April 2021 New Spiritual and Self-Help Book Picks

Posted on by Tammy

NOTE: Every month, bestselling author of “The Universe is Talking to You,” and founder of Elevated Existence, Tammy Mastroberte, chooses her picks for new books, audios and card decks in the spiritual and self-help field. None of these picks are sponsored or paid for — they are her honest picks that she shares with others!

“Better Sleep, Better You: Your No-Stress Guide for Getting the Sleep You Need and the Life You Want,” by Frank Lipman MD and Neil Parikh
Sleep is so much more important than most people realize, and there are so many struggling with it. In his newest book, functional medicine doctor Dr. Frank Lipman teams up with Casper co-founder Neil Parikh to share how to fix your sleep schedule and improve your health.

Sleep deprivation has bigger consequences than one might think, ranging from irritability, brain fog, and weight gain to serious conditions like hormone dysregulation, heart disease, memory impairment, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s. They explain the latest developments in sleep science and all the factors that affect sleep—including when and how you eat and exercise, how you handle stress, how you nap, and how you engage with technology. It also helps you create a personalized sleep protocol that works for your lifestyle and needs.

“The Desire Factor: How to Embrace Your Materialistic Nature to Reclaim Your Full Spiritual Potential,” by Christy Whitman
New York Times bestselling author Christy Whitman’s newest book offers the tools for you to manifest happiness, abundance, and success, and all starts with the force of desire. However, she explains true gift is not in acquiring our desires, but it is the people we become in the process of allowing our desires to move through us. The skills, the strengths, and the character traits we develop in the process of manifesting our desires stay with us always. This book shares the precise steps for bringing about the manifestation of any desire.

“Divine Masters, Ancient Wisdom: Activations to Connect with Universal Spiritual Guides,” by Kyle Gray
Known for his books on angels, bestselling author Kyle Gray new tools and wisdom to connect with the enlightened Ascended Masters, and receive their guidance, healing, protection and support on your spiritual path in his newest book.

Gray explains how Ascended Masters can bring healing to the Earth, the cosmos and your life. The Ascended Masters are enlightened souls who once walked the Earth (or other planets) and continue to offer their emotional intelligence and spiritual teachings to the world. You may already know some of them – Mary Magdalene, Buddha and Jesus – but did you know there are many more, and that they are here to support you on your spiritual path?

In this book, you will discover some you may not know, a short history of the masters and how they ascended for the greater good of humanity; how to call upon them and for what; what the Council of Light and Etheric Retreats are and how you can access their wisdom for healing, guidance and connection; and exercises and tools to help increase your awareness and raise your consciousness.

“The Full Spirit Workout: A Ten-Step System to Shed Your Self-Doubt, Strengthen Your Spiritual Core, and Create a Fun and Fulfilling Life,” by Kate Eckman
In The Full Spirit Workout, Kate Eckman draws from her multifaceted training (as an athlete, executive leadership coach, and meditation teacher) to offer a program to empower you to break through roadblock, such as mental and emotional baggage, insecurity, self-judgement and overwhelming stress and anxiety, so you can accomplish your goals.

It offers a workout with daily mind-body-spirit exercises and neuroscience-based practices that bolster resilience and inner strength, and builds in creativity, flexibility, and delight so that each “rep” feels less like work and more like play.

“Napoleon Hill’s Philosophy of Success: The 17 Original Lessons,” by Napoleon Hill
Napoleon Hill devoted his life to studying the question of what makes someone successful. After analyzing the success of more than 500 of the 20th century’s greatest achievers, his exhaustive research proved the essence of success lies within 17 principles that when used together serve as an infallible formula for achievement.

In this book, you will read these never before published lectures delivered to individuals who were being trained in his organization to teach his philosophy. Through this exclusive course authorized by the Napoleon Hill Foundation, you will learn how to acquire these 17 necessary skill: Definiteness of Purpose, The Mastermind Alliance, Meaning of Faith, Pleasing Personality, Going the Extra MilePersonal Initiative, Self-Discipline, Imagination, Enthusiasm, A Positive Mental Attitude, Learning from Adversity, Accurate Thinking, Sound Physical Health, Controlled Attention, Budgeting Your Time, Cooperation and Cosmic Habit Force.

“Instinct: Rewire Your Brain with Science-Backed Solutions to Increase Productivity and Achieve Success,” by Rebecca Heiss
Evolutionary biologist Rebecca Heiss reveals the science behind our self-sabotaging behaviors that undermine our productivity, success, and happiness: instincts developed hundreds of thousands of years ago that are devastatingly mismatched to our current environments — and also offers simple, actionable techniques to redirect those instincts to work for us rather than against us.

The book explains that in every area of life, from business to relationships to health, we act on outdated instincts built to help us survive a world ruled by scarcity and danger. But in today’s world, those same instincts stop us from succeeding in the environment in which we actually live: a diverse world of abundant choices, and almost limitless connections.

Now evolutionary biologist Dr. Rebecca Heiss offers a new approach that harnesses the power of our instincts, and redirects them to work for us rather than against us. Dr. Heiss reveals the science behind our self-sabotaging behaviors, then provides simple, actionable techniques that can rebuild our instinctive minds.

“Quick Calm: Easy Meditation to Short-Circuit Stress Using Mindfulness and Neuroscience,” by Jennifer R. Wolkin
Do you ever feel like your stress levels are off the charts? You aren’t alone. But there are things you can do to stay grounded that don’t take a lot of time. This book is designed to fit into a person’s fast-paced lifestyle using mindfulness skill to destress and rewire the brain. And the daily practices can be done in just five minutes each day.

“Your Pocket Therapist: Quick Hacks for Dealing with Toxic People While Empowering Yourself,” by Dr. Sherrie Campbell
Learn quick hacks to deal with the toxic people in your life, while empowering yourself. Each devotional offer reads like an actual therapy session where it builds upon the strategies used to cope with toxic people. It is designed to bring you into a deeper and deeper understanding of the strategies being presented so they are second nature and easy to apply.

