Every December, I like to reflect on my New Year’s resolutions and see how many I have achieved. While many of them are career-related, some of my goals also focus on the idea of mindful growth, or a more conscious form of personal development. I strive to celebrate my past, stay grounded in the present, and build my way toward a better, brighter future. 

As I reflect, I ask myself the following: 

• What did I learn about myself after facing a particular challenge? 
• How was I able to build resilience?
• How will my new or improved skills set me up for success next year?

I think it’s important to ponder these questions as we close out 2023. While there may have been unexpected setbacks or learning curves, there were also moments worth celebrating—and memorable experiences that continue to shape all of us for the better. 

Here, we explore three thought-provoking reads that can help map another chapter in our lives. 

Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? By Dr. Julie Smith

“...We have to focus on making good decisions, not perfect decisions. A good decision is one that moves you in the direction you want to go.”

Navigating mental health isn’t a walk in the park. It requires us to dive into raw vulnerability and sit in constant discomfort. Sometimes, the journey reveals unwanted truths we need to face to pave a better path. But it’s a necessary process if we want to nurture and become the best, most authentic versions of ourselves. 

Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before?  is a resource and toolkit for those who need help figuring out where to start. Dr. Julie Smith uses honest and easy-to-grasp language to make mental health concepts less daunting. Each chapter covers a relevant topic, like anxiety, lack of motivation, or low confidence, then provides insightful strategies to guide readers through their struggles. 

Dr. Smith properly introduces mental health without alienating her audience, using broad strokes to paint a bigger picture. Should anyone wish, they can choose to dive deeper into the science behind mental disorders or personal development—but this book is simply a gateway. 

What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo

"Every cell in my body is filled with the code of generations of trauma, of death, of birth, of migration, of history that I cannot understand…I want to have words for what my bones know."

With a successful, award-winning career and a supportive partner, Stephanie Foo seemed to have it all. But after being diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD), she knew that she needed to address her past to be able to move forward. 

Through insightful interviews with psychiatric experts and deeply personal anecdotes, Foo explores the complexities of generational trauma, racial identity, and where she belongs in the midst of it all. Though her book promises a happy ending, it doesn’t shy away from the messiness of trauma and its lasting impact on many of us. 

This memoir proves that our journeys don’t have to look perfect. As we approach 2024, highlighting our wins and milestones is undoubtedly important. However, unveiling our brokenness and giving it room to breathe allows us to be defined by resilience and hope rather than our circumstances. Vulnerability welcomes healing, which leads to transformation. 

Microjoys by Cyndie Spiegel 

“Rather than loudly proclaiming who we are and what we want in an effort to seek out happiness, microjoys simply ask us to notice what is squarely in front of us. To acknowledge and appreciate the mundane beauty of what is already here, in the present.”

Sometimes, when we’re too focused on investing in the future, we lose sight of our small joys in the present. Cyndie Spiegel introduces a new lens to consider: how can we discover the small glimpses of hope in our day-to-day to persevere through the storms that life throws at us? 

By no means does Spiegel invalidate our struggles and losses. If anything, her story demonstrates that she knows grief all too well. But in the trenches of hardship, she finds extraordinary will to reconnect with joy and stay anchored to it while sharing her tips with readers who might need the wisdom and support to find their way back to themselves. 

This book is for slow, contemplative reading. It challenges us to tap into the seemingly insignificant, and recognize that the things we dismiss in our daily lives might be what sets us up for success. 

Embark on your growth journey with CCWomen! 

Looking for more opportunities to pursue mindful growth? Created by women, for women and allies, CCWomen strives to elevate and empower everyone through meaningful community. Whether you prefer webinars, in-person summits, or virtual quarterly discussions like our Shelf Indulgence book club, we invite you to join us at the table and be a part of our ongoing story. 

Join our membership today to get started.