For many of us, curling up with a good book is our idea of heaven. Books are an escape FROM the world, and a bridge TO the world, all at the same time. We’re delighted to be working with The Book Centre to keep you informed on the best books to read for every mood and occasion, whether you want to stay more informed about current issues, feel more empowered as a woman, or just visit a world vastly different to your own. This article focuses on some of the most empowering books of the moment, and because our pals at The Book Centre are the soundest, they are giving you a chance to win a copy of all the books mentioned in this article! Keep an eye on our socials over the next few days to see how you can win them. But for now, it’s over to Amy…
Have you ever heard that little voice in your head saying you’re not good enough, or that nobody is listening to you so why bother talking? While we all have these niggly little inner monologues and sometimes it can be draining. We all want to be our very best selves, but sometimes we might just need a bit of a helping hand in order to really shine and slay our day. Below are a few books that might help you boost your confidence and get the most out of your teenage years (since they are the best days of your life as everyone older than you will annoyingly tell you). If you’ve ever felt anxious or been nervous to speak up in the classroom or social settings, read on to find a book that just may help.
First up we have Failosophy For Teens by Elizabeth Day. This book is great because it has loads of advice about how to deal with things when they go wrong. Not everything goes to plan for everyone at all times, and you know what? That’s okay. So what if we fail an exam, or fall flat on our faces on the street? It doesn’t define our whole lives but sometimes we need help with the emotions that these experiences bring out in us, particularly if we tend to be very hard on ourselves.
No Worries by Nicola Morgan guides us through what anxiety is and how we can deal with it on a day-to-day basis. Early on in the book she has a grid of different types of anxiety that guides us to the particular part of the book we might need. Whether it’s school stress or friendships causing you anxiety, this book has advice and coping mechanisms for all of it. This author also has another book called Positively Teenage which has lots of confidence-boosting tips not just associated with anxiety. She covers body image, setting ourselves goals and working towards them, among lots of other helpful tips and tricks. This one is my personal favourite as it is realistic not condescending at all.
Choose You! by Dr. Sharie Coombes is all about helping you be happier and more confident in your own abilities and decision-making. This is particularly fantastic if you’re always second guessing yourself whether you’re trying to decide what subjects to do in fifth year or what course to do in college. Especially as all your relatives will be asking you ‘What are you doing after school?!’ It can be very overwhelming trying to make these choices with opinions coming at you from all sides but this book will give you advice on how to be happy with your own decisions.
Lastly, How To Talk So People Will Listen by Lizzie Waterworth is a brilliant book if you experience social anxiety or shyness. This will give you all the tools to shout loud and proud and be heard but also how to have respect for others and their opinions. Whether it’s talking in class or even just speaking in groups of your peers, the author goes through lots of tips to help boost your confidence when speaking aloud in front of others. You have a voice and you deserve to be heard!
You may not want to read all of the books mentioned above, (and I mean, fair, I’m sure you have lots of homework) but even if you choose one that resonates with you the most it could make the world of difference to your life. Books can empower us in so many different ways. In this case, it is nice to get a little bit of good advice from some professionals so we can really understand our feelings and how our mind works, particularly on how to get through school, home life, and friendships with more confidence.
By Amy Devereux, The Book Centre
If any of the books caught your eye, they are available to purchase here.