You will discover quick hacks to dealing with toxic people; practical empowerment strategies to deal with manipulation; simple mindsets that equips readers to know what to do and say in toxic relationships; practical steps to help readers find a way out of toxic ties and how to utilize withdrawal and silence as their superpowers when dealing with toxic people.

December 2020 Spiritual and Self-Help Book Picks

Posted on by Tammy

“101 Ways to Be Less Stressed: Simple Self-Care Strategies to Boost Your Mind, Mood, and Mental Health,” by Dr. Caroline Leaf
Bestselling author and neuroscientist Dr. Caroline Leaf helps readers change their life by changing their mind with 101 simple ways to reduce stress. With simple strategies for mental self-care, we can change the way we think and how we live our lives.

It is so important that we focus on mental self-care and reducing daily stress, since mental toughness and resilience will get us through difficult times and help us achieve success in every area of our lives. Using the incredible power of our minds, we can persist and grow in response to life’s challenges.

Badass Habits: Cultivate the Awareness, Boundaries, and Daily Upgrades You Need to Make Them Stick,” by Jen Sincero
New York Times bestselling author Jen Sincero gets to the core of transformation: habits–breaking, making, understanding, and sticking with them.

Badass Habits is a look at how our habits make us who we are, from the measly moments that happen in private to the resolutions we loudly broadcast (and, , often don’t keep) on social media. Habit busting and building goes way beyond becoming a dedicated flosser or never showing up late again–our habits reveal our unmet desires, the gaps in our boundaries, our level of self-awareness, and our unconscious beliefs and fears.

This new book includes interviews with people who’ve successfully strengthened their discipline backbones, new perspective on how to train our brains to become our best selves, and offers a simple, 21-day, step-by-step guide for ditching habits that don’t serve us and developing the habits we deem most important.

Breakup Bootcamp: The Science of Rewiring Your Heart,” by Amy Chan
Amy Chan hit rock bottom when she discovered that her boyfriend cheated on her. Although she was angry and broken-hearted, Chan soon came to realize that the breakup was the shakeup she needed to redirect her life. Instead of descending into darkness, she used the pain of the breakup as a bridge to self-actualization. She devoted herself to learning various healing modalities from the ancient to the scientific, and dived into the psychology of love. It worked. Fast forward years later, Amy completely transformed her life, her relationships and founded a breakup bootcamp helping countless women heal their hearts.

In this book, Chan directs her experience as a relationship columnist and as the creator of Renew Breakup Bootcamp into a practical, thoughtful guide to turning broken hearts into an opportunity to break out of complacency and destructive habits. Dubbed “the Chief Heart Hacker,” Amy Chan grounds her practical advice and tried and tested methods rooted in cutting-edge psychology and research, helping first her bootcamp attendees and now her readers most effectively heal and reclaim their self-love.

“Daily Calm: 100 Daily Reminders to Help You Build a Mindfulness Habit,” by Padraig O’Morian
The Daily Bell is a mindfulness reminder – a sort of ‘thought of the day’ – that mindfulness expert Padraig O’Morain sends out to his 15,000 subscribers every morning, and he has done so for the last 5 years. Following on from the success of this, Padraig has compiled 100 brand new reminders and easy exercises into this new book. By picking up the book and dipping into the short exercises, readers will learn to integrate mindfulness into your life, improve personal resilience and build up a regular mindfulness habit.

“Divine Abundance Oracle Cards: A 52-Card Deck,” by Tosha Silver
From the author of “Outrageous Openness” and “It’s Not Your Money,” comes a new oracle card deck that helps readers put her teachings into practice.

Tosha Silver’s message about money is counterintuitive, fresh, and different from the norm. So many people push toward their goals, chase the means to meet their needs, and yearn for an ever-elusive feeling of security. Fear and worry are constant. Tosha takes a radical new approach: offer those desperate wishes and financial fears directly to Love, to the Divine itself–whatever that means to you. The result can bring freedom, spaciousness, and yes, even a sense of security unavailable any other way. Aligning with Divine Source as the foundation of All is the key.

Drawing inspiration from her book “It’s Not Your Money,” this deck contains 52 quotes that will help readers reflect on their relationship to money, career, and abundance.

“Happiness Becomes You: A Guide to Changing Your Life for Good,” by Tina Turner
Tina Turner’s new book is deeply personal and inspiring revealing the wisdom behind her journey to joy, while providing a practical guide to finding happiness in one’s own life. She shows how anyone can overcome obstacles in life–even transform the impossible to possible–and fulfill our dreams. She shows how we, too, can improve our lives, empowering us with spiritual tools and sage advice to enrich our unique paths. She illuminates the practical principles of Buddhism and how they have helped her elevate from despair, adversity, and poverty to joy, stability and prosperity.

“Happy Habits: 50 Science-Backed Rituals to Adopt (or Stop) to Boost Health and Happiness,” by Karen Salmansohn
Forming new habits can improve your mood and invigorate your daily routine, but we have to figure out which ones to adopt or drop. How can we successfully create habits—and what new habits will actually increase our happiness and fulfillment?

“Happy Habits” presents 50 habits that span body, mind, relationships, work, home and play. Salmansohn shares the tools we need to master fundamental habits (daily meditation; practicing gratitude), surprising happiness-boosting techniques (crying regularly; strategic complaining), and tips for easily incorporating new habits into your daily life. Filled with fascinating studies and simple rituals, this illustrated guide offers fun, accessible ways to uplift your life.

“Hard Work for Breakfast: How to Make It and Make It Look Easy,” Nick Cannon
Part biography, part philosophy, part inspiration, and all comedy, “Hard Work for Breakfast” shares the so-crazy-they-must-be-true stories from Nick Cannon’s remarkable life, from being bullied on the school yard as a skinny, nerdy kid in the projects to making millions of dollars right out of high school (with zero experience!), becoming the youngest CEO in television history, attracting millions of loyal followers, and marrying one of the most famous women in the world—all the while expanding his brand and media empire at warp speed with no end in sight.

