--- title: Books for Becoming Your Best Self description: Discover a collection of encouraging reads for your journey to embrace your inner brilliance and flourish into your truest self.  image: https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/hubfs/Broadleaf%20Books/Fall_2024/Blog_Assets/BL_PersonalGrowth_F24_BlogBanner.jpg --- [![BL_logo_4c_horz_lg](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BL/Logos/BL_logo_4c_horz_lg.jpg?width=290&height=52&name=BL_logo_4c_horz_lg.jpg "BL_logo_4c_horz_lg")](https://www.broadleafbooks.com) - [Excerpts](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/tag/excerpt) - [Interviews](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/tag/interviews) - [Op-Eds](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/tag/op-ed) - [Resources](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/tag/resources) - [Shop Now](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/search/allproducts) ## [Books for Becoming Your Best Self](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/becoming-your-best-self) Sep 21, 2024 2:32:00 PM / by [Broadleaf Books](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/author/broadleaf-books) [![BL_PersonalGrowth_F24_BlogBanner](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Broadleaf%20Books/Fall_2024/Blog_Assets/BL_PersonalGrowth_F24_BlogBanner.jpg?width=684&height=400&name=BL_PersonalGrowth_F24_BlogBanner.jpg)](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/category/287153/Personal-Growth) There's no better time than the present to consider all of the ways you want to grow and change, physically, intellectually, and emotionally. Through wisdom, practical advice, and personal reflections, the books below provide motivation and encouragement for your journey to embrace your inner brilliance and flourish into your truest self.  Scroll for the books or click the topics below to jump to that section. [Books That Offer Inspiration](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/becoming-your-best-self#inspiration) [Wisdom from Black Women](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/becoming-your-best-self#wisdom) [Books about Emotion Management](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/becoming-your-best-self#emotion) [Books to Encourage Spiritual Growth](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/becoming-your-best-self#spiritual)   Books That Offer Inspiration [![BL_TheJoyDocument_Cover_9798889830726c](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Broadleaf%20Books/Fall_2024/Covers/BL_TheJoyDocument_Cover_9798889830726c.jpg?width=200&height=309&name=BL_TheJoyDocument_Cover_9798889830726c.jpg)](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9798889830726/The-Joy-Document) [The Joy Document](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9798889830726/The-Joy-Document) [Creating a Midlife of Surprise and Delight](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9798889830726/The-Joy-Document) [Jennifer McGaha](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/author/8786/Jennifer-McGaha) Publication date: November 19, 2024 Once you begin looking for joy, you can find it pretty much anywhere. In Jennifer McGaha's fifty-fifth year, she began to take note of simple, everyday things that struck her as beautiful or humorous or intriguing and kept a list of all the accomplishments, large and small, that actually mattered to her. These observations became her Joy Document, a radical act of reclaiming joy and an exercise in paying attention. Full of wit, heart, and reflective questions to help readers create their own joy documents, *The Joy Document* is a welcome companion for midlife transformation.  [Shop Now](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9798889830726/The-Joy-Document)   [![BL_MidwinterLight_Cover_9781506485171c](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Broadleaf%20Books/Fall_2024/Covers/BL_MidwinterLight_Cover_9781506485171c.jpg?width=200&height=273&name=BL_MidwinterLight_Cover_9781506485171c.jpg)](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506485171/Midwinter-Light) [Midwinter Light](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506485171/Midwinter-Light) [Meditations for the Long Season](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506485171/Midwinter-Light) [Marilyn McEntyre](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/author/7467/Marilyn-McEntyre) Publication date: October 8, 2024 Winter is quieter than other seasons, sometimes lonelier, and it opens us to pay attention. Award-winning writer Marilyn McEntyre invites us into winter—when stars assume heightened significance and the ambient quiet of snowscapes (or fogscapes or rainscapes) stills us. In poems and life-affirming reflections on freedom, growth, quietude, and keenly felt hope, we learn to live in simple contentment. Without being saccharine, *Midwinter Light* guides us to seek and find what we need, right where we are. [Shop Now](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506485171/Midwinter-Light)   [![BL_WhatToWearAndWhy_Cover_9781506497006c](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Broadleaf%20Books/Fall_2024/Covers/BL_WhatToWearAndWhy_Cover_9781506497006c.png?width=200&height=299&name=BL_WhatToWearAndWhy_Cover_9781506497006c.png)](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506497006/What-to-Wear-and-Why) [What to Wear and