Top Motivational Books and Inspiring Ideas

Today’s post is about top motivational books, a trek to Everest Base Camp in Nepal, and ideas that offer sparks of hope and energy when we’re feeling a little down.

Motivational Books

Sometimes we can all feel a little ‘bleuh’ about life. Sometimes we wake with little enthusiasm for the day ahead, even though we realise how lucky we are in the general scheme of things. 

For me, these are the times when I’m really happy to discover new motivational books and ideas offering hope and ‘aha’ moments that spark energy into my day.

I can’t admit to any great misery. I’m not a negative person. But there are days when I question the meaning of life.

As I get older though I do find my curiosity about life in general can wane, my excitement for things which I once found exciting can feel diminished, and my overall energy is definitely on the decline.

But we have to fight against inactivity, and we have to find ways to take us out of our comfort zones and into adventure – although I’m the first to admit that it often becomes quite wearisome.

“Been there done that,” my inner voice says as a snide remark.

“Ain’t got no time for that no more,” my joints tell me.

It’s a blasé frame of mind, and it’s often based on the notion that time is running out, and the questions is asked, so what’s wrong with a bit of wallowing in the comfort zone?

This week, as I was contemplating life the universe and everything in a philosophical way, two little sparks of joy landed in my stratosphere.

Inspirational Books for Women

I was having a coffee overlooking the ocean with a friend, Pamela Lynch, who showed me her newly penned memoir, which I subsequently bought.

I’d been bemoaning the fact that my own memoir still sits largely unwritten in note form in various faded handwritten journals, and in files on my computer which are hidden deep in the bowels of my Mac, when she produced the book from her handbag.

And there sat Pam smiling. Book in hand. Job done!

I was supremely impressed and also energised, especially as I began to read her book about trekking to Everest Base Camp in Nepal, and then being in Kathmandu when the catastrophic 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck in 2015.

Flicking through the pages I read a little about her take on some of the places she visited in Nepal – old names from my past leapt into view in technicolour after many years of faded sepia in my mind; places like the Kathmandu Valley, Lukla, Bhaktapur, Thamel and the Pilgrim Bookshop. I felt as if I was right there again – aged 31 with a 5 week old baby.

It was as if her book was a bow, and her words were arrows firing little sparks of energy at me.

Best Motivational Books

I realise now that the best motivational books do this.

They don’t overwhelm you with ideas, but they give you energy to take on new things. So many times I’ve had to put down a self-help book or article because it’s just made me feel more stuck.  It might have been long winded. It’s definitely hindered my thinking and put shackles on my thoughts rather than letting my mind expand to accept new ways of doing things.

Pam’s book is definitely one of the most inspirational books for women over 50. She celebrated her 60th birthday by challenging herself to climb to Everest Base Camp, and continues to defy the common perception that we should slow down as we reach retirement.

Last year she trekked along Hadrian’s Wall in England (yes there will be a book about that too) this year she’s trekking in the jungles of Sarawak with Borneo Ethical Adventures.

I can’t wait to read Pam’s book in full – as soon as I finish this blog post, in fact! It follows a 15 year journey of self discovery that would have repercussions she could never have imagined. I think Pam should be writing self help books for women too 🙂

You can buy it here if you’d like to read it …

How the Hell did I Get Here by Pamela Lynch

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Finding Your Spark

Then, just today, the universe gave me another little jolt, and I was lifted from my doldrums when I read an article about Finding your Spark .

It’s written by Darren Rowse, who many Australian bloggers have met, and know in real life from the ProBlogger conferences, and also online from Problogger and Digital Photography School.

His article related to a challenge, and the idea that there are many little Sparks of energy and joy happening in our days but we have to actively pay attention, and be intentional in seeking them out.

When you feel stuck in a life rut, and not really very joyful, the article said that you need to find opportunities for:

Curiosity, Creativity, Connection, and Contribution.

Darren says we should ask ourselves questions like:

• What’s the best thing that happened to me today?
• Who am I grateful for?
• What am I looking forward to tomorrow?
• What gave me energy today?
• What did I do to give other people energy?

I read on and was even more interested to read that someone so successful, who I really thought had life sussed and had it all going for them, had actually been struggling with self doubt and aimlessness too.

“In 2018 Darren Rowse found himself aimless and uninspired. He’d previously encountered this feeling twice before, and both times muddled his way through to re-discovering his zest for life. This time, however, he decided to be more intentional about finding his spark again. After some experimentation and reflection with others in the same boat, he identified five Cs that add up to a meaningful and engaged life.”

• Contemplation
• Curiosity
• Creativity
• Connection
• Contribution

Darren suggests that we should consider …

• daily reflection and contemplation
• setting intentions that lead to meaningful actions

Daily Reflection Sheets

Darren and co-author Kelly Exeter (below) have created some daily reflection sheets to help us set intentions around curiosity, creativity, connection and contribution.

You can find more inspiration from Kelly, and her own motivational books, on her blog Kelly Exeter.

You can request Darren and Kelly’s daily reflection sheets here.

If you too have lost your spark and want to shortcut the process towards rediscovering it, then Darren’s 90-day journal could be the perfect thing to take you on a journey that will uncover what’s meaningful in your life.

Find Your Spark 90-day Journal

Daily reflections and prompts to uncover what’s meaningful in your life by Darren Rowse and Kelly Exeter.

What gave you more personal energy today?

What did you do that gave someone else energy?

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