Deepak Chopra: The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Practical Guide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams (based on Creating Affluence)
I listened to the CD in my car. When it was done, I began from the beginning again. This is basic wisdom we should all have and believe deeply.
Ph.D. Joseph Santoro: The Angry Heart: Overcoming Borderline and Addictive Disorders : An Interactive Self-Help Guide
Get this book! I believe most bulimics are borderline. But, even if you're not, this book can really help you understand and forgive yourself, as well as give you the hope and TOOLS & STRATEGIES you need to conquer bulimia for good!
Laurel Mellin: The Pathway: Follow the Road to Health and Happiness
Laurel's philosophy on addiction and recovery is just like my coach's. My experience in recovery is just like she paints to be as well - as you work on changing your habits of thought and reaction, your urge to binge just fades away. You learn to no longer need a coping mechanism. I've only read 60 pages as of now, but I love this book and this woman already. Read this now!
Wayne W. Dyer: 10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace
This is the best Wayne Dyer I've read so far - simply because it is short and to the point! It's full of great points that he makes easy to understand and apply to our own lives.
James Allen: As a Man Thinketh
This short book taught me that I AM IN CONTROL of my body, my mind, and my circumstances. It definitely takes some practice to believe and to live it. But, this is the first step I took in regaining control of myself.
Download it FREE here.I highlighted the parts I liked best. :-)
Denis Waitley: Seeds Of Greatness
Great little book! Denis often takes a very religious approach, which doesn't work at all for me. But, if I replace his references to God with references to my heart & spirit, it works out well.
Dalai Lama: The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living
This is wonderful. You should read it, though. I listened to the CD, and it's very dry. I'm going to get the book version and re-read it. There is a lot I would like to quote here in the blog.
Albert Ellis: How to Control Your Anger Before It Controls You
This is a great book to help become more mindful and fight your automatic reaction to rage. There are great examples and exercises. Very easy to understand and apply.
Eckhart Tolle: Practicing the Power of Now: Essential Teachings, Meditations, and Exercises from The Power of Now
Great shortened version of the classic "The Power of Now." This cuts out a lot of fluff and gets right to the point.
Milton R. Cudney: Self-Defeating Behaviors: Free Yourself from the Habits, Compulsions, Feelings, and Attitudes That Hold You Back
This book is really good. Every review at Amazon gives it 5 stars. Read the great reviews, then go read the book for yourself!
Dale Carnegie: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living
Every lesson in this book is so important for all us addicts, and Dale's story-telling approach makes it very easy to read and absorb. I truly believe bulimics are especially prone to very excessive worrying, and binging/purging is the best way we've found to calm ourselves. If we didn't worry so much, we wouldn't need to calm ourselves. So, this is a must-read (or listen).
Don Miguel Ruiz: The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom
This book explains in very simple terms some of the things we need to change about ourselves to find lasting joy. And, it guides us in making these changes.
Cynthia Kersey: Unstoppable: 45 Powerful Stories of Perseverance and Triumph from People Just Like You
This book showed me that I, too, can have a happy, fulfilling life. I just need to work each day in relentless pursuit of those DREAMS that are most important to me (beyond the next binge!). My biggest dream now is to quit bulimia and reach out to help others do the same.
Viktor E. Frankl: Man's Search for Meaning
The first half of the book is about his experience of surviving 4 concentration camps during the Holocaust. In the second half he argues that we cannot avoid suffering but we can CHOOSE how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose. This book is powerful. Don't let it depress you - Frankl wants only to inspire you.
Don Miguel Ruiz: The Mastery of Love: A Practical Guide to the Art of Relationship: A Toltec Wisdom Book
This book provides guidance and simple-to-implement changes in how we think to achieve the kind of relationships we all want. I highly recommend this if you want more guidance on how to change.
Martha Beck: Finding Your Own North Star: Claiming the Life You Were Meant to Live
I'm only on Chapter 4 or so, but she's great at explaining head vs. heart, and how you can learn to hear your heart. Get this one!
Linda Tschirhart Sanford: Women and Self-Esteem: Understanding and Improving the Way We Think and Feel About Ourselves
Heard this was great. It's on my library list . . .
Joseph J. Luciani: The Power of Self-Coaching: The Five Essential Steps to Creating the Life You Want
I recently heard this one was great! I've got the CDs on hold from the library, so I can listen during my commute. I'll let you know what I think.
Elisabeth L.: Inner Harvest: Daily Meditations for Recovery from Eating Disorders (Hazelden Meditation Series)
I enjoyed this. The daily bits format makes it an easy read. It can be digested in bits and pieces, which I think is a good format for us.
