There is something I need to confess…I am Lar and Im a book-a-holic. I have so many books that I could start my own library. I’m not even including my NookBooks or iBooks.  I have all different genres but the self help books are my biggest collection followed by mystery.

I bring up books because I feel that they are becoming less and less important. As electronics and social media take over we aren’t sitting down with a good book any more. We go on Facebook to relax or binge watch our favorite TV show on Netflix.  Don’t misunderstand; I’m not saying that it is always a bad thing but there is 

just something about sitting down with a nice cuppa tea and diving into a good book.

Whether for pleasure or personal growth, books can enhance our lives, help us relax and make us think outside our own little world.  I want to post my top 3 books for personal growth..Next week I’ll share my top 3 books for pleasure reading.  Let me know if you read them and what you think. (most library’s should have them too).   

PERSONAL GROWTH….

A Long Goodbye and Beyond: Coping with Alzheimer’s 

Linda Combs, Ed.D.

Nancy Reagan was quoted, “I think this book should be very helpful to many people—especially caregivers.”

This book guides families/caregivers who are dealing with this terrible disease with compassion and raw truth.  

Approval Addiction: Overcoming Your Need To Please Everyone

Joyce Meyer

I know there are so many of us that are addicted to approval. My dad calls it the “disease to please”. Some of us literally make ourselves sick physically, emotionally, and/or spiritually trying to get people’s approval.  Approval Addition will help you see patterns in your life that need to shift from seeking man’s approval to seeking the only opinion the counts… God’s.

Becoming the Woman of His Dreams: Seven Qualities Every Man Longs For In A Woman

Sharon Jaynes

Now before you click off this blog and say…“Im an independent woman that doesn’t need to cow-tow to a man” This is not that kind of book. It’s about communicating with your spouse in a loving and respectful way.  

True Confession….For years I would get SO irritated when Smokin Hot Hubby would ask me to pick out his clothes. I would think to myself ‘I am not your mother’ and ‘You just want me to be your servant’ . Then while reading this book I realized that Smokin’s love language is ‘acts of service’. I got out of the “I’m not his mother/servant’ mindset and looked at his actions after I would do these things for him. He was happy…confident…romantic. Why? Because he felt loved!

MY love language is affirmations.  I was affirming Smokin all the time and he couldn’t have cared less but iron his shirt and I was wife of the year. After not complaining about the ‘acts of service’ Smokin asked me, ‘Whats up?” I told him and he realized my love language was affirmations. See, he would vacuum the living room and I couldn't have cared less. But tell me I did a great job at something and I was on cloud nine. This is just one example of how this book affected us personally. I have given this book to over a dozen people. Most of them have a stronger and happier marriage after reading and applying the principles in this book. 

So there you have it - my top 3 recommended personal growth books.  I hope you try at least one out and let me know if it was helpful to you. 

Thanks so much and remember

Today is a gift….Live it to its full potential!!!

LAR