books, a lifelong affair with words

Every book I've embraced, each writer who's resonated with me, has imparted a lesson, a perspective, a fragment of their soul into mine. And as I now pen my own words, I carry them with me.

Oct 19, 2023

NOTE: This is the 2nd edition of the Community Resources series. If you missed other issues, click here.

My love affair with books started with the wild rhymes of Dr. Seuss and the heart-tugging charm of Robert Munsch. I’d flip through the pages of The Berenstain Bears, grinning at the ridiculous antics in the Mr. Men and Little Miss series.

Those stories were my playground—fuel for my imagination and the roots of my obsession with storytelling.

Then, I grew up (sort of).

Choose Your Own Adventure books pulled me in, letting me rewrite my fate with every choice. Soon after, Stephen King’s darkness reached out from the shadows. Michael Crichton’s twists grabbed me by the throat. While Dan Brown’s riddles provided a mental workout.

These weren't just stories anymore—they were puzzles.

Labyrinths. And I couldn’t stop chasing the thrill of figuring them out.

By my twenties, things shifted. I started craving depth.

Non-fiction became my escape.

Malcolm Gladwell made me think. Yuval Noah Harari made me question. Eckhart Tolle made me breathe. And Brené Brown cracked me open. These weren’t just books—they were conversations with my soul.

Every single book I've devoured, every author whose words dug deep, left their mark. Lessons. New ways of seeing the world. Fragments of their minds stitched into mine.

And now, as I scribble my own story, I carry the words of all those voices—guiding, provoking, inspiring me as I go.

My Timeless Favorites

Over the years, certain books have left an indelible mark on my soul. Here are a few that I hold dear:

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss – This story taught me that stepping outside your comfort zone can lead to unexpected joys.
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown – I realized the calming power of routine and the beauty in life’s small, simple moments.
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch – It showed me how love, especially between a parent and child, deepens and endures across the years.
The Berenstain Bears and the Truth by Stan and Jan Berenstain – It reinforced the value of honesty and how trust, once broken, takes effort to rebuild.
Mr. Happy by Roger Hargreaves – I learned that spreading joy has the power to lift others, sometimes in ways we don’t expect.
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White – This story illustrated the deep bonds of friendship and the strength of selfless acts.
The Cave of Time by Edward Packard – It opened my eyes to how every choice we make can lead us down entirely different paths.
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry – I discovered that life’s true meaning is often hidden beneath the surface, only revealed when we see with the heart.
The Shining by Stephen King – This novel reminded me that isolation and fear can blur the lines between reality and imagination.
The Sphere by Michael Crichton – It explored the idea that our thoughts, desires, and fears can unconsciously shape the world around us.
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown – It revealed the layers of mystery embedded in history and how knowledge can be a powerful key to uncovering hidden truths.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho – I learned that the pursuit of dreams is filled with valuable lessons, often more important than the dream itself.
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle – It reminded me of the profound peace that comes from living fully in the present, without being weighed down by the past or future.
Atomic Habits by James Clear – This book showed me how tiny changes, compounded over time, can create monumental shifts in behavior and results.
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell – It highlighted the complex mix of opportunity, culture, and timing that contributes to success, challenging the myth of the self-made individual.
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari – I gained an understanding of humanity’s journey and how our collective beliefs have shaped societies and histories.
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz – These simple yet powerful agreements helped me understand how changing my internal dialogue can transform my life.
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl – It was a poignant reminder that even in the harshest of circumstances, finding meaning is what allows us to endure and grow.
The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell – I saw how the hero’s journey, a universal pattern in storytelling, mirrors our own personal transformations.
Daring Greatly by Brené Brown – This book taught me that embracing vulnerability is an act of courage that fosters deep connection and creativity.
Drive by Daniel H. Pink – I learned that true motivation comes from within—through autonomy, mastery, and a sense of purpose.
How to Do the Work by Dr. Nicole LePera – It showed me the importance of taking charge of my own healing, breaking free from old patterns through self-awareness and action.
Awakening the Giant Within by Tony Robbins – It emphasized the incredible power we have to reshape our lives by changing our decisions and beliefs.
The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck – This book reminded me that personal growth often comes through discipline, love, and embracing life’s difficulties head-on.
The Archetypes and The Collective Unconscious by Carl Jung – It illuminated how archetypes influence our subconscious and connect us to a collective human experience.
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Love You Forever by Robert Munsch
The Berenstain Bears and the Truth by Stan and Jan Berenstain
Mr. Happy by Roger Hargreaves
Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
The Cave of Time by Edward Packard
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
The Shining by Stephen King
The Sphere by Michael Crichton
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
Daring Greatly by Brené Brown
Drive by Daniel H. Pink
How to Do the Work by Dr. Nicole LePera
Awakening the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck
The Archetypes and The Collective Unconscious by Carl Jung

Catalysts to My Creations

Books have always been my secret weapon. Not just entertainment, but raw, unfiltered wisdom. They've nudged me, sometimes shoved me, into deeper understanding—of myself, of life, of healing. Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist didn’t just talk about fate, it whispered about chasing your truth, your personal legend. And Don Miguel Ruiz’s The Four Agreements? It shattered everything I thought I knew, showing me how to be real, how to break free from the weight of others’ opinions.