Why](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506497006/What-to-Wear-and-Why) [Your Guilt-Free Guide to Sustainable Fashion](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506497006/What-to-Wear-and-Why) [Tiffanie Darke](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/author/8789/Tiffanie-Darke) Publication date: September 3, 2024 It's time to rethink what clothes we buy, wear, and toss out, knowing that we can have a positive environmental impact while still looking good and dressing well. As consumers, we have the power to make a difference with the clothing choices we make. In *What to Wear and Why*, top fashion writer turned sustainability activist Tiffanie Darke sheds light on the unsustainable practices and immense environmental impact of the fashion industry and presents a compelling argument for why transformative change is urgently needed. [Shop Now](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506497006/What-to-Wear-and-Why)   [![BL_TheWomanTheyWanted_Cover_9781506483160c](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Broadleaf%20Books/Fall_2023/Covers/BL_TheWomanTheyWanted_Cover_9781506483160c.jpg?width=200&height=309&name=BL_TheWomanTheyWanted_Cover_9781506483160c.jpg)](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506483160/The-Woman-They-Wanted) [The Woman They Wanted](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506483160/The-Woman-They-Wanted) [Shattering the Illusion of the Good Christian Wife](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506483160/The-Woman-They-Wanted) [Shannon Harris](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/author/8527/Shannon-Harris) Publication date: August 29, 2023 Nothing in Shannon Harris's secular upbringing prepared her to enter the world of conservative Christianity. Soon her husband's bestselling book *I Kissed Dating Goodbye* helped inspire a national purity movement, and Shannon's identity became "pastor's wife." *The Woman They Wanted* recounts the remarkable story of her courtship with Joshua Harris, her grappling with conservative Christianity's patriarchy and narrow definition of womanhood, and her journey to break free and reclaim a more authentic version of herself.    [Shop Now](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506483160/The-Woman-They-Wanted)   [![BL_TheWorkIsTheWork_Cover_9781506493374c](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Broadleaf%20Books/Spring_2024/Covers/BL_TheWorkIsTheWork_Cover_9781506493374c.jpeg?width=200&height=309&name=BL_TheWorkIsTheWork_Cover_9781506493374c.jpeg)](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506493374/The-Work-Is-the-Work) [The Work Is the Work](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506493374/The-Work-Is-the-Work) [Letters to a Future Activist](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506493374/The-Work-Is-the-Work) [Brian C. Johnson](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/author/8000/Brian-C-Johnson) Publication date: May 7, 2024 In a series of tender narrative essays written to his daughter, activist and author Brian C. Johnson shares what he's learned from his struggles, victories, and defeats over twenty-five years of advocacy work. *The Work Is the Work* is an inspiring collection of field notes that is perfect for new or seasoned activists who want to lead well in the work for transformational change. [Shop Now](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506493374/The-Work-Is-the-Work)   [![BL_TheArtistsJoy_Cover](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Broadleaf%20Books/Spring_2024/Covers/BL_TheArtistsJoy_Cover.png?width=200&height=309&name=BL_TheArtistsJoy_Cover.png)](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506497242/The-Artists-Joy) [The Artist's Joy](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506497242/The-Artists-Joy) [A Guide to Getting Unstuck, Embracing Imperfection, and Loving Your Creative Life](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506497242/The-Artists-Joy) [Merideth Hite Estevez](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/author/8677/Merideth-Hite-Estevez) Publication date: June 25, 2024 Whether you're a dabbler, a career creative, or a self-proclaimed tortured artist, *The Artist's Joy* is for you. Professional oboist and creativity coach Dr. Merideth Hite Estevez guides artists in all levels and disciplines to build a creative life that resonates deeply with their core values. Complete with practical guides and companion playlist. [Shop Now](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506497242/The-Artists-Joy)   [Back to Top](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/becoming-your-best-self)   Wisdom from Black Women [![BL_TheLoveHabit_Cover_9781506496740c](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Broadleaf%20Books/Fall_2024/Covers/BL_TheLoveHabit_Cover_9781506496740c.png?width=200&height=308&name=BL_TheLoveHabit_Cover_9781506496740c.png)](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506496740/The-Love-Habit) [The Love Habit](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506496740/The-Love-Habit) [Daily Self-Care Practices for a Happier Life and Healthier Relationships](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506496740/The-Love-Habit) [Rainie Howard](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/author/8787/Rainie-Howard) Publication date: September 10, 2024 Explore how your self-image