Gay Hendricks: A Year of Living Consciously: 365 Daily Inspirations for Creating a Life of Passion and Purpose
This is a great little book that you can digest in bits and pieces (ie. easy for those of us who can't focus for too long on any one thing!). You don't even have to read it in order, although I'm enjoying that.
Masaru Emoto: The Hidden Messages in Water
Proof that both positive and negative energy create different physical changes in the state of water. Since humans are mostly water, this proof has huge implications for the effects of positive or negative thoughts on our well-being.
Martha Beck: The Joy Diet : 10 Daily Practices for a Happier Life
This was ok. It was enjoyable but not earth-shattering. Get it from the library; don't buy it.
Caroline Adams Miller: My Name Is Caroline
I wrote Caroline an email, and she got back to me the very next day! Caroline is a coach now - just like I want to be. Plus, she has kids and a happy, fulfilling, giving life - just like I want. She is my new role model.
Mary Pat Nally: Reflecting Grace
Story by a local woman who reads my blog! In addition to her book, you can also read her thoughtful & inspirational articles, poems, and exercises online at ezinearticles.com
Cynthia French: Humanville
I haven't read this one yet, but it sounds just like what worked for me. Apparently, it's wonderful. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Marya Hornbacher: Wasted : A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia
Do NOT read this until you are firmly into recovery. This is depressing and pessimistic. By the end of the book, Marya is still far from recovered; she merely has achieved a new kind of relationship with her EDs. I found this book very uncomfortable and pitiful, quite honestly. I'm more inspired to run screaming away from her tiny, self-obsessed, self-destructive world toward health and happiness and love. You need inspiration and encouragement to fully conquer this war! Try another book from my list!
Hey Michelle,
That is a tremendous quote, it is sort of ironic you posted it. I have been following your blog for over a year. I haven't checked it for awhile ........just this last weekend my counselor said those exact words to me. WOW! Glad you are back on track :) Those words were a totally foreign concept for so long in my life.
Posted by: Megan from Nebraska | Thursday, October 09, 2008 at 06:54 AM
Excellent quote on an excellent website (I just found it!). Keep up the good work!
Posted by: Tara Piantanida | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 11:20 AM
I quit bulimia for maybe a month or two, but recently I started back up these passed three days. Is it possible that my headaches, achiness, and weird feelings I was experiencing while not throwing is contributed to my relapse. Im really worried about myself and well being its making me an absolute train wreck, physically, and mentally. Please give me some feed back on what you think personally, every little bit of encouragment and support means alot to me. Thank you so much
-Missy
Posted by: Missy | Friday, November 07, 2008 at 12:32 AM
Hi! I just found your blog today and am really inspired. You have a wealth of information here and the quote, and what you wrote below it, really spoke to me. I was glad to read that you recommitted and are back on track. I feel that there is hope for me and my struggles as well.
Anonymous (for now)
Posted by: | Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 07:09 PM
Thank you for postin this. I was doing okay for a month and then Halloween hit and I went downhill. I have been struggling for a long time. I started binging and purging when I worked at a pastry shop. I always feel so empty, my emotions do. I used to cut myself but this is so much easier to hide. I do okay for a month or so and then fall back, I feel another person takes over and I can't stop and then I cry and plan out my day. I feel if I don't plan my times and meals I will fall back, but it is so tiring, such a waste of life and I feel that my spirit has is just withering away with every attempt.
Posted by: | Saturday, November 15, 2008 at 09:52 AM
Hey Michelle-
I just got a book deal for Fed UP Girl! Please checkout my blog. I have a LOT of work ahead of me and would love for you to add my link to your site for other people who need help. You started my journey to recovery, so I hope to do the same for others!
xo
bridget
Posted by: bridgetloves | Monday, November 17, 2008 at 06:07 PM
I feel so naive after reading this and comparing it to my blog >.<
It's such a foolish and dangerous disease.
Posted by: Bulimia blogger | Monday, December 01, 2008 at 03:49 AM
Hey Bulimia blogger.
Please don't be down on yourself!! Bulimia is incredibly powerful and difficult to escape. There are real physical & bio-chemical reasons for this. You can't just change your mind and say "I'm not going to do this anymore - it's foolish." I wish it were that easy, but it's not.
Please be gentle and kind with yourself. Judging & criticizing yourself only makes it worse.
With love,
Michelle
Posted by: Michelle Hope | Monday, December 01, 2008 at 11:37 AM