But let’s be clear—Healing Thoughts? That’s not just a collection of lessons from others. It’s my life on paper. Every page grew out of my own experiences. Heartbreak. Betrayal. Homelessness. The kind of stuff that doesn’t just change your mind—it changes your soul. Those books gave me tools, sure. But the real wisdom? That came from the trenches. From living it.

Healing Thoughts isn’t just a reflection of what I’ve read. It’s my personal roadmap out of darkness. It’s a guide I built from the ground up, using my story as the foundation. Inside, you’ll find:

Early Life and Background – A peek into my childhood and how it shaped the emotional mess I became.
Echoes of a Shattered Love – The raw, gritty truth about my marriage falling apart and everything that came after.
The Journey of Healing – Navigating trauma, battling through emotional wreckage, and finding my way back to something resembling peace.
The Power of Journaling – How writing saved me, time and time again. The practice that birthed the 365-Day Shadow Work Journals.
Dawn of a New Chapter – How I found peace in simplicity, even with doubt still hanging around like a shadow.

Healing Thoughts isn’t just a story. It’s a manual for survival. For rebuilding. It’s packed with prompts to get you thinking, quotes that keep you going, and stories that remind you—healing is messy, but it’s real.

If you're ready to face your shadows, dig deep, and come out stronger on the other side, this book’s for you. Healing Thoughts is your partner in the fight, not just something to read, but something to live through. So dive in. Let the pages carry you through your own storm.

Are you ready to start healing? Healing Thoughts is your invitation to rediscover your strength. To dig deep. To find the clarity and peace already buried inside. Let’s go.

Some books don’t just sit there, gathering dust—they crawl into your mind, take root, and refuse to leave. These are the ones that don’t just flip through your thoughts; they twist them, bend them, make you look at everything sideways. They don’t whisper—oh no—they start conversations with your soul, mess with your beliefs, and dare you to rethink it all. Some? They call you out, smack you right in the face with uncomfortable truths. Others? They’re a soft place to land when everything feels off. But the real magic? Those rare moments when a sentence hits like a lightning bolt, shifting the ground under your feet.

These books don’t just leave marks. They rearrange the furniture in your head, guiding you—sometimes gently, sometimes not—through growth, pain, and everything in between. Here are 20 that did just that for me. They’ve woven themselves into how I think, how I grow, how I see the world, and how I keep finding my way.

"The Untethered Soul" by Michael A. Singer – Teaches the importance of freeing ourselves from the constant chatter of the mind and living beyond our ego.
"The Gifts of Imperfection" by Brené Brown – Emphasizes embracing vulnerability and imperfections as a path to authentic living and wholeheartedness.
"You Can Heal Your Life" by Louise Hay – Highlights the power of affirmations and self-love in transforming mental and physical well-being.
"Radical Acceptance" by Tara Brach – Encourages accepting yourself and your circumstances fully as a foundation for healing and inner peace.
"The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle – Teaches how living fully in the present moment leads to inner peace and liberation from the ego.
"The Body Keeps the Score" by Bessel van der Kolk – Explores how trauma affects the body and mind, and offers insights into healing through body awareness.
"A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle – Focuses on transcending the ego and awakening to a deeper sense of purpose and consciousness.
"The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success" by Deepak Chopra – Provides principles for living in harmony with the natural laws of the universe to achieve fulfillment.
"The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen Covey – Offers timeless wisdom on self-discipline, productivity, and personal growth through effective habits.
"The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz – Outlines four simple agreements for living authentically and breaking self-limiting beliefs.
"When Things Fall Apart" by Pema Chödrön – Teaches the importance of embracing uncertainty and suffering as paths to awakening and spiritual growth.
"The Miracle of Mindfulness" by Thich Nhat Hanh – Provides practical guidance on cultivating mindfulness in daily life as a way to achieve inner peace.
"Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway" by Susan Jeffers – Reminds us that fear is a natural part of growth and that we can act in spite of it to create change.
"The Artist’s Way" by Julia Cameron – Helps unlock creativity through self-exploration, journaling, and embracing artistic potential.
"Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender" by David R. Hawkins – Explains how to release negative emotions and live in a state of surrender to achieve inner freedom.
"No Bad Parts" by Richard Schwartz – Focuses on Internal Family Systems therapy and how embracing all parts of ourselves, including our shadow aspects, can lead to healing.
"Daring Greatly" by Brené Brown – Explores how embracing vulnerability leads to stronger connections, creativity, and a more fulfilled life.
"Codependent No More" by Melody Beattie – Explains how to break free from codependent behaviors and regain a sense of self-worth and autonomy.
"The Seat of the Soul" by Gary Zukav – Explores the alignment of personality with soul purpose and the transformation of human consciousness.
"The Myth of Normal" by Gabor Maté – Examines how trauma and stress are normalized in modern society and how healing comes through reconnecting with our true selves.

