Five Books For Teachers, Guaranteed to Change Your Life
- I recently read this book and now notice the presence of its message everywhere. In fact, two of my favorite podcasts mention the book and have recently interviewed the author Gay Hendricks. I love this book as it has the reader consider four zones of thinking and acting with the greatest zone being our “Genius Zone”. The Big Leap supports the reader in how to tap into this zone and balance our true passion with success. I love the thought of educators reading this and tapping into their Genius Zone in classrooms and schools to positively influence students’ lives. This is a must read if you are ready to propel your life forward!
- I have read and reread this book. I have notes in the margins and have underlined countless passages. Early in my career as an educator, I worked tirelessly to the point of exhaustion which in fact put me in the hospital. I wish I had read The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success sooner as, “this book shatters the myth that success is the result of hard work, exacting plans, or driving ambition”. Had I read this earlier on, when I thought hard work and passion would be enough to guide my students to success, I could have been applying these seven principles to create success in my life in ways that would not have exhausted me. It is a quick and powerful read and when you apply it to your teaching practice, I guarantee your life will be transformed.
I read this book when I was already out of the classroom and was a new mom as well as serving as a leader of an education non-profit. This was one of those books I was able to apply to all facets of my life and couldn’t/ wouldn’t stop talking about. I love how Brene’ Brown describes The Gifts of Imperfection:
“This book is an invitation to join a wholehearted revolution. A small, quiet, grassroots movement that starts with each of us saying, ‘My story matters because I matter.’ Revolution might sound a little dramatic, but in this world, choosing authenticity and worthiness is an absolute act of resistance.”
As coach to educators, I preach authenticity and worthiness and absolutely love the 10 simple guides this book provides in order to live your life fully. I believe this is especially important for teachers when we not only have the day to day pressures of expectations coming at us from so many people but also allowing ourselves the space to be “us” in a world which sometimes feels we are expected to by all things to everyone!
- Might I just say, “ahhhhh’? I picked this book up as I was about to round the corner to my six month sober anniversary and it was life changing. Since reading this book I have in essence become a “Gabby Junkie”!
As teachers and educators, it is so easy to lose our way, become fearful, tired and often pessimistic. When you need to be uplifted (really every Gabby Bernstein book will do the trick) this book is my favorite as it helps confront fears and make way for happiness.
I believe this following praise encapsulates the power of this book best :
“For those ready to give up their addiction to suffering or who simply need to release the general malaise of a too-busy, too shallow way of life, Spirit Junkie is a soothing balm for the soul. Gabrielle Bernstein is a brilliant shining guide for all who seek to have more love, more light and more miracles in their life.” (Arielle Ford, author of The Soulmate Secret)
- I have found in my career as an educator, inclusive of my role as a teacher, teacher coach, and school board member, there is needless suffering in the world of education. Boy I wish I had had this book while teaching. Elizabeth Gilbert inspires us to espouse curiosity and to let go of the suffering we are too often consumed with. She even demonstrates the “how to” embrace what we love most and confront what we most fear. There is so much in here to support a better life. I cannot express to you how life changing this will be.
We all have “strange jewels” hidden within us and reading this book allows us to tap into gifts we bring to this world. It even allows you to think about this from the perspective of your students and how to support them in tapping into their “strange jewels”.
