Your inner work journey is all about shifting your mindset, healing from limiting beliefs, and stepping into your highest self. If you’re just starting this journey, it can feel overwhelming to know where to begin. That’s where books come in. They can be powerful tools in this process, offering insights, new perspectives, and practical guidance to help you grow. Whether you’re looking to build better habits, release control, or transform your financial mindset, these are some of the best books to get started on your inner-work journey. These reads have been life-changing for me, and I truly believe they can be for you, too.
1. Atomic Habits – James Clear
This was the first self-help book I truly fell in love with. It’s beautifully written in a way that’s easy to understand, breaking down how habits are formed, how to break bad ones, and how to build routines that stick. If you’re at the beginning of your inner work journey and want to create lasting change, this book is a game-changer. I especially love its references to psychology. Coming from a psychology student, it’s fascinating to see how habits shape our daily lives.
2. How to Stop Worrying and Start Living – Dale Carnegie
I LOVE this book with my whole heart. It’s one of the most comforting and transformative reads I’ve ever come across. Carnegie shares stories and real-life examples about the impact of stress and worry—and how to let go. It also touches on religious perspectives, which I found incredibly grounding.
If you’re starting your inner work journey and tend to overthink or struggle with anxiety, this book provides powerful reminders that most things in life aren’t as deep as we make them out to be. While this book won’t make you stop worrying overnight, it provides powerful reminders that most things in life aren’t as deep as we make them out to be. If you struggle with overthinking, this is a must-read.
3. Rich Dad Poor Dad – Robert Kiyosaki
This was the first self-help book I ever read, and it completely transformed the way I viewed money and success. Kiyosaki shares the lessons he learned from his two father figures, his “rich dad” and “poor dad”, and how their mindsets shaped their financial realities.
If you’re in the early stages of personal development and looking for a book that will help shift your mindset around success, this is one of the best books for starting your inner work journey. It’s not just about money; it’s about breaking free from limiting beliefs and taking control of your future.
4. Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill
If you’re just starting your inner work journey, I highly recommend starting with Think and Grow Rich. This book is filled with powerful stories and principles that will challenge the way you think about money, success, and abundance. One of the biggest lessons it teaches is shifting from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset. An essential transformation for anyone on their inner-work journey.
5. The Courage to Be Disliked – Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake Koga
This book is deeper but great for my girlies struggling with people-pleasing, boundaries, or worrying about others’ opinions. It’s written as a conversation between a philosopher and a student, discussing Adlerian psychology and the idea that we choose how we perceive life’s events. While I don’t agree with everything in the book, I do think it’s a powerful reminder that we don’t need external validation to live authentically.
Conclusion
These are some of the best books for starting your inner work journey, especially if you’re at the beginning and looking for practical, inspiring guidance. Whether you’re working on your mindset, financial growth, or emotional healing, each of these books offers valuable insights that can support your transformation.
Take what resonates with you, apply it to your life, and watch the changes unfold. Your inner work journey is a process, one that will evolve over time. Start small, stay consistent, and most importantly, be kind to yourself along the way.
And if you feel ready to dive deeper and have someone by your side as you make that commitment to yourself, I’d love to invite you to have a look at my 1:1 coaching. We will unlock your full potential and create a life that feels authentic and aligned with who you truly are.