Revealing a touching and hilarious look into his family life with Mariah Carey and their twins, Nick also gives us a fascinating glimpse behind the curtain of modern celebrity and entertainment with equal doses of wit, candor, and self-deprecation. From style, to sex, to business, to managing setbacks and obstacles, to his next adventure—becoming a billionaire by forty—Nick offers a powerful message about life, success, and “having it all.”

“It’s Never Too Late: Make the Next Act of Your Life the Best Act of Your Life,” by Kathie Lee Gifford
When Kathie Lee Gifford stepped down as cohost of the fourth hour of the Today show with Hoda Kotb, you might have thought her best days were behind her. It turns out, she was just getting started. As Kathie Lee says, “I’m not retiring; I’m refiring!”

Taking us from her Chesapeake Bay childhood when she first heard God’s calling, to her skyrocketing fame with Regis, to her decision to leave television for Nashville, Kathie Lee inspires us to pursue what really matters. Because it’s never too late to forgive, to dance the cha-cha, or to make a difference in the world.

God placed His dreams in your heart for a reason. And like Kathie Lee, you might just discover the best is yet to come. Whether you’re an empty nester, newly single, navigating a career change, or just eager for any change, Kathie Lee helps you hear God’s loving calling because It’s Never Too Late to . . .

Begin Again
Make Sparks Fly
Leave a Good Thing
Have a Party
Change the Ending, Then Change It Again

“Lessons on Success: 17 Principles of Personal Achievement Through Action and Attitude,” by Napoleon Hill
Napoleon Hill’s 17 Essential Principles of Personal Achievement have served as an encouraging and illuminating guide for those seeking to improve all areas of their lives for more than half a century. In this new book, readers will get keyed into Hill’s distinct thought process—this is THE complete and unabridged mind-power method for achieving your goals.

After interviewing dozens of industrialists, diplomats, thought leaders, and people who are at the top of their game, Hill distilled what he learned and converted his study into seventeen core lessons that will set you up for success in every facet of your life.

“Living Your Dreams: Your Personal Success Program,” by Mark Victor Hansen
Discover the proven concepts, powerful skills, easy-to-use techniques and step-by-step action items needed to define your dreams and live them―whatever they are from bestselling author Mark Victor Hansen.

No one knows more about how to live their dream than Mark Victor Hansen. He achieved his success when he was well into his 40s―knowing that dreams don’t have deadlines. After reading this inspiring book, you’ll know it too!

Now a sought-after dynamic keynote speaker and entrepreneurial marketing maven, Mark has spoken to over 6,000 audiences worldwide and is best known as the co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, and brand setting world records with over 500 million books sold.

With a guidebook and a personal goal planner, readers will learn:

Believe It to Achieve It
Positive Self-Talk
How to Turn Problems into Opportunities
The Fundamental Secrets of Prosperity
How to Gain Financial Freedom
To Create a Dream Team
Achieve Total Well-Being
Develop a Winning Spirit
10 Instant Steps to Success

“Mindfulness Workbook for Stress Relief: Reduce Stress Through Meditation, Non-Judgement, Mind-Body Awareness and Self-Inquiry,” by April Snow LMFT
Ease stress and achieve balance through the healing power of mindfulness — a powerful and proven method for reducing stress and its negative health effects. This Workbook shows you how to relieve tension and find calm using soothing, restorative techniques like meditation, non-judgment, self-inquiry, and mind-body awareness.

Featuring helpful exercises and simple meditations, this hands-on stress management workbook delivers a wide variety of effective mindfulness tools that you can add to your self-care toolbox like breath awareness, body scans, mindful walking, and more.

It includes:

A beginner-friendly focus that covers a spectrum of everyday situations and science-based solutions.
Engaging mindfulness-based exercises that are proven to help relieve stress, anxiety, chronic pain, and sleep issues.
How to address stress triggers in many areas of daily life like relationships, at work, and beyond.

“Release: Create a Clutter Free and Soul Driven Life,” by Peggy Fitzsimmons
Most of us are overwhelmed by stuff that is not essential to our lives and is out of alignment with our true spiritual nature. Although our souls are inherently free, we also have an ego mind that orients us toward fear, scarcity, self-preservation, and holding on. With the ego mind in the driver’s seat of our lives, we accumulate clutter. Physical clutter is the most obvious, but we are also burdened with mental, emotional, energetic, and relationship clutter.

All forms of clutter reflect the same thing; a soul not being true to itself. This book provides practical strategies to release clutter in your inner and outer environments and create a more soul-directed life. It introduces the skills of presence, mindfulness, resonance, and inspired action to put you on the road to freedom; free to live with only the things that help you share your love with the world in your unique ways.

“Take Care of Your Type: An Enneagram Guide to Self-Care,” by Christina S. Wilcox
Discover the self-care tips specifically designed for your Enneagram type from popular Enneagram expert Christina S. Wilcox. Many of us have used the Enneagram of Personality to understand ourselves on a profoundly intimate level. But despite what our Enneagram type reveals, it’s not always easy to know the best ways to take care of ourselves according to our unique personalities.

In this book, Christina uses her knowledge of the Enneagram to illuminate how each of the nine Enneagram types can practice better self-care. Answering questions ranging from “What is the best morning routine for my type?” to “What boundaries are important to set based on my individual personality traits?” this handy guide filled with beautiful color illustrations will help you re-center and reconnect with yourself amid the stress of daily life and will leave you feeling happier and healthier in mind, body, and spirit.

Elevated Existence December 2018/January 2019 Book Picks

Posted on by Tammy

Each month, a ton of new spiritual and self-help books hit the market. It’s easy to get overwhelmed or miss out on some new releases.

