There are only about a million things running through our minds as we leave summer behind and head into fall. Chief among them? Busier schedules.
You might be gearing up for Q4 at the office or on the prowl for a new role amid the September Surge. While you’re getting your priorities in order and running through a mental checklist of everything you need to do, self-doubt or overwhelm might begin to creep in.
Before you let those intrusive thoughts reach for the helm, take a minute to reconsider your fears and doubts. To get you started, we’ve compiled a list of five, recently published books to build your confidence. These titles offer strategies to help you break free from negative thought patterns and habits to pursue the success that lies just on the horizon.
5 books to build confidence this fall
1. It Will All Work Out: The Freedom of Letting Go
By Kevin Hart
Written by award-winning comedian and No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Kevin Hart, this short but sweet 44-page memoir tells its audience an inspirational story about how control issues can manifest and wreak havoc on one’s life.
In both our professional and personal lives, most of us are all too familiar with the tendency to micromanage every decision we make and the outcomes that occur. Hart coins this obstacle to happiness and fulfillment as the “Control Monster.” If left unchecked, this beast can quickly lead to stress buildup, alienation from friends and family and even avoidance of what we know we truly deserve: love and success.
2. The Mountain is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage into Self-Mastery
By Brianna Wiest
As we progress through life and hit the expected milestones—graduating from college, going to graduate school, securing our first job or starting our own company—many of us experience imposter syndrome: those nagging, unpleasant thoughts in your mind telling you that you aren’t good enough and that the only reason you’ve gotten this far is because of sheer luck.
International bestselling author Brianna Wiest addresses these tendencies to self-sabotage in this book—why we do it, when we do it—and how to stop doing it for good. She details a fresh and thought-provoking way for stepping out of our own way and fulfilling our highest potential: We need to build emotional intelligence to gain a better understanding of our brains and bodies before we face the external hardships of life.
3. Maybe You Should Give Up: 7 Ways to Get Out of Your Own Way and Take Control of Your Life
By Byron Morrison
Sometimes, it really feels like we are our own worst enemy. Byron Morrison, bestselling author and mindset performance coach, knows this feeling all too well. It began when he noticed and vowed to finally address a negative pattern involving self-doubt and self-sabotage. To create the life he wanted for himself, Morrison knew that there were certain habits he needed to give up, including comparison to others, living in the past and putting off his happiness. And it worked.
Over the past eight years, Morrison has worked with CEOs, entrepreneurs and business leaders around the world to help them reach their full potential. Through extensive research, he discovered there are seven mental barriers we struggle with. These barriers prevent us from taking the necessary actions to create the life we want. Maybe You Should Give Up will help you identify and break through these barriers in easy-to-follow steps as you reflect back on your own life experiences and tendencies.
4. Unstuck (For Women)
By Christy Holt
For those struggling with overthinking or negative thought patterns that interfere with your daily life and relationships with others, this debut book is for you. Personal development and happiness expert Christy Holt provides a practical yet fun guide towards happiness and empowerment for women.
As women, we often become accustomed to doing everything we can for others,mwhile also trying to fulfill the roles of mother, sister, partner or coworker. But when was the last time we allowed ourselves to feel seen and supported? This highly emotional burden can lead to burnout. This is unsustainable to our physical and mental health in the long run.
Holt takes a personalized approach to help you develop a toolbox of strategies to break free from living your day-to-day life in survival mode. She describes how to implement her Spiral Stopper Method in your own life to overcome negative self-talk and build your self-confidence.
5. The Neutral Advantage: How to Stop Being Negative, Stop Overthinking, Break the Habits of Negative Self-Talk, and Win Control of Your Life
By Mark W. Mayhew
In this unique and transformative self-help book, Mark W. Mayhew compiles extensive research, historical anecdotes and practical exercises to help guide you toward a more balanced mindset.
We often approach life in one of two extremes: either a negative or positive attitude. However, Mayhew turns this binary mindset on its head by introducing the power of neutral thinking. This type of thought process involves focusing on objective truth and facts, rather than allowing oneself to be led astray by personal biases and overthinking. He argues that negative thinking is destructive, while positive thinking will only get you so far.
Throughout this book, intended to build confidence, Mayhew includes eye-opening stories on the origins of negative thought patterns. He also shares inspiring anecdotes from individuals who achieved long-lasting changes in their life by following the steps outlined in The Neutral Advantage.
Photo by rudi_suardi/iStock.
Katy Cheng is a former editorial intern at SUCCESS magazine. She’s currently completing my undergraduate degree in psychology and neuroscience at a liberal arts college in the northeast. She wants to combine her interests by pursuing a career within the legal field to advocate for individuals and organizations and to create effective policy. In her free time, Katy enjoys listening to true crime podcasts, working out and spending time with family and friends.
