Parenting from the Inside Out, by Daniel J. Siegel and Mary Hartzell
As someone who studied and practiced counseling, I’m familiar with the concept that our pasts shape who we are. The hurts and traumas of our past can trickle into our present in subtle, covert and blatant ways. I’ve surely been experiencing this in my own journey of parenthood. Something about becoming a parent often triggers memories of one’s own childhood. In this book, the authors emphasize the importance of parents tackling and working through their traumas, past and pain in order to have a deep understanding of themselves so that they can parent with compassion and understanding. There were large portions of the book that were scientific research on neurobiology or attachment theory (which honestly I skimmed through) but the overall take-away from the book was, until I understand myself, I won’t be in the best position to fully understand and embrace my child.
I personally enjoyed Daniel Siegel’s “The Whole-Brain Child” much more and would recommend it more but this book was on a topic I feel very strongly about.
Atomic Habits, by James Clear
This was one I listened to on Audible and I loved it! It has definitely been recommended by many influencers and I can see why. James Clear talks about how what sets the “extraordinary” apart from the “ordinary” is not in goal-setting but habits, how making tiny changes can have remarkable results. He uses many famous people in sports, entertainment, arts as examples and provides practical strategies on how to form good habits. The point I found most interesting was how the author said that habits can be thought of as layers: outcome-based habits, process-based habits and identity-based habits. The deepest and most significant changes occur when we adopt identity-based habits: rather than saying, “I want to lose weight” (outcome), or “I’m going to exercise 3-4 times a week to lose weight” (process), thinking and believing “I am an athlete, the type of person who exercises every day” is so much more profound. We often are stuck because of the core beliefs we hold about ourselves.
I feel like this may be one I will revisit in the future and definitely recommend you all to read it!
The Moment of Lift, by Melinda Gates
Hands down the best book I’ve read this year thus far. And dare I say life-changing.
Koreans often tell pregnant women to think happy thoughts, to eat pretty things… With that in mind, this book would not have been considered a “good choice” but I believe I was ordained to read it. I picked it up not knowing exactly what I was getting myself into and shortly after finding out we’re expecting a baby girl. Having gone to a women’s college (Go Smith!) and having studied at various graduate universities, I’ve grown a heart for cross-cultural studies and have become passionate about gender equality issues. So I thought I knew a thing or two, but I was so humbled by this book. I had my eyes opened to so much more.
At times, I was enraged all over again by the systemic injustice against women. At times, my heart broke hearing about the lives of brave women who shared their stories with Melinda Gates. At times, I became distraught at the thought of bringing a baby girl into a world that is so unfair to girls and women. But I was also filled with an immense sense of hope when I learned about what the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation does, their urgency to help women and children all over the world, their outpouring of resources to do anything and everything they can to help worldwide.
I’m always up for book recommendations so please leave any below in a comment!
