At my core, part of my purpose is to teach and I use various platforms to do so. Whether I’m speaking in front of an audience, teaching one of my own personal development classes, or inspiring on my Facebook live – the core of it all has the same message of teaching, educating and inspiring women.
Formal education is great and often needed to fulfill your endeavors but don’t underestimate what informal education can teach you. Although I’m thankful for my formal education, I’ve garnered most of the wisdom I’m teaching now from life lessons and thousands of hours of reading books and listening to teachings. Today, I’m sharing that wealth! I’m giving you an exclusive insight on books I’ve read recently that have helped me grow in personal development, faith, financial growth and even prayer! I hate all these success coaches and programs that focus on “becoming your best self” but don’t address all areas of a woman’s life. I can’t inspire you to achieve your dreams if you have a wounded soul because the wounds of your soul are going to enforce invisible roadblocks to your success.
My mission is to inspire all parts of you and then give you the tools to realize the legacy and birth those dreams inside of you so my list won’t contain the same five women empowerment books on every other list out there, this is a little different. Let’s make sure that you’re good on the inside and then we can educate you with the tools to change the outside.
-
Fervent: A Woman’s Battle Plan for Serious, Specific and Strategic Prayer by Priscilla Shirer – OK, I get that a book on prayer may be the last thing you were expecting but this book really teaches you the power of prayer and how to win your challenges in prayer first by enlisting God’s help. I don’t know about you but I can use all help I can get. Once I started praying, I began to experience peace in the midst of the most trying season of my life.
-
Goals: How to Get Everything You Want Faster Than You Thought Possible by Brian Tracy – I’m such a student and fan of Brian Tracy! If you want to learn how to build your success and the mindset to achieve your success in a practical way then this is a must read.
-
4 Things Women Want From a Man by AR Bernard – OMG! Ladies, there has never been a book that will help you articulate your emotional needs as a woman and help you understand the needs of your man. If you’re married, single, dating, divorced or plan to be married one day then you have to read this book. In today’s society, we don’t have the tools to help us build healthy, long relationships and this book provides you with that.
-
The Money Book for Young, Fabulous and Broke by Suze Orman – This book is perhaps one of the reasons why I did extremely well for myself financially in my 20’s. Suze breaks down step-by-step what you need to do in order to achieve financial success earlier in life instead of waiting until you’re two years shy of retirement. You’ll learn everything from how to invest into retirement to how to choose credit cards to how to choose a life insurance policy.
-
The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian: Another book on prayer? Yes! This is “no shade” to all the marriage gurus and self-help platforms that are out there but nothing has hands down helped me more in this department than prayer. We so underestimate the power of prayer and often leave it as last resort. This book will show you how to pray for your man and even lists out the prayer for you. You’ll learn how to enlist God’s help to transform your relationship and pray over everything from his finances to his emotions to his temptations. Don’t wait until trouble is at your door to start praying. Prayer will change things.
-
Dream It, Pin It, Live It by Terri Savelle Foy: Terri has become a mentor to me. This book is a good read if you’d like to learn how to combine faith with success principles to achieve your goals. I’ve learned too much of what I know about goal setting from this book.
And there you have it! We covered your money, your faith, your relationship, your goals and your personal success…whew! Seasons are changing so cuddle up with one or all of these reads with a highlighter ready!
XOXO,
Maria I. Melendez
@embraceherlegacy
P.S. If you want to get to know more about me and my story then pick up my book, Take the Limits Off Your Legacy: A Woman’s Guide to Unlock Purpose and Vision here
