Bookish Wisdom: Rewriting Your Inner Story
I'm hoping that with the bulk of the festivities and end-of-year pressure mostly done that you are enjoying some time being quiet and cozy. If you haven't taken a moment to write out your values to grow your glow from last week, you can revisit that here.
One thing you will certainly find me doing this week is curling up with a good book. (Well that's really me most nights, but I'm enjoying more cozy daytime reading as well this week)
Diving into a fiction book has actually revealed some pretty deep revelations, shed a whole new light on a story in my own life and inspired a realm of possibility.
To help inspire your own moments of self-discovery while enjoying some capacity refueling self-care, I'm sharing 5 of my favorite books I read this year.
In A Holidaze by Christina Lauren- what if you got a do-over to follow what your heart really wants?
This book I am reading for the 4th year in a row and probably for the 5th or 6th time. I'm a fan of Christina Lauren books and something about this story brings me back each year.
It explores the the question What if I got a do over? and What if I acted from my heart instead of my fears?
I've certainly had my share of those moments and it inspires a bit of bravery for the next time I'm faced with one of those moments.
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune- what if you understood what was going on through the heart of someone else?
This book has a scene that unlocked a moment of clarity about a past relationship, in tapping into a level of understanding that I couldn't see I was missing. As someone who I highly empathetic and naturally skilled at seeing multiple sides of situations, uncovering a blind spot of mine was incredibly powerful.
If you've ever had a moment of misunderstanding of the heart and not knowing what's really going on in someone else's head, this book is a helpful guide.
What is a book hangover?
That feeling you get when you finish a great book and it leaves you feeling a bit disoriented, torn between two worlds. Sometimes it just sneaks up on you. Read more about what is a book hangover and ways to navigate through.
Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley- what happens when you break the unwritten rules of life?
Life has all of these unwritten rules of how to navigate it. Avoid eye contact. Don't stand too close. Don't intervene. Well all of that goes out the window when this group of commuters lives start to bump into each other… and then intersect.
I love this book as a hopeful glimpse into what can happen when we dare to step out of 'the rules' of life. We all can use a check-in on whether the rules we follow from society, our family, to fit in, are truly serving us.
Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan- what happens when you truly create something for you, telling your story?
Mid-life has a way of making us reevaluate life and start to question the way we’ve always done things, while also feeling a bit lost.
I love this book for showing the power of owning your story, and rewriting the ones you always believed about yourself. It shows the journey your life can take once you start writing, and living, your truth.
The Authenticity Project also by Clare Pooley- what happens when you dare to be honest and put your story into the world?
It all starts with a notebook. A version of personal truths written out and left to inspire others to share their own.
The community that builds from the characters who overlap in proximity but not in knowing each other really speaks to the power of what can happen when you dare to put your truth out into the world, even anonymously.
Take a Moment
What kind of story arc are you in the middle of right now? If your life was a story, how would you change the ending? Thinking of our lives as work of fiction makes life feel not so close and gives us the personal permission to change the narrative of our own life story. When you empower yourself to act from ‘main character vibes’ and knowing that every great story has a powerful character arc, you can reframe how you think of your own life story and possibly write your own ‘happily ever after’.
I would love to hear what you are reading and have to recommend for my TBR pile. And if you want more suggestions, check out my full list of what I've read and loved lately.
Whatever story you dive into, pair it with my list of journal prompts and let it inspire new ways of seeing your own story.
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Stephanie Rose is a mom, wife, business owner and a forever student in finding ways to know herself better. She acts as guide for your own journey, sharing insights, tools and practices to help you remember your magic and live a life that lights you up. Sign up for her newsletter and check out her free resources.
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