How do you support your inner poet?
Integrating mindfulness and somatic awareness into your creative process can unlock hidden areas of your artistic expression.
The poetry resources on this list cover a gamut of topics, but all of them focus on the topic of YOU. Self-actualization is loosely defined as the psychological awareness of your potential. That sounds intense, but whether you journal, practice yoga, or write through the pain, it is imperative that, as a creative, you take the time to recharge your poetic batteries. If you are interested in engaging your whole self in your work, pick one of these books for poets and jump in.
Poems & Prayers by Matthew McConaughey
Disclosure: I’m not normally a huge fan of authors reading their own work for audiobook editions (don’t come for me, please), but listening to Matthew McConaughey’s lovely drawl made this a very immersive sensory experience!
This book is both funnier and more introspective than you might expect. Even if you enjoyed Greenlights, you will still be surprised by McConaughey’s vulnerability.
It is funny, sad, over-the-top honest, and somehow soothing at the same time. During these bonkers times, this book is a welcome respite that uplifts readers while also taking a hard look at the human condition.
“But I don’t want to quit believing, and I don’t want to stop believing in . . . humanity, you, myself, our potential.”
“Poems & Prayers is like Bob Dylan riding shotgun with Billy Graham on a road trip through the soul.”
“Utterly confident. . . . These verses unlocked joy.”
The Other Side of Change: Who We Become When Life Makes Other Plans by Maya Shankar
The author of this lovely collection is a cognitive scientist and podcast creator who has spent multiple decades studying the human mind. She was also a senior policy advisor during the Obama administration, and was the first behavioral science advisor appointed to the United Nations. Oh, and she was also a violin student under Itzhak Perlman at Julliard and was featured as a neuroscience expert on the Nat Geo show “Limitless with Chris Hemsworth.” In other words, Maya Shankar knows what she’s talking about. I haven’t even listed all of her credentials!
When an unexpected and unfortunate personal situation left her reeling, Shankar sought out other people who had navigated significant transitional periods in their own lives.
Their stories are told here, in an emotional volume that examines the hidden layers of grief. Shankar invites readers to entirely reframe their view of change once the initial shock has passed. Being thrust into a new environment can force us to face uncomfortable truths about ourselves, but these tectonic shifts in our lives can rewire our brains. Unexpected roadblocks can result in undiscovered talents or change personal perspectives entirely. Shankar wants people to view those moments of grief as something to EXPERIENCE versus something to ENDURE.
This book is for anyone who is wrestling with a present situation, attempting to process an earlier situation, or bracing for a future one. In other words, for all of us.
“The Other Side of Change is a rare combination of beautiful storytelling, cognitive science, and wholehearted wisdom. How lucky are we to have Maya walk with us through the unexpected and often uninvited moments that shape who we are and how we make our way through the world.”
“Having faced the bewildering wreckage of an aftermath, I can’t recommend this book highly enough. Weaving together accounts of quaking forces cleaving life into before and after with science-backed techniques for rebuilding, Maya has penned a tender, helpful companion for all of us.”
The Book of Alchemy: A Creative Practice for an Inspired Life by Suleika Jaouad
Whether you are a lifelong journaler or new to exercise, you most likely know that it is a life-altering practice. Journaling allows us to tap our creativity as we process any of life’s twists and turns through the written word.
This lovely writing resource has themed categories and varied prompts ranging from love and grief to finding your true self. Users will be encouraged to engage with topics with honesty and vulnerability that will help uncover the metaphysical facts of life. Jaouad provides a safe, structured place to navigate the peaks and valleys of modern life.
Live an inspired life and ask yourself the important questions as you read insights gathered from 100 creatives (writers, philosophers, and more)! This guide is dedicated to the exploration of the central questions of life through contributions from Jon Batiste, Salman Rushdie, and Ann Patchett.
“Beyond her brilliance as a writer, Suleika Jaouad’s greatest offering to the world is her brilliance of generosity, her curiosity, her seeking heart and mind. The Book of Alchemy is an extension and expansion of these gifts, carefully curated and thoughtfully presented, it doesn’t offer just one single answer, or one north star, but an entire galaxy. A path, with many paths springing forth from it, for anyone who wants to write, or chase an idea, or descend into their work with a newfound exuberance. This book is a gift.”