and daily habits shape your relationships with others in *The Love Habit* (LOVE: Learn, Optimize, Validate, Experience). Bestselling author and relationship expert Rainie Howard says you have the power to break free of unhealthy cycles and to blossom into the best version of yourself. *The Love Habit *shows you how through chapters offering insights on embracing a love-based approach to your habits. [Read an excerpt here.](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/personality-pain-or-positivity) [Shop Now](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506496740/The-Love-Habit)   [![BL_RadiantRebellion_Cover_Final_9781506487632c](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Broadleaf%20Books/Fall_2023/Covers/BL_RadiantRebellion_Cover_Final_9781506487632c.jpeg?width=200&height=309&name=BL_RadiantRebellion_Cover_Final_9781506487632c.jpeg)](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506487632/Radiant-Rebellion) [Radiant Rebellion](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506487632/Radiant-Rebellion) [Reclaim Aging, Practice Joy, and Raise a Little Hell](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506487632/Radiant-Rebellion) [Karen Walrond](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/author/7996/Karen-Walrond) Publication date: October 17, 2023 Join Karen Walrond in this intriguing investigation into how we can reclaim aging, cultivate joy, and resist ageism. In *Radiant Rebellion*, Walrond helps us radiantly rebel against the fads and assumptions that hold us back, redefine the adventure of getting older, and create a shining future of expanded potential. We might even raise a little hell while we're at it! [Read an excerpt here.](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/ditch-the-dye-and-reclaim-aging) [Shop Now](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506487632/Radiant-Rebellion)   [![BL The Lightmakers Manifesto final](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Broadleaf%20Books/2021/Fall_2021/Covers/BL%20The%20Lightmakers%20Manifesto%20final.jpg?width=200&height=304&name=BL%20The%20Lightmakers%20Manifesto%20final.jpg)](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506469942/The-Lightmakers-Manifesto) [The Lightmaker's Manifesto](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506469942/The-Lightmakers-Manifesto) [How to Work for Change without Losing Your Joy](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506469942/The-Lightmakers-Manifesto) [Karen Walrond](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/author/7996/Karen-Walrond) Publication date: November 2, 2021 Many of us want to advocate for causes we care about—but which ones? We want to work for change—but will the emotional toll lead to burnout? In *The Lightmaker's Manifesto*, activist Karen Walrond shares strategies to help you define the actions that bring you joy, identify the values and causes about which you are passionate, and put them together to create change.  [Read an excerpt here.](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/values-light-our-way-a-conversation-with-brene-brown) [Shop Now](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506469942/The-Lightmakers-Manifesto)   [![BL_Agorom_9781506478968_TheEnneagramForBlackLiberation_Cover](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Broadleaf%20Books/Spring_2022/Covers/BL_Agorom_9781506478968_TheEnneagramForBlackLiberation_Cover.jpg?width=200&height=308&name=BL_Agorom_9781506478968_TheEnneagramForBlackLiberation_Cover.jpg)](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9798889833048/The-Enneagram-for-Black-Liberation) [The Enneagram for Black Liberation](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9798889833048/The-Enneagram-for-Black-Liberation) [Return to Who You Are Beneath the Armor You Carry](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9798889833048/The-Enneagram-for-Black-Liberation) [Chichi Agorom](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/author/8141/Chichi-Agorom) Publication date: August 20, 2024 For too long, conversations about the Enneagram and its personality types have been centered on and by whiteness. In *The Enneagram for Black Liberation*, certified Enneagram teacher and trained psychotherapist Chichi Agorom reclaims the Enneagram as a powerful tool for Black women to rediscover our wholeness and worth, and invites each of us to claim the Enneagram as our tool for resilience-building in the continued fight for liberation. This paperback edition includes a new guide to practicing freedom. [Shop Now](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9798889833048/The-Enneagram-for-Black-Liberation)   [![BL_MyDivineNaturalHair_Cover_9781506494012c](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Broadleaf%20Books/Spring_2024/Covers/BL_MyDivineNaturalHair_Cover_9781506494012c.jpeg?width=200&height=276&name=BL_MyDivineNaturalHair_Cover_9781506494012c.jpeg)](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506494012/My-Divine-Natural-Hair) [My Divine Natural Hair](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506494012/My-Divine-Natural-Hair) [Inspiration & Tips to Love & Care for Your Crown](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506494012/My-Divine-Natural-Hair) [Shelia Burlock,](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/author/8669/Shelia-Burlock) [Sylvia Burlock,](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/author/8670/Sylvia-Burlock) [Melissa