Category: Books

Today I am sharing 5 books that have inspired and encouraged me on my journey to live a full life without the busy.

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Here they are (in no particular order):

1. Breaking Busy: How to Find Peace and Purpose in a World of Crazy                by Alli Worthington

I shared this book in my Top 4 Reads of 2016. Not only is it a top read for 2016, but it is also one of my top inspiring books for moving beyond the busy and living a purposeful, meaningful life. Worthington shares details and insight from her story to help each of us break the busy in our own lives.

Wise words from the author: “Our lives have gotten so cluttered up with things we think we ‘should’ do, that we can’t figure out what we were meant to do.”

2. The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands   by Lysa Terkeurst
I was a huge fan of Lysa’s book Unglued, so I was excited when my sister shared The Best Yes with me. This book really encouraged me to consider my priorities and live a life that reflects them. It’s not always easy to say “no”, but sometimes you need to say “no” in order to say “yes”!

Wise words from the author: “A woman who lives with the stress of an overwhelmed schedule will often ache with the sadness of an underwhelmed soul.”

3. Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier and More Secure Kids                                                                          by Kim John Payne with Lisa Ross

This parenting book was like a breath of fresh air. I saw it sitting on the shelf in one of our local libraries, and I was immediately drawn to it. Our world screams “more”: buy more, have more, do more, but there is great power in “less”. This book explores and encourages a path that pursues “less”.

Wise words from the author: “Meaning hides in repetition: We do this every day or every week because it matters. We are connected by this thing we do together. We matter to one another. In the tapestry of childhood, what stands out is not the splashy, blow-out trip to Disneyland but the common threads that run throughout and repeat: the family dinners, nature walks, reading together at bedtime (with a hot water bottle at our feet on winter evenings), Saturday morning pancakes.”

4. Cleaning House: A Mom’s Twelve-Month Experiment to Rid Her House of Youth Entitlement                                                                                                                   by Kay Wills Wyma

One way to be just a little less busy is to not take care of everything ourselves. Sometimes we think it’s easier just to do all the tasks ourselves instead of asking our family to join in and share the work load. Wyma shares her 12 month journey to get her kids involved in and caring about life at home.

Wise words from the author: “Instead of communicating ‘I love you, so let me make life easy for you,’ I decided that my message needed to be something more along these lines: ‘I love you. I believe in you. I know what you’re capable of. So I’m going to make you work.’ ”

5. The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own                                                                                                                                                by Joshua Becker

This books was one of my Top Reads for 2016. Like Breaking Busy, I also must include this in my list of books that have encouraged and inspired me down the not so busy path. Becker shares his journey of becoming a minimalist and why and how we can begin living with less in order to have more.

Wise words from the author: “Our excessive possessions are not making us happy. Even worse, they are taking us away from the things that do. Once we let go of the things that don’t matter, we are free to pursue all the things that really do matter.”

I’m thankful for these 5 authors who have shared their stories so that others might be inspired and encouraged. Perhaps one of these books might do that for you as you takes steps towards living a full life without all the busy.

What about you? What books have inspired you recently? Share the titles in the comments below!

Until next time,

Charissa

(This post contains affiliate links, so thenotsobusymom receives a very small commission if you make a purchase through these links.)

 

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