Books changed my life.

I know I say that often, but I really mean it. Books have been some of the most powerful personal development tools in my life, which is why I feel so passionate about writing them now. I know what it feels like to hold a book in your hands and have it meet you exactly where you are.

Some books comfort you.

Some books challenge you.

Some books quietly rearrange your entire life from the inside out.

There are many books that have shaped me over the years, but when I think about the ones that truly changed the direction of my life, three come to mind.

The first is You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay.

I read it in my early twenties, at a time when I really needed support in learning how to love myself. I was still carrying the pain of being bullied, still learning how to forgive, and still trying to make peace with parts of myself I’d been taught to feel ashamed of.

That book introduced me to the foundational ideas of self-love, forgiveness, and healing the relationship I had with myself.

In many ways, it set the foundation for who I am today.

Years later, I went on to work for Hay House UK, and it felt like a full-circle moment. It was my way of giving back to Louise Hay, whose work had given so much to me.

The second book is Ask and It Is Given by Esther Hicks.

This book helped me understand manifestation in a deeper, more nuanced way than I’d seen it taught before. It showed me that manifestation isn’t only about your thoughts or what you say you want. It’s also about your energy, your emotions, your vibration, and the way you align yourself with what you’re calling in.

It became one of the foundations of my manifestation practice and went on to inform so much of my work around energy and conscious creation.

The third book is a more controversial one now, but I want to be honest about the impact it had on me at the time.

It’s I’d Change My Life If I Had More Time by Doreen Virtue.

This book helped me bring together two things I’ve always loved: practical processes and deep spiritual concepts. I’ve never been someone who wants spirituality to stay abstract. I love spiritual ideas that can be lived, practiced, scheduled, embodied, and turned into meaningful action.

That book helped me look at my life, my purpose, and my priorities more clearly. It helped me ask, “What am I really here to do?” and “Where am I scattering my energy?”

At that stage of my life, I needed that clarity.

Looking back, each of these books gave me something different.

Louise Hay helped me love myself.

Esther Hicks helped me understand manifestation as energy.

Doreen Virtue’s book helped me clarify my purpose and make space for it.

Together, they shaped the person, teacher, healer, and writer I’ve become.

And that’s the magic of books. You never really know which one will find you at exactly the right moment and open a door you didn’t even know was there.

So now I’d love to know:

What are the books that changed you?

Hit reply and let me know. I’d genuinely love to hear.

In this week’s episode of the Energy Work Podcast, Elena Nicolaou joins me for a beautiful, candid conversation about the books that changed us. We recorded it in person in Cyprus, and it turned into such a fascinating conversation about the stories, teachings, and ideas that shaped who we are.

Click here to listen to the episode and learn about the books that changed us.