Self help shelfie #2
A round up of reading...
Each month I take one of the newsletters to be my ‘shelfie’. This is where I raid my book shelves to bring you some reading recommendations based on what I have been writing about in the last few newsletters.
When writing about avoidance I mentioned Austin Kleon and his ideas about productive procrastination. I have all three of Austin’s books: Steal Like An Artist’, ‘Keep Going’ and ‘Show Your Work!’. I’m recommending ‘Keep Going’ because it is about ways to stay creative in good times and bad. The size of this book is deceptive as it is jam packed with well researched arguments and reassuringly simple yet profound ideas that I think can really make a difference to how to live life in a hyperconnected stress inducing world.
Creativity is an expression of our life force; it helps to keep us in the present, share what we may not be able to share in direct conversation and reminds us of our playfulness. Channeling our negative experiences into creative outlets can be incredibly healing.
Someone who did just that is Dr. Ingrid Clayton. I mentioned that she was on The Therapeutic Poet podcast a few weeks ago. Her memoir ‘Believing me’ came about because she found herself writing and writing once her abusive step father died. I’m recommending this book, not only because it is a well told memoir of narcissistic and covert sexual abuse but because it is a good introduction to what trauma is and the impact that it can have. Often trauma responses can show up later on in life; this book helps to make the connection between ‘disorders’, destructive behaviours and trauma.
I also wrote about excitement this month. A couple of years ago I attended a talk on ‘creativity as a healing tool’ and one of the speakers, Lemn Sissay, recommended Michael Rosen’s Book of Play. It is an extremely playful book to read, and I’m recommending it now because as the world feels more unpredictable and perilous, we can be tempted to need order and control in order to feel safe. Yet in my experience this can increase anxiety rather than alleviate it. This book will remind you that each moment can bring the opportunity to play. Play releases endorphins, improves memory and helps us to feel youthful.
I mentioned writing your story as a fairy tale in one of the newsletters. I also mentioned the work of Dr. Jaiya John and wanted to share one of his books with you called ‘Daughter Drink this Water’. He says, ‘
You break into a new atmosphere of self Love when you let go of your fairytales.’ Dr. Jaiya John
It’s so true. There is ‘no meant to be’, there’s just what is. His book softly challenges and reassures in equal measure and I find his words medicinal.
Last week I wrote about comparison. Whilst you may have a bit of a pass the bucket moment when I mention this, writing a gratitude list can counteract the comparison demons. I loved the title of my last book on the shelf, ‘I choose joy’ because finding joyful in the everyday is possible, even in tricky times, if we commit to it.
That’s it for this month’s shelfie!
‘Til next time,
Jacky ✨