Burlock](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/author/8668/Melissa-Burlock) Publication date: March 26, 2024 Learn how to love and care for your natural hair spiritually and practically. Uplifting and authentic, *My Divine Natural Hair* helps Black women embrace the God-created beauty of natural hair through inspirational readings and salon chair guidance on how to heal, consistently care for, and grow their coils. [Shop Now](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506494012/My-Divine-Natural-Hair)   [Back to Top](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/becoming-your-best-self)   Books about Emotion Management [![BL_TheRiseOfRage_Cover](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Broadleaf%20Books/Spring_2024/Covers/BL_TheRiseOfRage_Cover.png?width=200&height=308&name=BL_TheRiseOfRage_Cover.png)](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506492353/The-Rise-of-Rage) [The Rise of Rage](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506492353/The-Rise-of-Rage) [Harnessing the Most Misunderstood Emotion](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506492353/The-Rise-of-Rage) [Julie A. Christiansen](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/author/8674/Julie-A-Christiansen) Publication date: February 13, 2024 Of all the human emotions, anger is probably the most misunderstood. Across the centuries, rage has shown that anger can be a catalyst for change; it can also be a tool employed in fear by those resisting reform or trying to quell protests or advancements by other people. *The Rise of Rage* explores the nature of anger and walks us through a ten-step process to effectively and safely resolve our angry feelings, helping to free us from this much-misunderstood emotion.  [Shop Now](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506492353/The-Rise-of-Rage)   [![BL_ItsNotAboutTheWine_Cover_9781506486758c](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Broadleaf%20Books/Fall_2023/Covers/BL_ItsNotAboutTheWine_Cover_9781506486758c.jpg?width=200&height=308&name=BL_ItsNotAboutTheWine_Cover_9781506486758c.jpg)](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506486758/Its-Not-about-the-Wine) [It's Not about the Wine](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506486758/Its-Not-about-the-Wine) [The Loaded Truth behind Mommy Wine Culture](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506486758/Its-Not-about-the-Wine) [Celeste Yvonne](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/author/8518/Celeste-Yvonne) Publication date: September 12, 2023 Alcohol isn't going to fix the systemic lack of support for mothers. Mommy Wine Culture is a symptom of a larger issue: the mental load of motherhood and a systemic lack of support for moms. Mixing research, cultural references, interviews, and the author's sobriety story, *It's Not about the Wine* reveals what's really plaguing mothers and offers tangible tips for evaluating your relationship to alcohol and lightening your load. [Read an excerpt here.](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/enough-with-the-mommy-wine-jokes) [Shop Now](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506486758/Its-Not-about-the-Wine)   [![BL_Feliciano_9781506480411_ThisBookWontMakeYouHappy_Cover](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Broadleaf%20Books/Spring_2022/Covers/BL_Feliciano_9781506480411_ThisBookWontMakeYouHappy_Cover.jpg?width=200&height=304&name=BL_Feliciano_9781506480411_ThisBookWontMakeYouHappy_Cover.jpg)](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506480411/This-Book-Won-t-Make-You-Happy) [This Book Won't Make You Happy](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506480411/This-Book-Won-t-Make-You-Happy) [Eight Keys to Finding True Contentment](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506480411/This-Book-Won-t-Make-You-Happy) [Niro Feliciano](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/author/8139/Niro-Feliciano) Publication date: April 5, 2022 Happiness is fleeting. And what if you don't even need it to live a life of peace and purpose? In *This Book Won't Make You Happy*, therapist Niro Feliciano offers a path to something much more achievable and abundantly more satisfying: contentment. By incorporating eight simple postures rooted in cognitive behavioral science and mindfulness practices into our daily routines, we can move away from anxiety and toward balance and calm.  [Read an excerpt here.](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/find-balance-amid-the-hustle) [Shop Now](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506480411/This-Book-Won-t-Make-You-Happy)   [Back to Top](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/becoming-your-best-self)   Books to Encourage Spiritual Growth [![BL_JourneyToEloheh_Cover_9781506496979c](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Broadleaf%20Books/Fall_2024/Covers/BL_JourneyToEloheh_Cover_9781506496979c.jpg?width=200&height=311&name=BL_JourneyToEloheh_Cover_9781506496979c.jpg)](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506496979/Journey-to-Eloheh) [Journey to Eloheh](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506496979/Journey-to-Eloheh) [How Indigenous Values Lead Us to Harmony and Well-Being](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506496979/Journey-to-Eloheh) [Randy