The pandemic has brought a lot many changes in everyone’s life around the world but one change which is common to all of us is that we have lots of time at our disposal now.
Another change, though unpleasant, is the additional stress always hanging in the air surrounding us.
Now, this stress cannot be changed.
It’s here to stay for some more time for now.
Later on, once it goes, the cause of stress will change but it will return in some other form.
So while we can’t change things around us, what we can change is our response towards them.
Almost all of us are working to keep our body fit these days with right kind of food and exercise to maintain our immune system.
What is being missed in such scenario is other aspects of life.
Our life is a summation of three aspects; physical, mental & spiritual; body, mind & soul.
While we are taking care of our body all the time, unless we take care of other two aspects i.e. mental & spiritual, our system will be imbalanced.
While there are so many ways to do that, one of the best way to do that is to learn from others how they strengthened their mental & spiritual muscles.
And the best way to learn is to read about them in the books.
There are a number of books around us to choose from, but to make things easier I have shortlisted a few books which will not only help you in strengthening your mental & spiritual muscles for now, it will also prepare them for the future battles.
1) As a man Thinketh by James Allen
This is one classic which was first published in 1903 but gained prominence after the demise of its writer in 1912.
A short book in which every word is a magic. If you want to start your journey of self-development & build your mind muscles, this is the book to start with.
It is written based on the aphorism, “As a man thinketh in his heart so he is”
2) The power of your subconscious mind by Joseph Murphy
One book which I can’t recommend highly enough to anybody is this.
It is a well-known fact that our life is nothing but the reflection of what goes on in our subconscious mind, the passive one, but a very few of us know the real power of it.
This book not only delves in that, it also gives the tips and advice to follow to tap the real power of it.
It is a must for anyone who wants to have control over themselves and their lives.
It is based on the basic principle of “TFAR”
“Thoughts lead to feelings, feelings leads to actions and actions leads to results.”
3) How to win friends and influence people
This is one book which some of the people find negative and manipulative.
Here is my take on it.
Manipulation is using someone to your advantage while influence is using someone to their advantage.
This books talks about influencing people not manipulating them.
And more than ever, it is required in current scenario when we are caged in our houses and have people around us who are as emotionally drained as we are; learning’s from this book will help in understanding the people around us and will make your life easier.
4) Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
Anyone who wants to be an entrepreneur or starting on the entrepreneurial journey, this book is a must.
This is a no bar story about the journey of Phil Knight, founder of footwear company Nike and what it took for him to get there.
It tells about the lows of having his employees to pay for his lunch due to lack of money to the highs of becoming the world’s leading footwear manufacturer.
This is raw, inspiring, thrilling, edge of the seat story which anyone can connect with.
The best learning from this book is Keep Going no matter what which is the mantra we need to sustain in today’s times.
5) Long walk to freedom, The Auto biography of Nelson Mandela
If you are struggling with the question, why do I have so many problems in my life, why does this happen to me only, then this book is the answer for all your questions.
For me there is only one essence of this book-‘Bigger the dream, bigger the price’
What one can sacrifice for one’s vision, this story tells about it.
It tells about Mandela’s humble upbringing, his days as lawyer to establish first law firm established by black partners in South Africa, his involvement in Apartheid, and then 27 years of imprisonment before his vision comes true.
This book not only inspires you, it also makes you understand the personality traits of great individuals.
And more than anything, this book tells what one can do for one’s society.
Nelson Mandela stayed in a Jail alone for 27 years for his people, and we have to be in our homes only for a few weeks for our people.
6) Men are from Mars women are from Venus
Relationship Management is another issue which is hardly discussed or taught in our education system and it is tested more than ever in current scenario.
A lot many lives, dreams have been killed because the couple couldn’t understand each other; they were always at logger heads.
This book is for both, men and women.
And it tells one thing that both are right in their own way, it’s just that they have a different way of looking or interpreting the things, that doesn’t mean men or women doubt each other.
This book explains on what to think, how to respond and what to expect from the other sex.
And once that is understood, life becomes way easier.
7) Seven Spiritual laws of success by Deepak Chopra
One book which can completely change the way you feel, do things and see world is this one book by Legendary Deepak Chopra.
With only seven laws, Deepak Chopra has explained what one should think, believe and do have control over his life.
By reading this book, you will not only feel in more control of the things around you, you will feel more confident and positive about the things around you.
8) You can heal your life by Louise L. Hay
Louise L. Hay is a survivor and a winner in life.
This book is result of years of experiments she had done on herself and is a living proof that you can heal your life by the way you think and believe about you.
When a lot of people are dealing with anxiety, fear & emotional outburst in the current scenario, this book is that ray of light which can dispel all the darkness around you.
9) Tuesday with Morrie by Mitch Albom.
This is a memoir by American Author Mitch Albom.
Mitch Albom came in contact with his former sociology professor Morrie Schwartz when Morrie was counting his days due to a terminal illness.
Morrie stars calling Albom every Tuesday to give him one lesson for life as he knows while lying on the death bed what matters in life.
This book is about those lessons which Albom received from Morrie in his last days and a piece of gem which I would recommend everyone to read at least once in their lifetime.
And when every moment we are questioning our immortality now, this one is surely going to give you Goosebumps.
10) Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda
It is told that Steve Jobs came to India in his early days and found this book in the room he stayed in Rishikesh.
He found it so fascinating that he read it once every year after that till he was alive.
It is designated as one of the 100 most important spiritual books of the twentieth century in a poll conducted by publishers Harper Collins.
This books is an experience which I can’t describe in words, you have to dive into it yourself to experience what it is.