I created Elevated Existence Monthly Book Picks to help narrow down your search, and make sure you don’t miss some great options!

Here are the picks for December 2018 and January 2019. They are listed below in alphabetical order. Click on each title to go directly to Amazon and find out more about the book.

“The 5-Minute Recharge: 31 Proven Strategies to Refresh, Reset, and Become the Boss of Your Day,” by Lynne Everatt and Addie Greco-Sanchez
Science has proven that you have the power, through your habitual ways of thinking and behaving, to renovate the space inside your head, making it brighter, more resilient, and a more enjoyable place to be. In “The 5-Minute Recharge,” the authors share 31 techniques (backed by research) for thriving and at work and in life, including a mental fitness technique that is better than magic mushrooms; the best way to grow new brain cells and ensure you continue to look good in your genes as you age; the easily accessible trait that’s associated with the high-performance personality; what George Clooney can teach you about tapping into your inner wisdom; and the Navy Seal tactic you can use to trigger relaxation even in tense situations.

“The 30-Day Money Cleanse: Take Control of Your Finances, Manage Your Spending, and De-Stress Your Money for Good,” by Ashley Feinstein Gerstley
In just one month you can create lasting happiness in your financial life while also doing what you love. Ashley Feinstein Gerstley changed her relationship with money for good and is now helping others align their money with their own values; change their money mindset; and find more money for the things they love.

Even with a finance education and years of expertise in financial services, Gerstley was still stressed out about her personal finances. Why was she unhappy? She understood that, as a society, we don’t discuss matters of money enough. Many of us even punish ourselves with blistering budgets. But “The 30-Day Money Cleanse” turns all those ideas around. Following the author’s advice, you will learn to Clear yourself of negativity and create a new mindset of abundance in only 30 days!

If you want to eliminate money stressors; finally know where your money is going; break panic-inducing, bad money habits; learn the basics of how and where to invest; and make a plan that you can not only live with but enjoy, then this is the book for you!

“Crystal Bliss: Attract Love. Feed Your Spirit. Manifest Your Dreams,” by Devi Brown
Feeling worn out, unmotivated and uninspired? You can change your energy with help from Mother Nature using crystals.

Devi Brown walks readers through the crystal selection process, cleansing and preparing them for use, and incorporating them into meditation and healing practices. You will discover how to banish negative vibes, manifest wealth, promote good health and open your heart to love.

“The Divine Energy Oracle: A 63-Card Deck to Get Out of Your Own Way,” by Sonia Choquette
In this new oracle card deck, Sonia Choquette is helping users to become more Divinely awakened. It’s designed to connect one with Divine Energy, and each card offers a “personal invitation to become more Divinely awakened and empowered,” while also addressing the soul shift necessary in order to achieve what they desire.

“By following the guidance on the card you pick, you’ll find the answer you need to best meet every situation in life,” Choquette says in the guidebook. “Each card offers small, manageable steps that you can achieve day by day, steadily advancing toward your highest goals on a spiritual level. In the process, you’ll get out of your own way and begin to experience the personal success and satisfaction that you seek in your life, as well as bring your special gifts and energy to the planet.”

“I’ve Been Thinking . . . The Journal: Inspirations, Prayers, and Reflections for Your Meaningful Life,” by Maria Shriver
As a follow-up to her bestselling book, this inspiring, interactive journal by Maria Shriver encourages readers to explore what they’ve been thinking, the same way she explored it for herself in her book. She created a journal that encourages readers to write about themselves and what truly matters in their own lives.

With a new introduction, creative thought-provoking prompts, and complete with many of Shriver’s own prayers and quotes, I’ve Been Thinking is gives readers the space to reflect on what a meaningful life looks like to them.

“The Journey into Yourself: A Retreat to Deepen the Realization of Your Essential Nature,” by Eckhart Tolle
In this new audio, Eckhart Tolle invites you to join him on an odyssey beyond the “horizontal dimension” of thought and into the often overlooked “vertical dimension,” somewhere beyond the reach of the mind. According to Tolle, the vertical dimension might be better understood as the current moment or the Now—all that ever actually is. And this includes the self—the real you.

Recorded in front a live audience at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, New York, this program presents a rarely heard talk from Eckhart’s early teaching career. With this you will encounter over eight hours of practical, thought provoking, and occasionally hilarious teachings for becoming who we are beyond the physical. This includes why the phrase “life is a dream” is more accurate than you might expect; piercing the veil of self-made suffering; the gentle and fierce aspects of embodied Presence; why setbacks and discomfort are the most potent teachers and more.

“Life Admin: How I Learned to Do Less, Do Better, and Live More,” by Elizabeth Emens
Desperate to survive in her household with two young children and an endless to-do list, and to help others along the way, Elizabeth Emens set out on a journey to conducted interviews and focus groups to gather popular tips and tricks, admin confessions, and other secrets of admin-happy households.

Life Admin tackles the admin problem in every one of its forms, from everyday tasks like scheduling appointments and paying bills, to life events from planning a wedding or birth to a funeral. Emens explores how these labors are created, how it affects our lives, and how we might avoid, and redistribute admin whenever possible.

“Millionaire Success Habits: The Gateway to Wealth & Prosperity,” by Dean Graziosi
Renowned business coach and entrepreneur Dean Graziosi takes you from where you are to where you want to be in life in this newly revised and updated book – with all new chapters on productivity. Using the simple tools taught in the book, readers can learn how to reshape their daily routines and open new doors to prosperity. With Dean’s 30-day Better Life Challenge you can catapult yourself into your new life.

This book is not about finding more time in your day. It is about switching those things that are not serving your future with successful habits designed to assist you on your journey. In this text, you’ll:

Dig deep to identify your “why”–the true purpose that drives you and why you want to succeed.
Expose and overcome the “villain within” that holds you back.
Unlock the biggest secret to being productive.
Believe in your own massive potential–so you can make it a reality

“Mind Detox: Discover and Resolve the Root Causes of Chronic Conditions and Persistent Problems,” by Sandy C. Newbigging
Suffer from physical or emotional conditions? Stuck with the same patterns in your life? Don’t know why you react the way you do and can’t seem to help it? Much of our chronic, repetitive behaviors, and emotional trauma can be traced to unresolved events stuck in the unconscious mind.

