Knowledge
is Power.
Self awareness and clarity enable you to use it well.
What we focus on matters. This also goes for what we consume—what we read becomes a part of who we are and shapes how we view ourselves, and the world around us. But not all of what we expose ourselves (or are forced to take in, for that matter) supports us in beneficial ways. Sure, it’s important to let our hair down and to play and enjoy, and that includes the media we read, listen to, and watch. And heck, the occasional indulgence in a gripping novel or some uplifting social media (#dogvideos anyone?) is just plain good for the soul.
But when it comes to our personal grounding and evolution, the guidance and knowledge we seek will inform the shape and trajectory of our path—we must be selective and intentional.
So here are a few of the things that have brought me a great deal of clarity and have helped me to expand my self awareness.
ENJOY!
What I’m Reading.
Lighter - Yung Pueblo
Lighter: Let go of the past, connect with the present, expand the future, explores the process of emotional healing and the intentional release of unresolved burdens as a foundation for personal growth and healthier relationships. Prose and poetry are paired with powerful reflection questions to offer a framework for developing self-aware-ness, emotional maturity, and greater psychological resilience.
Primal Leadership - Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis, Annie McKee
A must read for anyone currently leading others or aspiring to be in a leadership position. Primal Leadership argues that a leader’s primary responsibility is to create & sustain a positive climate for others, thereby enabling performance and engagement. Drawing on emotional intelligence research, the authors explain how resonant leadership fosters trust, collaboration, and organizational success.
Emotional Intelligence 2.0 - Dr. Travis Bradberry, Dr. Jean Greaves
Emotional Intelligence 2.0 outlines the core components of emotional intelligence—self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management—and explains their impact on performance and leadership effectiveness. It provides practical, research-based strategies and assessment tools to help strengthen these competencies in professional and personal contexts.
The Gap and The Gain - Dan Sullivan, Dr. Benjamin Hardy
For all the over-achievers among us! The Gap and the Gain explains how measuring your progress against your past self (“the gain”) leads to confidence and happiness, while measuring yourself against an ideal or others (“the gap”) creates frustration and dissatisfaction. The book teaches a mindset shift to focus on growth, achievement, and how far you’ve come instead of how far you still have to go.
The Gift of Work - Tarthang Tulku
The Gift of Work presents work as a path for personal growth, mind-fulness, and spiritual development rather than merely a means of earning a living. It offers practical reflections on transforming everyday professional tasks into opportunities for greater awareness, purpose, and fulfillment. The author is a Tibetan Buddhist teacher, author, and founder of several organizations dedicated to preserving Tibetan culture and integrating Buddhist principles into modern life.
Permission to Feel - Dr. Marc Brackett
Permission to Feel explores the critical role emotions play in decision-making, relationships, performance, and overall well-being. It introduces incredibly powerful research-based strategies—particularly the RULER framework—to help individuals recognize, understand, label, express, and regulate emotions effectively.
Dealing with Feeling - Dr. Marc Brackett
Dealing with Feeling, Dr. Brackett’s second book, explores how emotions influence behavior, decision-making, and relationships, emphasizing the importance of emotional literacy. It provides practical strategies to help individuals recognize, understand, and manage their emotions effectively in both personal and professional settings.
Inward - Yung Pueblo
One of my absolute personal favorites!!! Inward presents a reflective exploration of emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and personal accountability as foundations for growth. Through concise prose and poetry, it emphasizes the importance of internal clarity and self-regulation in building healthier relationships and making more intentional decisions.
The Complete Enneagram - Dr. Beatrice Chestnut
The Complete Enneagram: 27 Paths to Greater Self-Knowledge is a comprehensive guide to understanding the Enneagram personality system, focusing heavily on the 27 distinct subtypes. It offers in-depth descriptions of the nine types, examining how their core patterns shape behavior, relationships, and personal growth, aiming to help readers identify blindspots.
The Wild Edge of Sorrow - Francis Weller
A much needed book for our times in my opinion. The Wild Edge of Sorrow emphasizes the transformative power of grief, showing how fully acknowledging and processing loss can enhance emotional resilience, empathy, and relational depth. It offers practical and reflective guidance for integrating sorrow into personal growth and professional leadership, fostering authenticity and stronger connections in both personal and communal contexts.