Recommended Books, Websites, and other Valuable Resources

Note: I will be updating this post as I become aware of resources that can aid you and me on our path towards inner peace and personal growth.

Books

The Wisdom of the Enneagram: The complete guide to psychological and spiritual growth for the nine personality types. By Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson.

A very dear and wise friend recommended this book to me.  At first I was skeptical when I read the name and took a look at the odd symbol on the cover, which was suggestive of some sort of strange cult or religion.  But once I dove into the book, it did not disappoint and I now consider it one of the most pivotal books I have ever read.  The Wisdom of the Enneagram is insightful and does not export any specific doctrine, but rather encourages personal development through the development of mindfulness and awareness by promoting self observation and understanding the deeper factors at play in our experiences.  This is the kind of book to keep by your nightstand and pull out whenever you feel anxious, vexed, or in a negative spiral.


Available on Amazon:
The Wisdom of the Enneagram: The Complete Guide to Psychological and Spiritual Growth for the Nine  Personality Types

The Power of Now; A guide to spiritual enlightenment. By Eckhart Tolle.

This book was recommended to me by my life coach who has helped me make amazing progress just in the past few weeks by helping me see myself and the world in a different way. The book did not disappoint and as an interesting sales point, not only has this book spent substantial time as a #1 New York Times Best Seller, but when Oprah delivered her commencement speech at Stanford University this past June, she bought every graduating senior a copy of the book and she made it a central theme in her speech.  At the core of the The Power of Now is the idea that we are not our mind and that we shouldn't believe everything we think.

Available on Amazon as a paper book or audio book set:

The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

The Power of Now Unabridged on 7 CDs in Box [Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment]

Tao Te Ching By Lao Tzu. New English Version, with Foreword and Notes, by Stephen Mitchell.

I stumbled on the Tao Te Ching in high school while I was doing a project on Asian philosophies and religions.  The Tao Te Ching (pronounced Daw Deh Jing) translates roughly into The Book of the Way.  The book has 81 chapters or sections that offer advice to reach spiritual enlightenment.  The Tao Te Ching goes hand-in-hand with the concept of "Wei Wu Wei," which, literally translated, means "doing nothing" or non-action.  However, the idea that you're supposed to literally do nothing and sit around all day with your thumbs in your ears is a gross misinterpretation of the true meaning of the words.  The true idea behind wei wu wei is to do things and achieve the right movement effortlessly without interference by the pernicious mind or the sense of conscious will.  I will also be using different chapters from the Tao Te Ching to discuss important ideas.

Available on Amazon:
Tao Te Ching Persona

The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Sourcebook: A guide to healing, recovery, and growth.  By Glenn R. Schiraldi, Ph.D.

This book was recommended to me by a survivor of childhood trauma who is now a clinical psychologist with a PhD.  She has a thriving practice and three children who she loves and nurtures with utmost empathy, care, and attention.  This book takes a very practical approach to treatment and makes for a very good self-help book. 

Available on Amazon:
The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Sourcebook: A Guide to Healing, Recovery, and Growth

Invisible Heroes: Survivors of Trauma and How They Heal.  By Belleruth Naparstek

This book was one of the first books that I read after my doctor diagnosed me with post traumatic stress disorder and depression.  It was a relief to read because at first I thought that I was going crazy, since terrible flashbacks would take hold of my body and the sense of pain, fear, and terror would completely unhinge me.  This book is a good place to start if you've just found out that you have PTSD because it offers an overview of the symptoms, a biological/chemical explanation of what your body is experiencing physically, and the reassurance that you're not alone and that other people have made full recoveries.  The latter chapters of the book focus on treatment techniques, in particular guided imagery, which is a form of powerful guided meditation.

Available on Amazon:
Invisible Heroes: Survivors of Trauma and How They Heal

 

Healing from Trauma; A Survivor's Guide to Understanding Your Symptoms and Reclaiming Your Life. By Jasmin Lee Cori

This book digs deep, so be aware of that before you dive in.  It includes chapter-by-chapter exercises to help you process your trauma.  I recommend that you find a professional to help you work through the chapters in this book.  Also, make sure you're in a safe place physically before starting work on this book, as it can bring up a lot of strong feelings. 

Available on Amazon:
Healing from Trauma: A Survivor's Guide to Understanding Your Symptoms and Reclaiming Your Life

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy. The Clinically Proven Drug-Free Treatment for Depression, By David D. Burns.

My therapist recommended this book to me because it focuses on treating the root issues surrounding depression.  Although drug therapy is indispensable in some cases, many doctors and some therapists jump to drug treatments too quickly, rather than doing the hard work to fundamentally change your life for the better.  Remember - you have to take an active role in your treatment and that means doing the spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical things that need to get done.  Drugs are ultimately a band aid that offer a numb sense of temporary relief, but they will not provide you with genuine joy.  Feeling Good helps you identify and understand your moods.  At the core of the book is the idea that feelings are not facts and that your emotions are a result of your thoughts.  This book is a good complement to The Power of Now because in The Power of Now, we are taught to not believe everything we think and that we are not our mind.  I know all of this sounds rather far-fetched, but if you invest yourself in your personal development and spiritual enlightenment then I know these words will soon resonate with you as well. 

Available on Amazon:
Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy

Websites

Health Journeys:Here you will find a collection of guided imagery audio recordings that can help you on your path to recovery.  To learn more about how guided imagery can help with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) then please refer to Belleruth Naparstek's book, Invisible Heroes (see details above).  If you are new to meditation, guided imagery can be a good stepping stone.  Most of the audio recordings come with a set of affirmations that are designed to help you develop positive thinking; these work best if you quiet your mind and block our negative thoughts and truly open up to the positive messages in the affirmations.  Since guided imagery and affirmations work on a subconscious level, they work particularly well when you listen to them right before you go to sleep.

Dealing with Depression: This site offers synthesized self-help and coping tips.  It's a really good place to start if you're suffering from mild depression or an extended low-mood.

HELPGUIDE:  This website provides a brief overview of PTSD symptoms treatment methods.

PTSD Forum Organization: This site includes a short assessment test to help you determine if you may have PTSD
Click here for the PTSD assessment test
 

Steve Pavlina's Blog: Personal Development for Smart People: Steve's blog has many interesting pieces. The home page provides a good intro as well as where to start reading his blog.

PTSD.org (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder): This site it not yet running, but I felt that it would be useful to keep an eye on it.  I will provide a more thorough review when they debut.