Try these Resources to Improve your Health and Daily Habits

ByJennifer Hacker

Today I want to share some of my go-to resources for learning, growing, and living a fulfilling life. Some of these are grief/loss specific and some are just life in general. 

BOOKS

  1. Healing a Grieving Heart: 100 Practical Ideas by Alan WolfeltThis is a series of books (20+ versions) that covers many different types of loss: Healing a Spouse’s Grieving Heart, Healing a Sibling’s Grieving Heart, Healing an Adult Child’s Grieving Heart, Healing a Teen’s Grieving Heart, Healing a Friend’s Grieving Heart, Healing after Divorce, etc.These books are a compilation of compassionate advice and simple activities to help grievers learn to live again. Each idea is presented on a single page so even people in the early days of grief, when the attention span is minimal, can still read it in very short intervals. And for each of the 100 ideas, there’s a “Carpe Diem” suggestion with a specific way to implement the idea that very day.
  2. Permission to Mourn: A New Way to Do Grief by Tom ZubaThis book is non-traditional in that it is written in a kind of long-form poetic style. It’s beautiful and deeply touching and uplifting.Some of Tom’s popular quotes from the book:* Grief is not the enemy. Grief can be one of our greatest teachers.* It’s the stories we tell that determine whether or not we will heal.* We will always have a relationship with the people we love who have died​
  3. The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.A pioneering researcher transforms our understanding of trauma and offers a bold new paradigm for healing. Trauma is a fact of life. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk has spent over three decades working with survivors. * He uses recent scientific advances to show how trauma literally reshapes both body and brain, compromising sufferers’ capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. * He explores innovative treatments—from neurofeedback and meditation to sports, drama, and yoga—that offer new paths to recovery by activating the brain’s natural neuroplasticity.* He exposes the tremendous power of our relationships both to hurt and to heal—and offers new hope for reclaiming lives.
  4. Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary Worldby Bob Goff. In this book Bob shows you, with examples and stories from his own life, how to -* live a fully engaged life* how to stop putting things off until “next time” and instead find your place of imagination, whimsy, and wonder today* and that God usually chooses ordinary people to get extraordinary things done

PODCAST

Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast : “Helping you live in a way today that will help you thrive tomorrow.”Don’t let the word “leadership” in the title throw you. It may be intended for leaders but the content is informative and helpful for everyone.

  • Carey has conversations with authors and thought leaders from around the world.
  • The lineup of guests is impressive and the discussions are engaging and stimulating.
  • Carey’s interviews are some of the best I’ve heard. He’s well-prepared and he asks great questions that lead to expansive discussions.
  • I learn something interesting/fascinating/thought-and-action-provoking every time I tune in.

PODCAST EPISODE

Brene Brown (vulnerability expert) and David Kessler (grief expert) in an amazing interview on Brene’s podcast Unlocking Us.Brene was so blown away by David’s ideas–She kept saying, “Wait, wow, that’s so good. Say that again.”Podcast EpiosodeTranscript

MOTIVATION, MINDSET, SELF-DEVELOPMENT

Mel Robbins: Best Selling Author/Life Coach

  • Mel puts out a TON of really good content on Instagram and Youtube.
  • She’s got a kick-in-the-pants, no-nonsense communication style and a genuine heart for helping people
  • Her tips are to-the-point and give you a way to take immediate action
  • Her messages run the gamut of topics: relationships, anxiety/depression, career, lifestyle, health and wellness, grief, finances, boundaries, creating good habits, breaking bad habits, …….

ONLINE SUPPORT GROUP

Generally speaking I don’t find online support groups especially helpful. In fact a lot of the time they are depressing and unhelpful.Helping Parents Heal is an exception. There are “Shining Light Parents” (parents who are much farther along in their life and loss journey) who actively participate to support and give hope to the new members.If you’re looking for a resource and you didn’t find any you like in this list, let me know! I probably have one or more recommendations for you.