Woodley, ](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/author/7714/Randy-Woodley)[Edith Woodley](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/author/8782/Edith-Woodley) Publication date: October 8, 2024 The pursuit of happiness, as defined by settlers and enshrined in the American Dream, has brought us to the brink: emotionally, spiritually, socially, and as a species. But Indigenous people carry forward the values that humans need to survive and thrive. Rooted in ten Indigenous values, *Journey to Eloheh* helps us learn lifeways that lead to true wholeness, well-being, justice, and harmony. [Read an excerpt here.](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/indigenous-understanding-of-well-being) [Shop Now](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506496979/Journey-to-Eloheh)   [![BL_WhatMakesYouBloom_Cover_9781506493589c](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Broadleaf%20Books/Spring_2024/Covers/BL_WhatMakesYouBloom_Cover_9781506493589c.jpeg?width=200&height=309&name=BL_WhatMakesYouBloom_Cover_9781506493589c.jpeg)](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506493589/What-Makes-You-Bloom) [What Makes You Bloom](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506493589/What-Makes-You-Bloom) [Cultivating a Practice for Connecting with Your Divine Self](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506493589/What-Makes-You-Bloom) [Kevin Miguel Garcia](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/author/8679/Kevin-Miguel-Garcia) Publication date: January 9, 2024 So many of us are leaving conservative faith traditions behind, rightly saying goodbye to toxic theology, bigotry, and harm. With wit and practical guidance, *What Makes You Bloom* helps us create a new spiritual practice after our faith has fallen apart. Spiritual coach Kevin Miguel Garcia shows us how we can connect with the Divine already inside us and cultivate meaningful spiritual practices that help us heal from the past, tap into the present, and imagine a delicious future. [Shop Now](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506493589/What-Makes-You-Bloom)   [![BL_PracticeThePause_Cover_9781506483078](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Broadleaf%20Books/Spring%202023/Covers/BL_PracticeThePause_Cover_9781506483078.jpg?width=200&height=309&name=BL_PracticeThePause_Cover_9781506483078.jpg)](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506483078/Practice-the-Pause) [Practice the Pause](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506483078/Practice-the-Pause) [Jesus' Contemplative Practice, New Brain Science, and What It Means to Be Fully Human](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506483078/Practice-the-Pause) [Caroline Oakes](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/author/8409/Caroline-Oakes) Publication date: January 24, 2023 These days, many of us live in a state of overreactive fight-or-flight response and chronic stress. But new developments in brain science have recently proven that an intentional practice of pausing for a few minutes actually *rewires* our brain in ways that make us calmer, less reactive, and better able to see the bigger picture. In *Practice the Pause, *spiritual director and writer Caroline Oakes explores how a seven-second pause practice can move us beyond the fight-or-flight responses of our ego in our daily lives and actually equip us to cultivate the common good in the world. [Shop Now](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506483078/Practice-the-Pause)   [![beyond shame](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Broadleaf%20Books/Backlist/2020/Spring_2020/Book_Covers/beyond%20shame.jpg?width=200&height=309&name=beyond%20shame.jpg)](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506455662/Beyond-Shame) [Beyond Shame](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506455662/Beyond-Shame) [Creating a Healthy Sex Life on Your Own Terms](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506455662/Beyond-Shame) [Matthias Roberts](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/author/7162/Matthias-Roberts) Publication date: January 7, 2020 We all carry sexual shame. Whether we grew up in the repressive purity culture of American Evangelical Christianity or not, we've all been taught in subtle and not-so-subtle ways that sex (outside of very specific contexts) is taboo. Psychotherapist Matthias Roberts helps readers define their sexual values on their own terms, overcome their shame, and start having great, healthy sex. [Read an excerpt here.](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/a-paradox-sex-is-healthy-and-risky) [Shop Now](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506455662/Beyond-Shame)   [Back to Top](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/becoming-your-best-self)   To view all of our books and resources, visit [broadleafbooks.com](https://www.broadleafbooks.com/). - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Topics: [Resources](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/topic/resources) ![Broadleaf Books](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/BL_Logo_Spine.jpg?width=100&height=100&name=BL_Logo_Spine.jpg) #### Written by [Broadleaf Books](https://blog.broadleafbooks.com/author/broadleaf-books) ### Searching for more inspiration? Join our community on social media! 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