20 Reads to Embrace Your True Self and Nurture Self-Acceptance

Everyone has moments of doubt. If you suffer from negative thought patterns, you're not alone. Thankfully, there are myriad ways to overcome mental obstacles and set out on the path to self-acceptance. The following books contain a vast wealth of knowledge and wisdom to help you bloom into your best self.

Radical Acceptance by Tara Brach 

Perhaps one of the leading resources for self-acceptance comes from Tara Brach’s book, Radical Acceptance. Her transformative and compassionate approach will undoubtedly help you face your struggles head-on as you learn to weave mindfulness techniques into your life via ideas from Buddhist teachings as well as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) guidelines.

The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown

Brene Brown is a major your-de-force on the topic of self-acceptance, and while we could probably list her entire bibliography here, we’ll stick with just one. The Gifts of Imperfection dives into 10 main guiding points for living wholeheartedly with vulnerability, courage, worthiness, shame, and more—all while helping you understand that life is imperfect.

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Creativity meets curiosity in Big Magic, a book chock full of inspiring guidance on how to embrace your individuality, express your inner artist, and pursue your passions, all while staying authentic to who you are. Elizabeth Gilbert is well known for her fearless, free spirit and she certainly embodies this in Big Magic as well. Let your self-doubt melt away as you learn how to believe in yourself again.

Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra Glover Tawwad

Something many people struggle with is setting healthy boundaries. Tawwad masterfully walks you through the steps to break away from hustle culture and toxic relationships—and come back to yourself. Her motto is: “One of the best ways you can show love to yourself is to set boundaries.” This book will help you learn to say “no” to what doesn’t serve you, and “yes” to loving yourself.

You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay

Using the power of affirmations to help you get a grip on negative thought patterns, Louise Hay expertly offers some of the best spiritual self-help content available today. You Can Heal Your Life is a great tool to explore the connections between mind and body, encouraging you to do the inner work to successfully walk the path to self-acceptance.

UnF*ck Yourself by Gary John Bishop

If you’re looking for a straightforward, no-BS way to start loving and accepting yourself, John Bishop wrote the perfect book for you. UnF*ck Yourself will pull you out of your stagnant comfort zone with hard truths and launch you into an actionable process to break free from your self-doubt. Bishop often describes his style of self-help as “urban philosophy.”

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

The Happiness Project is a unique pursuit founded by Gretchen Rubin, one of the most popular voices in the self-help community. The ideas she presents in this book are rooted in cultivating happiness via self-awareness and gratitude practices. Rubin offers her own stories as well as plenty of research to back up her instructions as she guides you to make small changes in your life for maximum impact.

How to Change by Katy Milkman

Skillfully researched and backed by science, Milkman’s How To Change is injected with the keys to enacting change in your life in order to derive more pleasure out of your daily activities and accomplish your goals with a practical, solution-focused attitude. This book will transform the way you view yourself, from your tendency to procrastinate to your impulsivity to your habit of forgetfulness.

The Untethered Soul by Michael A. Singer

If you’re searching for a book with a more gentle, spiritual approach to healing your self-doubt, The Untethered Soul is for you. Singer expertly weaves the secrets to achieving happiness with intentional practices and techniques through the implementation of mindfulness and meditation. His teachings offer insight into how you can free yourself from limitations, develop your consciousness, let go of negative thoughts and live in peace.

The Body is Not an Apology by Sonya Renee Taylor

Sonya Renee Taylor, renowned activist and poet, brings ideas to the table that will challenge your views of your body, in all the best ways. In this book, Taylor covers tough subjects such as the societal origins of body shame, liberating yourself from self-criticism, and embracing the beauty of your body. As you release your preconceptions while applying radical self-love exercises, you will celebrate yourself in all your worthiness in no time.

The Self Love Experiment by Shannon Kaiser

Set off on a 30-day journey with Shannon Kaiser as she guides you through exercises for inner healing and self-discovery. The Self Love Experiment is the ideal book if you’re looking for an interactive way to take charge of your negative thought patterns and put yourself first. Kaiser’s personal accounts are deeply relatable and help readers identify with the tough parts of life while building their own roadmap to self-worth.

The Art of Letting Go by Damon Zahariares

Confront your long-held anger and resentment and embrace The Art of Letting Go. Zahariares offers up juicy details to assist you on your journey to overcoming emotional anguish. In this book, you will learn how to retrain your brain to start enjoying your life to the fullest, free from harmful self-talk and thought patterns. The strategies outlined in the book are an excellent route to self-acceptance.

Radical Self Love by Gala Darling

Living your dreams and chasing life’s magic are central themes highlighted in Radical Self Love. Drawing from her own experiences, Gala Darling offers helpful, uplifting tools and tricks for getting back on track in your life to learn how to live from the heart while pursuing all the parts of life that bring you happiness. This book is the key to rediscovering your enchanting inner spirit.

Self-Compassion by Kristen Neff

Complete with exercises to help you take action, Kristen Neff’s book, Self Compassion is a great tool to assist you in taking those first steps to overcoming your shame and fear. Fueled by the philosophy of being kind to yourself, this book tackles subjects such as abandoning self-esteem for self-compassion, embracing imperfections, and learning to be your own ideal friend. 

Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty

Having spent years of his life living as a monk, Jay Shetty has now returned to normal life and has proven himself as one of the dominant personalities in the realm of self-improvement. Think Like a Monk covers many different themes, from overthinking to comparison to fear, and much more. The wisdom Shetty brings to the table is remarkable as he weaves his experiences at the ancient ashram with real-life applications to the modern world.

Untamed by Glennon Doyle

Glennon Doyle rules the self-love scene with her truly unapologetic approach to reclaiming yourself, especially as a woman. Part riveting memoir and part self-improvement manifesto, Doyle ingeniously marries together the overcoming of life’s greatest struggles with inspiring stories and sound advice for authentic living. 

Be That Unicorn by Jenny Block

Jenny Block’s confident, empowering approach to self-acceptance comes at the crossroads of learning to live in your magic while also learning how to simply be yourself. Be That Unicorn is a book about facing life with a touch of the mystical, whether it’s making your bed in the morning or tackling your self-worth. As Block says: “Just keep prancing!” 

You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero

Inspiring and empowering, Jen Sincero is the perfect figure to help whip your confidence into shape. You Are a Badass is a book that crosses boundaries—offering comedic relief and plenty of personal anecdotes—to place you on the fearless path to accepting that you’re enough, that you’re worthy, and, above all: you’re a badass.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson

Mark Manson challenges the conventional with this book, helping you embrace a more refreshing perspective on gaining self-acceptance. This book is peppered with plenty of humor, mixed with poignant insights and teachings about prioritizing mental health. By following the steps in this book, you’ll be well on your way to redefining your purpose and living a more fulfilling life.

The Mountain is You by Brianna Wiest

Brianna Wiest, renowned inspirational self-help influencer, highlights the journey to transforming your self-sabotage into self-mastery. This book is an educational look at the who, what, when, where, why, and how of self-sabotage, guiding you to brave the unknown to reach your highest potential. The Mountain is You offers insightful tools to eliminate your old behaviors, excavate past traumas, and master climbing our personal mountains.

 20 Journal Prompts for Self-Discovery

• 20 Thought Provoking Questions for Journaling and Self-Discovery