I've always believed that words make the strongest impact.

When I was younger, I never liked to read. It's ironic, because I was always a talented and passionate writer. As I got older, I started to realize what books interested me, and over time I found myself more and more interested in self-help and informational books.

Throughout my life, there have been a small handful of books that really left a mark on me. Some of them are stories, some are childhood favorites, and some gave me advice and light during my darkest times. I'm sure while reading this, you are reminded of a few special books that impacted you in some way. If you haven't found any yet, maybe you'll find yourself interested in reading one of mine.

4 Books That Changed My Life

1. Intuitive Eating

If you've ever read my blog, you probably know a little about my journey with intuitive eating. Well, this book was actually the start of it all. It taught me how to love myself, be more mindful, and overcome food fears I struggled with in the past. Still to this day, I look to the book as my bible. I refer to certain pages I've highlighted when I'm feeling down on myself, and sometimes I discover helpful tips that I've never seen before.

If you want to learn how to eat more mindfully, or if you've ever had any eating or body-image issues, I highly recommend this book.

2. Today I feel Silly

This is kind-of a funny one, but this book was the book of my childhood. Although it is a children's book, it always reminds me of important themes that I sometimes forget. We all tend to overthink or overcomplicate things at times, and this book gets the message out in the simplest way possible. It reminds you that it is healthy to have all different types of emotions and to never get down on yourself for feeling a certain way. It is also cute, funny, and lighthearted.

If you have young kids, or even if you work with children, I highly suggest sharing this book with them. If you want to see for yourself, there are plenty of youtube videos that show the entire book, so you don't have to purchase it.

3. The Secret

The Secret is another book that holds such an important place in my heart. I read it for the first time when I was only in middle school, and since then have always referred back to it for advice and reminders. The Secret taught me the power of positivity, how to visualize the things I want, and how to manifest my life to become the best version of myself. It is actually the basis of many things I write about!

If you're interested in learning how you can apply the secret to your career, health, relationships, and happiness, I recommend reading The Secret. If you're not super spiritual, this might help you learn. If you already are interested in positivity and mindfulness and have not read this, you will especially get the most out of this book.

4. I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What it Was

This book was a resource that really helped me while I was first building my website. After a gymnastics injury in high school, I felt like I had lost a piece of my identity, and no longer knew what my purpose was. This book helped me learn how to think critically about what impact I want to make on the world, and gave me the tools to choose a path. It also motivated me more than ever to go for my goals instead of waiting around for luck or the right moment.

If you're someone who isn't sure what you want to do in life, this is a great book to read. It is also the perfect source of advice and guidance for anyone who has a passion but doesn't know how to manifest it.