My Workbooks

Each of these books, with their unique lessons and perspectives, etched profound marks upon my soul, propelling me to delve deeper into my own psyche and, subsequently, craft my own mediums of expression and introspection through journals and workbooks.

In the gentle rustling of their pages, I found whispers of wisdom, shouts of awakening, and an endless source of inspiration that has fueled my journey and creations.

The 365-Day Journal Series

Among my proudest creations is the 365-Day Journal Series.

Every day, for a whole year, this series provides prompts rooted in shadow work, encouraging deep introspection. By shedding light on the darkest corners of our psyche, we not only understand ourselves better but also pave the way for growth and self-love.

The Trigger Warning Collection

Through my own struggles and discoveries, I crafted the Trigger Warning series.

View Series

It's more than just a collection; it's a roadmap for others to navigate their emotions, confront their traumas, and seek healing, just as I did with the help of the literary giants before me.

The Gratitude Chronicles

Gratitude has been my anchor. Amidst life's tempests, counting my blessings, no matter how small, kept me grounded.

The 'My Daily Gratitude Series' is a culmination of this practice, a beacon for others to find their own silver linings.

Towards the Horizon

Throughout my life, I've been deeply influenced by the works of countless authors, each leaving an indelible mark on my soul. Their masterpieces have not only entertained and enlightened but have also kindled a burning aspiration within me: to pen my own book.

I dream of crafting a novel that encapsulates my journey, experiences, and musings, weaving them into a tapestry of words that might ignite the imagination and passion of future readers, much like how I was once profoundly moved.

Every chapter I envision, every narrative I hope to share, is not just a mere story but a testament to the legacy of the literary greats who've paved the way. As I navigate this path of storytelling, I'm fueled by their tales, their struggles, and their triumphs.

But the journey of an author is not walked alone. It's a collaborative dance between the writer and the readers, the dreamers and the believers.

By choosing to become a paid subscriber, you're not just gaining access to exclusive content; you're investing in a dream. Your support is the wind beneath the wings of my aspirations, allowing me to continue my literary pursuits, and inch closer to bringing my vision to fruition.

Together, we're building a community, a shared space of dreams and stories, where every tale has the potential to shine a light on someone's path, guiding them towards new horizons.

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If a paid subscription isn't within your means currently, know that your presence, engagement, and even word-of-mouth recommendations are invaluable. Every comment, share, or recommendation helps in building this community and realizing the dream. Every voice adds to the chorus, every story enriches the tapestry, and every individual brings in a unique shade of experience and insight.

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Whether you're embarking on the path of self-discovery, seeking solace in shared stories, or looking to contribute to a legacy of healing and growth, there's a place for you in the Healing Thoughts community. Choose the subscription that resonates with you, and take the next step in this collective journey of introspection, understanding, and transformation.

Closing Thoughts

From the recesses of my heart, I invite you to be part of this endeavor. Let us weave together a legacy of understanding, healing, and transformation. Every page you read, every exercise you undertake, and every story you share contributes to this grand tapestry.

With profound gratitude and anticipation for the journey ahead,

—Ryan Puusaari

P.S. While the list above features some of my most treasured books and authors, the realm of healing, growth, and personal development is vast and diverse.

Notable authors not mentioned here include:

Gabor Maté known for his profound insights into trauma and addiction.
Deepak Chopra with his spiritual and holistic approach to well-being.
Ram Dass and his teachings on consciousness and spirituality.
Thich Nhat Hanh with his gentle guidance on mindfulness and peace.

Each of these authors, along with countless others, have provided invaluable perspectives on the journey of self-discovery, growth, and healing. Their contributions continue to inspire and guide many on their paths to inner transformation.

P.S.S. I can't finish without shouting out to these luminaries in the world of personal growth and development:

Wayne Dyer - Prolific author on self-development and spiritual growth.
Louise Hay - Pioneer in positive affirmations and self-healing.
Elizabeth Gilbert - Author of Eat, Pray, Love, exploring self-discovery.
Byron Katie - Developed The Work, a method of self-inquiry.
Steven Covey - Wrote The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
Esther Hicks (Abraham Hicks) - Teachings on the law of attraction.
Jack Canfield - Co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.
Norman Vincent Peale - Author of The Power of Positive Thinking.
James Redfield - Wrote The Celestine Prophecy exploring spiritual awakening.
Julia Cameron - Author of The Artist's Way, a guide to creativity.

Their teachings, writings, and insights have paved the way for so many, including myself, on our journeys of self-awareness, healing, and personal growth.