In Mind Detox, Sandy C. Newbigging reveals a simple 5-step method for detoxing the unconscious mind and resolving those life problems. He explains how to turn back time to find the significant emotional event, the main experience, that shaped the core beliefs that trigger your chronic conditions and patterns, and describes how to reflect on why this event was a problem at the time. Then he teaches to meditate on the experience in light of your present-day self, allowing you to create new results about what happened.

He also offers guidance on how to use EFT in conjunction with the Mind Detox method, and practical healing tools like the “decision destroyer.” You will also learn what the most common unhealthy beliefs are that negatively impact health, wealth and happiness — and how to heal them — and success stories of how Mind Detox successfully cleared skin conditions, erased chronic pain and healed digestive disorders.

“Sleep Rituals: 100 Practices for a Deep and Peaceful Sleep,” By Jennifer Williamson
Do you have trouble getting — and staying — asleep? Healthy sleep rituals can help set the mood for a satisfying slumber and help you drift off in peace, and Jennifer Williamson offers 100 easy rituals for you to choose from in this new book. These include sleep-friendly recipes, like nutmeg-spiced warm milk; soothing practices like dry brushing; relaxing yoga poses, such as Child’s Pose; breathing exercises, such as alternate nostril breathing; calming meditations; and soothing writing exercises. They are made to mix and match for a completely personalized bedtime experience.

“Success Habits: Proven Principles for Greater Wealth, Health, and Happiness,” by Napoleon Hill
Napoleon Hill, author of best seller “Think and Grow Rich,” has been celebrated for his role in the self-help genre, and in this never-before-published work, Hill shares all his principles of success — key habits that provide the basis for a life altering success. Hill explains his fundamental rules that lead to a successful life.

The book is filled with Hill’s personal anecdotes written in an understandable, conversational style. His understandings apply to every facet of life, inspiring readers to achieve their own ambitions and create the positive change in their lives they have always dreamed of.

“You Are a Badass Every Day: How to Keep Your Motivation Strong, Your Vibe High, and Your Quest for Transformation Unstoppable,” by Jen Sincero
If you have ever had trouble staying motivated while moving towards badassery, You Are a Badass Every Day by Jen Sincero is the companion to keep you renewed, optimism, and driven. Realign your mind and keep an unwavering focus with one hundred exercises, reflections, and cues that will teach you how to maintain the breakthroughs catalyzed by Sincero’s iconic books “You Are a Badass” and “You Are a Badass at Making Money” going.

Owning your power to achieve to badassery is just the first of a few steps in generating the life you deserve and this book will help you power through obstacles, overcome the doubts that hold you back, and keep that determination inside roaring while you achieve your goals.

Elevated Existence August 2018 Spiritual and Self-Help Book Picks

Posted on by Tammy

Each month, a ton of new spiritual and self-help books hit the market. It’s easy to get overwhelmed or miss out on some new releases.

I created Elevated Existence Monthly Book Picks to help narrow down your search, and make sure you don’t miss some great options!

Here are the picks for August 2018. They are listed below in alphabetical order. Click on each title to go directly to Amazon and find out more about the book.

“Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence — The Groundbreaking Meditation Practice,” by Daniel J. Siegel, M.D.
From New York Times bestselling author, Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., introduces readers to his pioneering, science-based meditation practice in this new book, providing practical instruction for mastering the Wheel of Awareness, a life-changing tool for cultivating more focus, presence, and peace in one’s day-to-day life.

An in-depth look at the science that underlies meditation’s effectiveness, this book teaches readers how to harness the power of the principle “Where attention goes, neural firing flows, and neural connection grows.” Siegel reveals how developing a Wheel of Awareness practice to focus attention, open awareness, and cultivate kind intention can literally help you grow a healthier brain and reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in your life.

No matter what level of experience you have with meditation or mindfulness, this book is a hands-on guide to becoming more focused and present, as well as more energized and emotionally resilient in the face of stress and the everyday challenges life throws your way.

“The 5 Essential Principles of Think & Grow Rich: The Practical Steps to Transforming Your Desires into Riches,” by Napoleon Hill
Drawn from the modern-day classic, “Think and Grow Rich” ― this new edition dives deeper into the 5 core secrets that have shown the greatest success. With these 5 lessons, you have the power to change your life and set you upon the path of learning and self-development. Originally published in 1937, Napoleon Hill draws on stories from Andrew Carnegie, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and more than 500 other men of great wealth to demonstrate his moneymaking philosophies. With simple and practical techniques, Hill teaches that great and lasting success is possible with nothing but thoughts, ideas, and organized plans.

“The Five Hurdles to Happiness: And the Mindful Path to Overcoming Them,” by Mitch Abblett
A practical approach to becoming aware of the “five hindrances” or negative qualities that inhibit living an awakened life, and how to break free of them in order to live more mindfully, effectively and compassionately, author Mitch Abblett draws from Buddhist traditions to offer a modern, secular interpretation to identify the hurdles blocking contentment — desire, hostility, sluggishness, worry, and doubt and how you can take your first steps to overcoming them.

Combining traditional wisdom with contemporary psychology and using examples from his psychotherapy practice, Abblett uses the hurdles as a frame for engaging you in a process of contemplating your own life and learning to lean into your experience rather than merely repeating bad habits. By doing this, you can break free from the hurdles and live more mindfully, effectively, and compassionately.

“Hack Your Anxiety: How to Make Anxiety Work for You in Life, Love and All That You Do,” by Alicia H. Clark, PsyD
What if the way we’re thinking about anxiety is off base? What if there’s something about anxiety that can be used for you instead of against you?

