Sometimes you just need help getting emotionally back on track. Maybe it was a bad break-up or the loss of a job that has you in low spirits. Possibly a discouraging word from a loved one sent you into a spiral of self-doubt... Or perhaps, you've just gotten so used to your negative thoughts, you're not even aware of them anymore.

More often than not, all it takes is some outside advice to shake things up. And what do you turn to when you want to learn something new? A book, of course! There is a self-help or how-to book for everything you need, from learning about love and relationships to managing the energy you put out into the universe.

These books are full of sage advice, wisdom, meditations, and musings, all designed to give our minds, hearts, and spirits a boost. Keep reading for a few of our personal favorites.

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Published in 1975, "A Course in Miracles" is the OG book on shifting perceptions and spiritual healing. It has inspired millions to embrace love — not just as a concept, but as a way of life. The Foundation for Inner Peace, the authorized publisher of the book, claims that the volume was dictated by a voice to Dr. Helen Schuman, who then recorded it down on paper.

"A Course in Miracles" helps readers find inner peace, in part through a 365-day workbook. One of the main tenets is healing relationships through forgiveness — and we could all use a little bit of that, no?

The book has been so influential, it has inspired many others to come forward about their own experiences following the Course. "A Course in Miracles" was the impetus for Marianne Williamson's "A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles," and is heavily referred to in motivation speaker Gabrielle Bernstein's book "The Universe Has Got Your Back."

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For one whole year, Gretchen Rubin dedicated herself to finding ways to bring more happiness to her daily life. In "The Happiness Project," (which has the delightful secondary title "Or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean my Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun") Rubin records how she chose a new focus each month, and improved upon that area in her life in order to boost her own personal happiness.

Some of her monthly intentions include focusing on boosting energy, aiming higher, remembering love, and contemplating the heavens. She offers insights and shares her story of how she broke down each of these goals and found concrete, doable actions to help her achieve each one.

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In his book "The Four Agreements," Don Miguel Ruiz uses ancient Toltec wisdom to create a "code of conduct" as he calls it, to live a life powered by happiness and love.

The book gives examples and explanations for the four agreements everyone should make with themselves. Ruiz lists these agreements as:

1. Be impeccable with your word
2. Don't take anything personally
3. Don't make assumptions
4. Always do your best

They are seemingly easy rules to follow, but can sometimes prove to be a challenge when put into practice. Ruiz assures that following these four steps will lead to personal freedom.

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Jen Sincero's #1 New York Times Bestselling book "You Are a Badass: How to Start Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living as Awesome Life" is a refreshingly funny and personable self-help book. Sincero shares how she went from zero to hero, and literally transformed her life by embracing gratitude and taking accountability for her thoughts, because, as she shares, "our thoughts become our words, our words become our beliefs, our beliefs become our actions, our actions become our habits, and our habits become our realities."

A big takeaway from this book is the idea of tuning into — and embracing — the frequencies of the universe. When you tap into that energy source, amazing things can happen.

In 2018, Sincero published "You Are a Badass Every Day: How to Keep Your Motivation Strong, Your Vibe High, and Your Quest for Transformation Unstoppable." This companion book is filled with exercises designed to keep you on the road of badassery. It can serve as a piece of equipment in your "spiritual gym," and Sincero hopes that the book aids you in your journey by "giving you quick perspective shifts, reminders, meditations, and loving motivational spankings."

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