Happy New Year everyone!!!
Here are 10 of my favorite books from 2022. As you can see, I am all about understanding our stories, how they shape who we are today, and what we can do to take charge of our narratives moving forward.
1 US, Getting Past You & Me to Build a More Loving Relationship by Terry Real – This book presents the dynamics of interpersonal neuroscience in our relationships. We basically have the same arguments over and over again throughout life and in all our relationships. The paradigm in this book helps you do the work required so that you can get back into the right brain-space when you are not being your best self. Once there ,you can use those tools and build connection in any relationship. If you think your marriage is hopeless, do yourself, your spouse, and your children a favor, read this book. There is hope. (Believe me. I have been known to throw books on marriage across the room because….well….they don’t freakin help. I didn’t throw this one. Instead, I have underlined it, given it to many, and have even embarked on being trained by Terry Real himself. I am daily adding his concepts into my own life, my groups and individual coaching practice.)
2 Facing Love Addiction by Pia Mellody – Pia is one of my all time favorite mentors via her writing. She speaks the truths I need to hear. This is a book about needing to feel loved at the expense of losing our authentic and defined self. This is a book I will read yearly. It sheds so much light on the reasons I do what I do. It heals and challenges. Whether married or single, do yourself a wonderful favor….read this one.
3 Bradshaw on the Family – Our families are filled with both healthy and dysfunctional systems. Being aware of them is a first step toward taking charge of the stories we tell ourselves.
4 Hero on a Mission, by Donald Miller – A great book to get out of the victim stance & take charge of your life by making life meaningful.
5 No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz – The originator of Internal Family Systems (which is basically illustrated in the children’s movie Inside Out). I am currently reading another book on IFS that I prefer. I will share it when I am done reading it 🙂
6 Boundaries for Your Soul by Alison Cook & Kimberly Miller – For those wanting a biblical perspective on Richard Schwartz’s Internal Family Systems, this is the book for you.
7 I Don’t Want To Talk About It by Terry Real – This is a book about male depression, trauma & how our culture sets up men to be ‘manly’ and cut off their vulnerability (and therefore the ability to deeply connect). Men. Read this one. If you have sons, or a husband or any men in your life, this is a fantabulous read. The author shares vulnerably of his own trauma, so it is a painful read, but sooo worth it. I understand the men in my life and in my coaching practice better after reading this book.
8 Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, Matthew Perry memoir – It’s Matthew Perry, so of course it’s a good read! Everyone walks into the room with a story. At a young age, Matthew experienced a wounding that went with him in every room, relationship and situation. He vulnerably shares his daily struggle with this story and the alcoholism that ravaged his soul. This memoir touched my heart and reminds me why I do what I do. Our stories need to be healed so we can live.
9 Finding Me, Viola Davis memoir – Viola shares her childhood story of wounding, and how it goes with her as she journeys life. If you need an inspiring story as you work toward taking charge of your life, this will encourage you. She did her work. So can you! If you want a short version of her story, watch Viola’s interview with Oprah.
10 Healing Your Attachment Wounds by Diane Poole Heller – Only on Audible. A great listen with activities you can do to heal the places you are broken. Our brains were created to repair. When we discover the broken & trauma, know that God has designed our brains to heal. Our brokenness does’t have to leave us helpless. I find that to be quite powerful when I trip on yet another place that was wounded and plays out in my life today. We are made to grow.
A few light books that I read….when I got overwhelmed with the heavier books:
1 These Precious Days by Ann Patchet
2 Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri
3 Anatomy of the Soul (not a light read) by Curt Thompson
4 Patron Saint of Liars by Ann Patchet
5 Quiet by Susan Cain
6 The Lincoln Highway
7 Between 2 Kingdoms (a very tough cancer memoir)
8 Return of the Prodigal Son (we play all the parts in the Prodigal story at some time) by Henry Nouwen
9 Apples Never Fall by the consistently brilliant Laine Moriarty
10 Malibu Rising
11 Getting There by Katie Couric
I’d love to hear what your favorites were! And feel free to reach out with your thoughts or questions. I am here for you.
Happy reading & growing in 2023!
~Tina