You Are What You Read (IWD Edition)

“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” - Jane Goodall

I was an avid reader when I was younger. I would discover multiple genres, delve into various universes, and question every concept. But through time, life became busier and I read less for enjoyment and more for necessity. Last year, I decided to change that by listening to audiobooks. I was easily able to integrate books back into my life- while commuting, working out, running errands, etc. That slowly reintroduced me to reading physical books as a way to relax my mind. So in honor of Women's History Month, I want to share and reflect on some lessons I learned from these books by some of the most powerful women I know. I strongly believe that you are what you read, and these takeaways have shaped the way I look at the world and at myself. These lessons inspire me to step back to observe what role I play in society and give me ideas and tools to influence others. I plan to keep reading/listening, and I hope you get to delve into the worlds of these books as well!

Stay curious

Educated by Tara Westover

Educated is a memoir which explores Tara Westover's journey from her childhood into adulthood. Tara was the youngest of seven children, grew up in rural Idaho, and was not allowed to go to school or even the doctor. She broke that precedent and started to educate herself at the age of 17. Tara kept learning, and eventually obtained a Ph.D. from Cambridge University. Her transformational journey from the United States to the United Kingdom is what makes this book intriguing. Her father, no matter how non-mainstream his beliefs were, showed her that she can teach herself anything- and that is what Tara fully embodied. Education was what gave her that freedom- she always stayed curious, allowing her to explore vast realms, blast through limiting beliefs, and open a world of possibilities.

As we grow older, we stop asking why, we don't explore outside of our fields. That hinders our ability to grow even more as a person. Curious people always ask questions and then search for the answers through trying new things, hence their minds are always active. It is very important to be open to different and new adventures throughout life. That will enable you to find out what your niche is and what you can do with ease to bring value to others. So keep an open mind, ask questions, and keep learning.

Seek out situations which make you uncomfortable

How to be a Bawse by Lilly Singh

Lilly Singh first became world famous through her YouTube Channel iiSuperwomanii. In her book, Lilly describes her journey to becoming a "bawse," someone who exudes confidence, reaches goals, gets hurt efficiently, and smiles genuinely because they have fought through the obstacles to make it to the other side. Lilly reiterates in her book that it is not a guide for surviving life, but for conquering it by taking decisive steps to have a better control over life, choices, and actions.

Out of all of Lilly's tips from the book, one stuck out to me the most, "get uncomfortable." We love comfort zones, they make us feel secure and happy. When we are in a situation that we do not feel is tailored for us, we tend to panic and shy away from it, looking for a more comfortable reality. What we don't realize is that our lives actually begin beyond our comfort zones. As you stay curious and try out new experiences in life, remember to also throw yourself into the tough situations. If you just trust the process, that struggle will actually make you stronger. Be proactive, find uncomfortable situations, learn from them, and see what a difference to your life will make this experience.

Tap into your support system

Fearless Women at Work by Dr. Ginny Baro

Dr. Ginny Baro, a career strategist and executive coach, connects with everyone who want to become successful in what they want to do through her book. She talks about the C.A.R.E.S. system and shows how it helps that dreamer in all of us to succeed in both professional and personal aspects of life. C.A.R.E.S. stands for connect, align, rise, envision, and seek. Ginny expands on these strategies to show you how you can align yourself with your values to move forward in all areas of your life without burnout.

With your busy life and juggling around multiple things throughout your day, it gets really tough to do everything alone. As part of the C.A.R.E.S. system, Ginny talks about "seek" and how important it is find your core support group, and not to be afraid to ask for their help. You have to identify the people, places, and opportunities available that will propel you towards your desired career and life goals. Though many of us hesitate to ask for help, human beings are social creatures who love to help each other; we just don't know how to sometimes. That struggle can be taken away just by asking for help. Many studies have proven that creating a collaborative culture results in higher chances of success, especially in settings where women support other women. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there, to request for help when you truly need it, and watch yourself become more successful as a result.

Raise the game for others

Five Essential Principles for Bringing Out Your Best Self Every Day by Amy Jen Su

Amy Jen Su is an executive coach to CEOs and many other executives, and helps them reach their highest potential as leaders while they lead organizational transformation. Her book talks about the five essential principles to bring out your best self into the work that you do: purpose, process, people, presence, and peace. These five leadership elements address a leader's inner and outer worlds with the objective of increasing both performance and personal satisfaction.

Expanding on the third element of people, Amy talks about how there has to be a change in mindset from "I want to raise my game" to "I raise my game by raising the game of others." The best way to grow as an individual is to give back, giving your time is the best resource you can gift to others. Mentor someone, volunteer, or just help someone with no intention of personal gain. When you stop working for just yourself and start working to help others, your life gains meaning and purpose. It's also contagious; your actions can start a ripple effect in your community. So start a movement and pay it forward; you might be surprised how much you learn about yourself in that process.

Be present to live each day to the fullest

Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake by Anna Quindlen

Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake is a memoir in which Anna successfully points to different experiences in her life to connect with the readers' experiences. Anna mixes humor with lessons that we all wish we told our younger selves. She delves into topics such as marriage, girlfriends, our bodies, parenting, faith, loss, and more. We can all definitely connect with Anna's reflections, no matter how old we are or at what stage of life we are in.

At the end of the book, one lesson which we can all take away and one that Anna stresses on, is to "live life to the fullest you can." It sounds cliché, but in our technologically advanced world where are always connected to each other, it gets tough to really pause and live in the present to appreciate what we do every day. By being present, you allow yourself to observe the minor details of the world which you might have missed out on. This change makes our life that much richer and wonderful. This change will let you become a kid again and make it easier to just do things by letting go of that heavy, over-thinking frame of mind. So focus on what is in front of you, around you, on you, and use your senses to take it all in, one day at a time.

Each of these books (along with many others) has prompted me to stay focused on finding myself, helping others, and stressing less through the process of life. I am very thankful to all authors who share their stories and lessons, because through their experiences, others have a chance to learn and grow. While listening to or reading the words of each woman above, I was able to feel their emotions, their passion, and why the pursuit of education and love for all is so important. I hope this inspired you to embrace continuous learning through every medium of story-telling, and give me your best book recommendations!