and self-acceptance. She’s currently offering a free copy of her therapeutic art making workbook when you sign up for her email list. Sign up here to get your free copy.