In this revolutionary new book, Dr. Alicia H. Clark recognizes anxiety as an unsung hero in the path to success and wellbeing. Anxiety is a powerful motivating force that can be harnessed to create a better you, if you’ve got the right tools. This book provides a road map to approach anxiety in a new ― and empowering ― light.

Weaving together modern neuroscience, case studies, interviews, and personal anecdotes, Clark demonstrates how anxiety can be reclaimed as a potent force for living our best lives.

“How to Be a Happier Parent: Raising a Family, Having a Life, and Loving (Almost) Every Minute,” by K.J. Dell’Antonia
An encouraging guide to helping parents find more happiness in their day-to-day family life, from the former lead editor of the New York Times Motherlode blog, KJ Dell’Antonia.

In this optimistic, solution-packed book, Dell’Antonia asks: How can we change our family life so that it is full of the joy we’d always hoped for? Drawing from the latest research and interviews with families, KJ discovers it’s possible to do more by doing less, and make our family life a refuge and pleasure, rather than another stress point in a hectic day.

She focuses on nine common problem spots that cause parents the most grief, explores why they are hard, and offers small, doable, sometimes surprising steps you can take to make them better. Whether it’s getting everyone out the door on time in the morning or making sure chores and homework get done without another battle, this book show having a family isn’t just about raising great kids and churning them out at destination: success. It’s about experiencing joy — real joy, the kind you look back on, look forward to, and live for — along the way.

“Journey to the Afterlife: Comforting Messages & Lessons from Loved Ones in Spirit,” by Kristy Robinett
Revealing the true nature of heaven, hell, and the in-between from spirits who are there, Kristy Robinett shares soul-stirring messages from her many years of practice as a professional psychic medium. This book answers the most persistent questions about the afterlife, showing what kinds of lessons are learned as spirits evolve and grow in light and peace. Have you ever wondered what heaven is like? Or how a child’s experience of the afterlife is different than an adult’s? Is there such a thing as hell or purgatory?

With dozens of moving case studies and remarkable examples, the book shows how our loved ones are given the opportunity to grow and find happiness on the other side. These messages are a great comfort to Kristy’s clients, and they will touch your heart while helping you move forward on your own personal journey.

“The Pomodoro Technique: The Acclaimed Time-Management System That Has Transformed How We Work,” by Francesco Cirillo
Francesco Cirillo developed his famed system for improving productivity as a college student thirty years ago. Using a kitchen timer shaped like a pomodoro (Italian for tomato), Cirillo divided the time he spent working on a project into 25-minute intervals, with 5-minute breaks in between, in order to get more done, without interruptions. By grouping a number of pomodoros together, users can tackle a project of any length, and drastically improve their productivity, enhance their focus, and better achieve their goals.

Originally self-published, and shared virally online, this new publication of “The Pomodoro Technique” includes several new chapters on how teams can use the method to save time and increase productivity. The process underlying Cirillo’s technique includes five stages: planning the day’s tasks, tracking your efforts, recording your daily activities, processing what you have done, and visualizing areas for improvement. With this tried and tested method, readers can simplify their work, find out how much time and effort a task really requires, and improve their focus so they can get more done in the same amount of time each day.

“The Practice of Pure Awareness: Somatic Meditation for Awakening the Sacred,” by Reginald A. Ray
A respected teacher, Reginald A. Ray presents the core and essential wisdom of Tibet and shows us the possibilities of “enlightenment in this present life” through the meditative and somatic practice of Pure Awareness — a unique kind of meditation thoroughly grounded in the body and in ordinary experience. This fundamentally transformative practice offers the possibility of enlightenment in this present life and invites us into the immensely powerful journey that Tibetan tantric spirituality has to offer. Includes a link to a free download of audio meditations.

Elevated Existence July 2018 Spiritual and Self-Help Book Picks

Posted on by Tammy

Each month, a ton of new spiritual and self-help books hit the market. It’s easy to get overwhelmed or miss out on some new releases.

I created Elevated Existence Monthly Book Picks to help narrow down your search, and make sure you don’t miss some great options!

Here are the picks for July 2018. They are listed below in alphabetical order. Click on each title to go directly to Amazon and find out more about the book.

“Healing the Soul of America – 20^th Anniversary Edition,” by Marianne Williamson
In the twentieth anniversary edition of Healing the Soul of America, now updated with a new introduction, and updated material throughout, New York Times bestselling author Marianne Williamson reclaims her powerful voice for social conscience in American society. This is a time, according to Williamson, for Americans to return once again to our first principles, both politically and spiritually. Here, Williamson draws plans to transform the American political consciousness and encourage powerful citizen involvement to heal our society.

Williamson explores the current state of American politics, reminding us of her theory of holistic politics — the convergence of political activists looking toward spiritual wisdom and spiritual contemplatives extending their service into the political landscape. She believes that a morally concerned American must now take an active stand in turning this country away from its current identity as a nation obsessively in love with its money to a nation more seriously invested in all of its children and the potential brilliance of every citizen.

“The Heart of the Shaman: Stories and Practices of the Luminous Warrior,” by Alberto Villoldo
In his latest book, bestselling author Alberto Villoldo sets his focus on the dreaming and time-travel practices of the medicine men and women of the Andes and Amazon, whose wisdom radically changed his worldview. He shares some of their time-honored teachings that emphasize the sacred dream: an ephemeral, yet powerful vision that has the potential to guide us to our purpose and show us our place in the universe.

The practices in this book will help readers forge a sacred dream for themselves and craft a destiny infused with courage and driven by vision. Follow the footsteps of the luminous warrior and learn how to break out of the three nightmares surrounding love, death, and safety that have held us captive, and transform them into the experience of timeless freedom, known as the Primordial Light. This creative power exercised by shamans will lead readers to create beauty and healing, and dream a new world into being.