“The prompts are varied enough to appeal to devoted diarists and newbies alike, and Jaouad poignantly interweaves her own intimate meditations on creativity, pain, and art. The result is a stellar guide that’s sure to spark the imagination.”
You’ve Changed: The Promise and Price of Self-Transformation by Benoit Denizet-Lewis
Humans have always been obsessed with reinvention, but we live in an age of unprecedented access into each other’s lives. We love watching other people change, grow, backslide, redeem themselves…but what does it mean to TRULY reinvent ourselves? And why are we motivated by some stories while others put us off?
Denizet-Lewis explores the practical realities of transformation. Is it feasible? Or is it a myth we tell ourselves? Readers will be introduced to a variety of people in some sort of transition, from physical to emotional. We’ll also hear from some agents of change, like neuroscientists and teachers, who are trying to prove that true transformation is possible. Denizet-Lewis certainly thinks so, and this book offers a series of approaches to help support the shift.
“Benoit is a remarkable writer and a journalist of the first order, as You’ve Changed proves yet again. This is a deeply reported, keenly intelligent, beautifully written book that will—to invert the phrasing used by one of the many fascinating changers Benoit introduces us to—open a head pathway into your heart.”
“A blazingly smart, thoughtful, funny, and moving book about the endless hope—and the occasional limits—of human transformation.”
It Begins with You: The 9 Hard Truths about Love That Will Change Your Life by Jillian Turecki
The first truth seems relatively simple. Truth 1: It begins with you. Obviously, right? But until you are ready for honesty from partners, children, parents, and more, you are not really ready to begin! What is the common denominator in your relationships? It’s you.
Are your relationships rewarding? Turecki, the host of top relationship podcast Jillian on Love, has penned a book that focuses on the nine truths about love. By accepting and acknowledging the nine truths, readers will learn strategies and self-healing techniques that will help them restore existing relationships and create new, healthy ones.
Turecki’s techniques are a mix of therapeutic strategies, so there is something for everyone. She’s included resources like client case studies and guiding questions, all designed to help you find the love you deserve.
"It Begins with You is a must-read for anyone who wants to better understand how to have meaningful relationships with their partners, loved ones, or themselves."
"[It Begins with You] gives readers strategies to find the love they deserve. By the end, you’ll understand why so many turn to [Jillian] for advice.”
Everyday Intuition: What Psychology, Science, and Psychics Can Teach Us about Finding and Trusting Our Inner Voice by Elizabeth Greenwood
Poetry is one of the oldest known art forms. “Gut feelings” are as old as humans themselves. This book, about a very serious subject, doesn’t feel serious. Profound, funny, and helpful insights guide readers on how to hear their inner voice in a world that is so damn loud.
But how can we really learn to trust our intuition? What if it is just anxiety?
This resource examines the science behind intuition: how do our brains process and store information? Can psychedelics really put us in touch with our most inner self? Of note is an excellent review of how these helpful, ancient methods are being abused by “coaches”, “teachers”, or other self-proclaimed leaders in these socially influencing times.
And for the ladies, I’m sure we’ve all gotten the eye roll and groans from the men in our lives about women’s intuition. Guess what?! There is science about it!
"Everyday Intuition describes Elizabeth Greenwood’s fascinating journey through the worlds of psychology, science and psychics. All these worlds can work together to enhance your intuition."
"...a fascinating and wide-ranging exploration of what it means to trust one’s gut. Readers will be captivated."
"Everyday Intuition is a vital resource for reclaiming our inner wisdom in a world obsessed with data and facts. Thoughtful, engaging, and timely, it's a must-read for anyone who wants get better at trusting their authentic voice."
Poetry Inspiration from Science
Science shows that poetry is a powerful stimulant. It activates the body’s reward and emotional centers. Your brain processes reading poetry the same way it processes music.
Poetry can improve cognitive function in stroke patients, and it can be used as a communication tool. Make sure that you are flexing your artistic wings as much as possible by prioritizing your own creative health and engaging your most inner self!
