3 Books That Got Me Through 2020 | By Kaitlin Emig
In the early months of 2020, I was living in fight-or-flight mode — a term that I didn’t fully understand until reading these three books. I turned to these personal development books because I knew for me to change my life, I needed to change my mental state. As an avid walker, I enjoyed listening to these as audio books; I bought a durable pair of headphones to ensure people passing by me on the sidewalks couldn’t hear my self-help books talking aloud from my pocket. This past year, long walks outside helped me find the mental space I needed to receive clarity and rejuvenation.
As the springtime showed signs of life coming out of a long hibernation here in Canada, I saw small changes happening in my life. First, I envisioned my future and developed healthy habits to free myself of my past anxieties. I followed through with my goals and found additional support along the way. Over the course of the past nine months, I secured a work visa, found meaningful work as a forest school teacher, became an ambassador of a women’s outdoor empowerment group and landed an editorial internship with Jaunt Media Collective, the publisher behind YOGA + Life magazines.
Here are three books that got me through 2020 — a year we will all remember, a year I am choosing to remember for the exponential growth I found in myself. May these recommendations find you seeking a brighter version of yourself.
Man’s Search for Meaning
By Viktor E. Frankl
Unfuck Your Brain: Using Science to Get Over Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Freak-Outs, and Triggers
By Faith G. Harper
Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life
By Marshall Rosenberg
Honorable Mentions
The Nature Fix: Why Nature Makes Us Happier, Healthier, and More Creative By Florence Williams
Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples By Harville Hendrix
Freeing Yourself from Anxiety: 4 Simple Steps to Overcome Worry and Create the Life You Want By Tamar E. Chansky

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