“Juice Guru’s Juicing for Rapid Weight Loss,” by Steve Prussack
Based on his proprietary Juice Guru Method, Steve Prussack (aka the Juice Guru) shares how to juice for weight loss. Packed with information on not only juice fasting, but the importance of juicing every day, Prussack packs more than 50 recipes into this new e-book specifically designed for weight loss!

Readers will find both juice and smoothie recipes for their weight loss journey, and they are designed to not only be healthy and healing (and of course encourage weight loss) but are also delicious.

“The Magic of Meditation: Stories and Practices to Develop Gratitude and Empathy with Your Child,” by Marie Champeaux-Cunin
More and more children are experiencing the benefits of mindfulness practices at home and in school to reduce stress, regulate emotions and improve concentration. But true mindfulness practice also opens the heart and increases compassion and empathy. This new book is not only a guide for parents to the basics and benefits of meditation for children, but also a concise practice program of mindfulness meditation for children, ages three to seven. The program includes stories, bedtime rituals, and an audio download, featuring Yupsi, a magical dragon. Yupsi’s boundless optimism and good nature will inspire children to feel confidence in their emotions and help them develop natural kindness and altruism.

“More Together Than Alone: Discovering the Power of and Spirit of Community in Our Lives and in the World,” by Mark Nepo
The #1 New York Times bestselling author and popular spiritual teacher presents a poignant and timely meditation on the importance of community, and demonstrates how we live more enriching lives by cultivating connectedness.
Nepo draws from historical events, spiritual thought leaders, and the natural world to show how, in every generation, our tendency is to join together to accomplish our greatest achievements, from creating education to providing clean drinking water, and preserving the arts.

His historical snapshots, from ancient times to contemporary examples, show how community creates a light in the darkest of times, and gets to the heart of how we come together in varied and beautiful ways, whether forming resistance groups during the Holocaust or rebuilding after the nuclear devastation in Nagasaki. These inspiring stories teach us that even in the bleakest days, we have the power to create connections and draw strength from one another.

“Natural Meditation: Refreshing Your Spirit through Nature,” by Barbara Ann Kipfer
Offering easy-to-follow meditation cues for meditating in natural settings or on natural images or objects, this guidebook also offers sidebars throughout to provide suggestions on how to incorporate nature into one’s mindfulness practice. Using short entries, it allows readers to open to a page during a lunch break, at home in the evening, or on the weekend for a short “retreat,” setting off down a quiet, natural path.

This book acknowledges that nature has a lot to teach us about going with the flow, letting go, awareness, calm, silence, and pausing. Whether you practice these meditations in actual natural settings or on a cushion at home, the book’s entries will inspire you to spend more time in nature.

“The Tao Made Easy: Timeless Wisdom to Navigate a Changing World,” by Alan Cohen
In his newest book, Alan Cohen delves into one of the world’s most venerated wisdom texts bringing the lofty and enigmatic concepts of the Tao Te Ching down to earth in fresh, easy-to-grasp language with practical, personal examples we can use to uplift our daily lives.

Most other interpretations of the Tao march through the stanzas one by one. Here Alan Cohen calls forth the ancient verses around themes that are central to our modern lives — from love to work to the lessons we learn from pain. Then he brings each message to life in short vignettes where he imagines himself a student of Lao Tse and interacts with the master directly and intimately. He invites you to join the ancient sage and the contemporary seeker as they wend their way through the challenges and triumphs of the same journey you’re taking yourself.

“A Walk in the Wood: Meditations on Mindfulness with a Bear Named Pooh,” by Dr. Joseph Parent and Nancy Parent
This book features life lessons grounded in the simple act of slowing down, observing what is around us, and being present in our lives moment by moment. In our frantic world, who better to guide readers through this transformative practice than a long-beloved bear who has perfected the art of simply being? And, not coincidentally, he lives in the woods.

There is a growing acknowledgment of the benefits of deeply experiencing nature. The calming quality of sounds like running water and rustling leaves; the soothing properties of smells like lavender and chamomile; and the emotional comfort of beautiful natural vistas are well known.

Dr. Joseph and Nancy Parent share stories with clearly stated goals and easy-to-follow exercises, providing all the tools readers will need to take the first step, or continue on their journey, toward a quieter and calmer way of living.

“Wishes Won’t Bring Riches,” by Napoleon Hill
In this lost classic, the pioneering motivational coach, Napoleon Hill teaches how to make the crucial leap from faith to action in bringing your dreams to life. In three hard-hitting chapters, Hill teaches readers how to transform belief to action, and faith into real-life plans. Application. Enthusiasm. Action. These are the three keys required to do more than just “believe in yourself,” but to actually BE the person you want to be. It provides you the missing link necessary to go from visualizing your dreams to living them.

Elevated Existence September 2017 Spiritual and Self-Help Book Picks

Posted on by Tammy

Each month, a ton of new spiritual and self-help books hit the market. It’s easy to get overwhelmed or miss out on some new releases.

We created Elevated Existence Monthly Book Picks to help our readers narrow down their search, and make sure they don’t miss some great options!

Here are the picks for September 2017. They are listed below in alphabetical order. Click on each title to go directly to Amazon and find out more about the book.

“Altered Traits: Science Reveals How Meditation Changes Your Mind, Brain and Body,” by Daniel Goleman and Richard Davidson
Two New York Times–bestselling authors team up to unveil new research showing the truth about what meditation can really do for us and our brain, as well as exactly how to get the most out of it. The authors demonstrate the real payoffs from meditation are lasting personality traits that can result. But we need smart practice, including crucial ingredients such as targeted feedback from a master teacher and a more spacious, less attached view of the self — all of which are missing in widespread versions of mind training. They also reveal the latest data from Davidson’s own lab that point to a new methodology for developing a broader array of mind-training methods with larger implications for how we can derive the greatest benefits from the practice.

“Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone,” by Brene Brown
A timely and important new book that challenges everything we think we know about cultivating true belonging in our communities, organizations and culture, social scientist Brené Brown, PhD, LMSW, redefines what it means to truly belong in an age of increased polarization. Brown argues we’re experiencing a spiritual crisis of disconnection, and introduces four practices of true belonging that challenge everything we believe about ourselves and each other, offering the clarity and courage we need to find our way back. And that path cuts right through the wilderness. Brown writes, “The wilderness is an untamed, unpredictable place of solitude and searching. It is a place as dangerous as it is breathtaking, a place as sought after as it is feared. But it turns out to be the place of true belonging, and it’s the bravest and most sacred place you will ever stand.”

“The Four Tendencies: The Indispensable Personality Profiles that Reveal How to Make Your Life Better (and Other People’s Lives Better, Too),” by Gretchen Rubin
During her multibook investigation into understanding human nature, Gretchen Rubin realized that by asking the seemingly dry question “How do I respond to expectations?” we gain explosive self-knowledge. She discovered that based on their answer, people fit into Four Tendencies: Upholders, Questioners, Obligers and Rebels. Our Tendency shapes every aspect of our behavior, so using this framework allows us to make better decisions, meet deadlines, suffer less stress and engage more effectively. More than 600,000 people have taken her online quiz, and managers, doctors, teachers, spouses, and parents already use the framework to help people make significant, lasting change. This book will help you get happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative because it’s far easier to succeed when you know what works for you.

“The Happiness Prayer: Ancient Jewish Wisdom for the Best Way to Live Today,” by Evan Moffic
Turning to an ancient instruction manual — a prayer for life composed 2000 years ago — Rabbi Evan Moffic shares 10 practices, any person of any faith can follow. The prayer has helped thousands of people-couples, teenagers, empty nd,esters struggling with loss, divorce, and ruptured relationships, find renewed meaning and purpose in their lives. But it’s not a typical prayer in that you just say it. It is an active prayer because you live it. The magic is not in the words. It is in the way you use the words to change yourself. You will discover those words in this book–and the ten life-changing practices it reveals.

“High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way,” by Brendon Burchard
After extensive original research and a decade as the world’s highest-paid performance coach, Brendon Burchard finally reveals the most effective habits for reaching long-term success. Based on one of the largest surveys ever conducted on high performers, it turns out that just six habits move the needle the most in helping you succeed. Adopt these six habits, and you win. Neglect them, and life is a never-ending struggle. Anyone can practice these habits and, when they do, extraordinary things happen in their lives, relationships, and careers. Whether you want to get more done, lead others better, develop skill faster, or dramatically increase your sense of joy and confidence, the habits in this book will help you achieve it. Each of the six habits is illustrated by powerful vignettes, cutting-edge science, thought-provoking exercises, and real-world daily practices you can implement right now.

“How to Own Your Mind,” by Napoleon Hill
Locked in a vault since 1941, “Think and Grow Rich” author Napoleon Hill’s definitive lesson on how to organize your thinking to attain success I found in the pages of this new book — a master class in how to think for success. In three chapters, Hill demonstrates how to organize, prioritize, and act on information so that it translates into opportunity. Knowledge is not power. Only applied knowledge is power. This book teaches you how to use what you know, and how to know what’s worth knowing.

“A Mind at Home with Itself: How Asking Four Questions Can Free Your Mind, Open Your Heart, and Turn Your World Around,” by Byron Katie
In her new book, spiritual teacher Byron Katie illuminates one of the most profound ancient Buddhist texts, The Diamond Sutra (newly translated in these pages by Stephen Mitchell) to reveal the nature of the mind and to liberate us from painful thoughts, using her revolutionary system of self-inquiry called “The Work.” She doesn’t merely describe the awakened mind — she empowers us to see it and feel it in action. It offers us a transformative new perspective on life and death.

“Own Your Glow: A Soulful Guide to Luminous Living and Crowning the Queen Within,” by Latham Thomas
Celebrity wellness and lifestyle guru, Latham Thomas provides soulful principles that offer an illuminated path for examining life’s challenges, helping you curate your path to greatness, while embracing your uniquely feminine attributes. Packed with rituals, meditations, and snackable lifestyle tips — combining spiritual, psychological, and self-reflective tools — Thomas provides a clear framework for harnessing your passion, developing spiritual fitness, and embracing true vulnerability. This guide is for anyone who wants to witness her own life transform and contribute to the positive change of the world around her.

“Practice You: A Journal,” by Elena Brower
When the way forward seems uncertain, where can we turn for guidance we can trust? For yoga luminary, meditation teacher, and artist Elena Brower, the answer has always been close at hand. “Whenever I’ve needed direction, strength, or centering, I’ve so often turned to my own journals. Why? Because many of the answers we seek are found within ourselves,” she says in the book. The author invites us to gather our own wisdom through writing, self-inquiry and reflection. Practice You is a portable sacred sanctuary to record our flashes of insight, find our ground, create and clarify our goals, and bear witness to our own evolution. With more than 150 beautiful pages of questions, teachings, inspiring imagery, and plenty of space to write, draw, and reflect, this journaling adventure guides us into nine compelling portals to our highest ways of living.

“Spiritual Graffiti: Finding My True Path,” by MC Yogi
Before he was one of the most well-known yoga teachers in North America and an international hip hop artist, MC YOGI was a juvenile delinquent who was kicked out of three schools, sent to live at a group home for at-risk youth, arrested for vandalism, and caught up in a world of drugs, chaos and carelessness. At 18, fate brought him to his first yoga class, and he devoted himself to the practice. From traveling to India to study with gurus to living and learning with many American yoga masters, MC YOGI soaked in the knowledge that would revolutionize his entire life and put him on the path to healing, wholeness, and peace. Through stories of graffiti and guns, mystics and musicians, love, loss, and finding his soul’s purpose, MC YOGI’s journey is saturated in spiritual wisdom, illuminating the potential for transformation within us all.