Books That Inspired MeÂ
Curated reads that helped me grow, balance, and lead with purpose.
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Over the past few years, Iâve gone through some of the most uncertain and emotionally challenging times of my life.
During those momentsâwhen self-doubt was loud and the path forward felt unclearâbooks became more than just inspiration. They became lifelines.
Each book I share below played a role in helping me reconnect with my purpose, reframe my mindset, and rise stronger.
I hope these reads become a part of your journey tooâwhether youâre seeking balance, leadership, clarity, or simply a reminder that you are not alone.
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đ Start with Our Books â Stories of Balance, Creativity, and Growth
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Before I began curating tools and books that inspired me, I began writing my ownâand encouraging my daughters to do the same. Our personal bookshelf is filled with stories of balance, creativity, and intentional living.Â
đ Want to explore the books weâve written as a family?
From parenting and purpose to early childhood creativity, our collection reflects the journey behind The Purposeful Shelf.
 đ Affiliate Disclaimer & Kindle Note
Some of the links below are part of the Amazon Affiliate Program, which means I may earn a small commissionâat no extra cost to youâif you choose to make a purchase through them.
Whenever possible, Iâve included the Kindle version first, not just for its convenience and lower priceâbut because itâs also a great way to reduce paper use, save our trees, support our earth and support more sustainable readingâwhile still giving you faster, on-the-go access to the books that inspire growth and clarity.
Your support helps sustain our small business and allows us to continue creating tools, content, and community resources that empower families, professionals, and mindful creators to thrive with purpose.
Thank you for being here and walking this intentional path with me. đ
đ Section 1: Personal Growth & Mindset Shifts
These books helped me build resilience when I was overwhelmed. They reminded me that change starts with daily rituals, self-belief, and the decision to keep goingâeven when I couldnât see the end of the tunnel.
The High 5 Habit
Mel Robbins
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A mindset reset I turned to during burnout. This book helped me build self-trust with the simplest daily ritual.
The Power of One More
Ed Mylett
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Showed me how one more push, one more step, one more belief in myself could shift everything.
The Secret
Rhonda Byrne
Introduced me to mindset, manifestation, &Â the power of thoughts when everything felt out of control.
Think Like a Monk
Jay Shetty
Taught me how to center myself amid chaos, set boundaries with compassion, and lead with intention.
Atomic Habits
James Clear
Showed me how to create change by starting small and staying consistent.
The Mountain Is You
Brianna Wiest
Helped me understand self-sabotage and how to transform pain into power.
The Gifts of Imperfection
BrenĂŠ Brown
Taught me that courage and vulnerability can co-existâand are both necessary.
Present Over Perfect
Shauna Niequist
A gentle call to slow down and rediscover what truly matters.
The Light We Carry
Michelle Obama
A vulnerable &Â powerful continuation of Becoming that reminded me we all carry tools for resilience inside us.
The 5 AM Club
Robin Sharma
Inspired me to reclaim mornings for clarity, peace, and productivity.
đ Section 2: Leadership, Purpose & Career Realignment
For when you're leading, reinventing, or growing something bigger
Start Then Optimize
Tim Madden
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A no-fluff blueprint that showed me how to take imperfect action and build momentum with clarity.
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The Fearless Executive
Kristina Madden
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Helped me tap into executive-level thinking while staying heart-centered in leadership.
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The Moment of Lift
Melinda Gates
A powerful look at how empowering women uplifts communitiesâand why leadership rooted in compassion matters.
The Last Lecture
Randy Pausch
A profound reminder to live boldly, love deeply, and lead with legacy in mindâeven when time is limited.
Start With Why
Simon Sinek
Helped me connect my career direction to something deeper.
Deep Work
Cal Newport
The book that helped me eliminate noise and build focused, meaningful work time.
Empower Your Leadership
Dr. Amin Sanaia
This book gave me actionable insights into leading with integrity, purpose, and emotional intelligence.
How to Get Paid for What Youâre Worth
Graham Cochrane
A wake-up call for service-based entrepreneurs and creatives. It helped me understand the value of my knowledge.
The Leader Who Had No Title
Robin Sharma
A lesson in leadership from the inside outâregardless of job title.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Stephen Covey
A timeless reminder to lead from values and purpose.Â
Leading Change
John P. Kotter
A practical and visionary roadmap for driving organizational change with clarity and momentum.
The Heart of Change
John P. Kotter
Grounded in real stories, this book helped me understand the emotional side of change management and how to move people with purpose.
đ Thanks for Exploring The Purposeful Shelf
Every product and book listed here is something Iâve personally used, loved, or learned from. My goal is to help busy professionals, parents, and creators find tools that support intentional livingâwithout overwhelm.
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