Mindset Shift
- Rochelle Cherniawski
- Mar 1
- 4 min read
5 Books for Anyone Ready to Level Up
First things first — there was a point in my life (not long ago) when I would have been the least likely person to read any of the books I’m about to recommend.
I used to think motivational and personal development books were reserved for people who were lost, or broken, or in need of serious fixing.
If someone suggested a title that even hinted at “self-help,” I would politely smile while mentally filing it under: Hard pass.
And then I did 75 Hard.
Part of the commitment? Read 10 pages of personal development every single day.
Ugh.
I begrudgingly found my way to the first book… and then promptly started recommending it to anyone within earshot. That book led to another. Then another. And before I knew it, I was fully invested in becoming a student of mindset.
So here we are. Look at me now — willingly sharing a list of books that turned me into a believer.
If you’re looking for a great read with a great return on investment, start with one (or all) of these:
1. Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins
This one was a wild ride.
I don’t want to ruin a single detail of this book by trying to summarize it. The background. The adversity. The grit. The mental toughness. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever read.
David Goggins isn’t just talking about pushing through discomfort — he’s redefining what discomfort even means. This book made me question the limits I had quietly accepted in my own life.
It’s intense. It’s raw. It’s wildly motivating.
And it will absolutely make your excuses uncomfortable.
2. Living with a SEAL: 31 Days Training with the Toughest Man on the Planet by Jesse Itzler
The first time I heard about this book, I actually slapped it out of my husband’s hands in the middle of the night.
What had happened was…
I was peacefully asleep when his laughter jolted me awake and literally shook the bed. “What the hell?” we said in unison as I watched him fish the book off the floor.
He explained, “You know that book you just read about David Goggins? This is written by a guy who moved Goggins into his house to train him for a month.”
Enough. Said.
This book is equal parts hilarious and inspiring. And reading this after Goggins' book made it even better.
3. You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life by Jen Sincero
I almost didn’t buy this one because the title felt a little… gimmicky.
But I needed something engaging to get through my daily 10 pages, and this book delivered.
It’s fast-paced. It’s funny. It’s motivating without feeling preachy. I dog-eared pages. I screenshot quotes. I sent paragraphs to friends.
Jen Sincero has a way of calling you out while still feeling like your hype girl.
If you’ve ever doubted yourself (hi, same), this one is worth your time.
4. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear
Confession: I almost skipped this book because my limited understanding of chemistry made me associate “atomic” with massive explosions.
Turns out… atomic means tiny.
And that’s the whole point.
This book isn’t about overhauling your entire life overnight. It’s about the smallest possible shifts — the tiny, nearly invisible improvements — that compound into extraordinary results over time.
It’s practical. It’s applicable. And it makes change feel doable instead of dramatic.
Which, frankly, I appreciate.
5. The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can’t Stop Talking About by Mel Robbins
How do you make a Top 5 list and not include Mel Robbins? You don’t.
There was about a month of my life when “Let Them” followed me everywhere.
“Let them,” my friend said when her ex-husband moved in with someone new.
“Let them,” the woman behind me at Starbucks said into her phone.
“Let them,” a talk show host said to her guest.
I finally caved. I needed to know what all the fuss was about.
And here’s the magic: it’s simple. Profoundly simple.
You can’t control what other people do. You can only control your response. “Let them” is freedom wrapped in two tiny words.
So I let them guide me to this book.
Maybe you should let them, too.
From Skeptic to Student
If you had told me two years ago that I’d be recommending personal development books, I would have laughed.
But here’s what I’ve learned: leveling up doesn’t mean you were broken. It just means you’re growing.
Mindset work isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s about expanding yourself.
So if you’ve been side-eyeing the self-help section the way I used to, consider this your gentle nudge. Pick one book. Read 10 pages a day. See what shifts.
You don’t have to become a Navy SEAL.
You don’t have to wake up at 4 a.m.
You don’t even have to stop rolling your eyes at the word “manifest.”
Just start.
Because sometimes the smallest mindset shift is the one that changes everything.
And if you end up dog-earing pages and recommending books to strangers like I do now… well, welcome to the club.
Please note: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you choose to purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Comments