Despite how other people’s lives appear in their heavily curated social media feeds, life isn’t smooth-sailing–for anyone. For those of us who are introspective, there are moments that lead to the re-evaluation of who we are as a person or how our life is progressing in general. Even with the wisdom that we acquire from our friends, relatives or significant other—there’s often still a gnawing feeling inside us that we need an expert (or a guru!) to answer all our impending needs for an upgraded life. But success in your career, relationships, or life path isn’t just about knowing all the tips and tricks. Most often, it starts with our holistic well-being as a person.
If you find yourself stuck in a rut and in need of dire upgrade, whether it’s in small or bigger aspect of your life, maybe it’s time that you find the inspiration that can motivate you to move forward. Here are 5 motivating audiobooks that can help you ‘2.0’ your life (and you can listen for free with Audible’s free trial):
The Untethered Soul
The Journey Beyond Yourself
Michael Singer is an author you should know about, but probably don’t. This book is an all-time great IMHO, given the immense power it unleashes to its readers. He gives us the easy steps that allow us to align with our true selves and release the assumptions about the world that don’t serve us (or the world) well. It asks us to analyze the voice in our head and determine if that voice knows what it’s talking about, or full of BS. The page turner should be on every shelf across the globe and read in schools. You’ll feel lighter as the pages turn, and see the day with confidence and truth. It’s an audiobook you’ll listen to more than once. Pop this baby in your headphones on your way to work. You’ll be happy you did…
The Book of Joy
Lasting Happiness in a Changing World
We all know how happiness can create a big difference in a person’s life. Just by knowing where to anchor your emotions and spiritual life, you’re on your way to an upgrade. Despite the trials and adversity I was going through at the time, when I listened to this audiobook my heart felt lighter and my mind felt clearer. By listening to this uplifting audiobook, you will discover the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu’s infectiously happy stories and teachings designed to aid you in searching for a better purpose in this changing world. They will inspire you to find a purpose that is fueled by compassion, and help you to be a joy to yourself and to others. (Even if you think you’re already the happiest and nicest person on Earth.) After all, this is “The Book of Joy”!
10% Happier
How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found a Self-Help That Actually Works
Dan Harris (the Nightline anchor) will take you on an unexpected, hilarious, and deeply skeptical odyssey in this audiobook. With spirituality and self-help, he discovers a way to be happier in an achievable way: through daily meditation “for fidgety sceptics”. Still sceptical? You’re not the only one. Even Dan used to think that meditation was useless and felt powerless to tame the loud voice in his head that was causing negative feelings and actions. But he solved many of his life’s issues when he found out that meditation can do almost everything–from helping us see our life and relationships more clearly, to lowering your blood pressure and even rewiring your brain!
The Happiness Equation
Want Nothing + Do Anything = Have Everything
New York Times best-selling author Neil Pasricha gives us the formula for a happy life through common ideals that are flipped on their head and cast in a completely new light. It includes fascinating lessons such as ‘why success doesn’t lead to happiness’, ‘how to make more money than a Harvard MBA’, ‘why multitasking is a myth’, and ‘how eliminating options leads to more choice’. Personally, I found that it contributed to a shift in how I thought about ‘everything’ in life—and how ‘everything’ contributes to a bigger change. The lessons here are highly relatable and easy to apply in life. Just a tip: you might want to makes notes as you read. It’s full of good references that can be useful in the future.
The 5 Second Rule
Transform your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage
This audiobook teaches you how to: become confident, to break the habit of procrastination and self-doubt, to beat fear and uncertainty, to stop worrying and feel happier, and to share your ideas with courage. It is a very simple yet powerful book that contains stories of people who used the 5 Second Rule and witnessed the drastic changes in their lives. This isn’t your typically extremely motivating book, don’t get me wrong. It simply reminds you that whatever it is that you want to upgrade or achieve lies within you—and no one else. “The secret isn’t knowing what to do—it’s knowing how to make yourself do it.” Ain’t that the truth!
The Untethered Soul was most enlightening book on spirituality I’ve EVER read in MY LIFE! It completely opened me up to a new way of looking at EVERYTHING… Including, myself. It gave me a new outlook on purpose and assisted me in beginning to understand this on-growing hunger I have to learn more about who am I? Why am I here? What is my purpose and how will I achieve that life mission?
I feel the same way!
I am a self-help cynic. I’ve never read any self-help, but I knew I needed to get a handle on my stress, anxiety and anger. When I read the description of this 10% Happier book in the article, I said, “OK, newsman, tell me how to be happier.”
The style of writing in The Happiness Equation is often fun and light and some of the ideas I can see as possibilities. However what he is taking about is a lifestyle change and that’s not simple as an eight step program. Things like that take time. Don’t expect to wake up with an upgraded amazing life if you haven’t worked for it just yet.
Having read a bunch of leadership and self management and development books, the principles offered in this book were not new to me. I’m not even sure if this will “upgrade” my life.
The books are worth the read and re-read. We all need a tap in the shoulder or a wake-up call.
Life is a pretty complex ordeal, especially in the modern days. Everybody has their noses stuck in social media. Nobody really knows what they’re doing, and everybody’s more or less miserable. What we all need is purposes to our lives and tools to achieve them. This list gives us most, the “why” and the “how” of being happy, tools to navigate the present and the future.
I really loved the 5 second rule! a simple but life-changing concept, presented in clear no-nonsense language. It’s even better when you listen to the audio version on Audible because Mel has such a great radio-suited voice and it perfectly matches her no-nonsense concepts.
I wish she had done a little more explanation of how the rule might be when you’re trying to give up something. Nevertheless, loved it!
Currently reading through the comments and I can’t figure out which book to read first. Everything on the list seems like a ground-breaking one.
Just read everything! It doesn’t matter which comes first. They’re all amazing.
Book of Joy is a personal favorite. I especially liked the part where the Dalai Lama postulates that this world needs a secular solution to finding happiness, religion just won’t be able to capture the hearts of all the 7 billion inhabitants. The world needs more views like this for enlightenment!
I had several of my biggest breakthroughs ever while I was reading the Untethered Soul. I found the true meaning of meditation and self. I learned the significance of opening the heart and living life as a wonderful experience. If you seek true freedom and happiness, then this book is worth the read. It has changed my life in so many ways that I couldn’t possibly imagine.
This is not the typical book I read but I really enjoyed The Book of Joy. Do not be scared by the authors, Dalai Lama XIV and Archbishop Tutu, although both religious leaders, this is not a book about religion. This is a book about finding inner peace, and how to live in this imperfect world.