They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, but sometimes the title says a lot...
Over lunch with a colleague, who happens to be a therapist by profession, she mentioned how she sometimes employs book titles in supporting her clients. She shares the following examples of book title wisdom. However, she offers a disclaimer that she recommends the title not necessarily is she advocating that you add the book to your summer reading list.
Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabat-Zinn.
This book provides an introduction to the practice of mindfulness and truly being in our own skin each minute of each day. Fighting against the truth of this title keeps us distracted from our lives.
There is Nothing Wrong with You by Cheri Huber.
Here is a book about challenging all of the little internalized messages that say you have to change in order to be likeable, loveable, or worthy. The title sums it up nicely. You don't need to listen to these messages at all, and you can absolutely learn a different truth about yourself.
Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert.
Happiness is often closer than we expect ... but our ideas of what we think will make us happy often get in the way.
The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge.
This book is an interesting introduction to the idea of neuroplasticity, showing us that the structure of the brain itself can change in remarkable ways. There is very little that is "stuck" permanently!
Many Roads, One Journey by Charlotte Kasl.
While this book focuses on alternative paths to recovery from addiction, the title acknowledges that there are a wide range of ways each person could get to their goals. There is not only one "right" path.
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown.
The subtitle really captures it nicely: "Let go of who you think you're supposed to be and embrace who you are."
The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck.
There is something a bit clichéd about the title at this point, but the concept is still valid: there is a lot to be gained by charting our own course rather than trying to follow the herd.
The Missing Piece by Shel Silverstein.
This is book written and illustrated as if for children that still quite nicely describes the illusion many adults carry that they are "missing" something in themselves and need to find it elsewhere.
What book title could you add to our list?
Please post your title with a comment.
Rebecca Machado, the Executive Director of Daya Counselling Centre and Sister Nancy Wales, csj