5 Books to Read When You’re Figuring Out Your Next Move
Since the beginning of the year I’ve been purposeful keeping myself from getting too wrapped up in any one hobby. I can easily get swept up in projects, so I’ve focused on just ‘being’ for the past 3 months to see what it would be like (basically, it requires a lot of reflection and questions about life in general, which can be pretty mentally taxing).
Since I’m not fixating on books about teaching, or about creativity, or music, I’ve busied myself with reading some books that I think are the perfect fit for taking a step back from life to observe, reflect, and reconfigure to get ready for your next move:
- Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
This is a great book to read when you’re feeling inspired, or between creative/inspired periods in life.
- Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder by Arianna Huffington
If you’ve ever read Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg (and maybe leaned in a bit too far, as a result), this is a great follow-up book to establish a better balance in life.
- Bonjour, Happiness! by Jamie Cat Callan
I read a few pages of this book every morning, and it’s such a simply happy and uplifting book; this is a book every type of woman could read during any stage of life and thoroughly enjoy.
- Considerations by Colin Wright
Colin Wright is always good at helping readers bend their perspectives and question their assumptions; this is a good read when you want to get out of your comfort zone.
- The Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In The Sun and Be Your Own Person by Shonda Rhimes
A girlfriend and I call books like this one ‘brain candy;’ it’s a quick, easy, fun read that just feels good (think Mindy Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? with the same number of laughs and quality writing, but more inspiring words and wisdom to walk away with).
So whether you’re stuck in a rut, completely content, between moments of inspiration, or knee deep in a creative project, these are my 5 must-read books. And for anyone contemplating their next project, or just experiencing the all-too-common ‘in between’ moment, sit down with one of these gems and consider what your next move might be.
Happy living.