My Top Five Personal Development Reads of 2025: Choosing Presence Over Pressure

Every year we take our nieces to the Abilene Philharmonic Holiday Concert, a treasured tradition that, if we don't slow down a bit in December, we can miss the joy of the entire experience.

This year, the books that have truly transformed how I show up in life and work have all nudged me toward one profound shift: choosing to operate from a place of presence rather than self-imposed pressure. These reads reshaped my thinking about leadership, learning, delegation, and how I approach simple daily challenges. Although I have hardly nailed it every time, these daily shifts have helped me reframe my wins and see everyday challenges as just part of the journey, rather than failings.

Below are brief descriptions and key takeaways from my top five personal development books from 2025.

Strong Ground by Brené Brown

Brené Brown’s Strong Ground is a courageous leadership playbook for these complex, fast-changing times. It emphasizes vulnerability, empathy, and connection as keys to resilience and effective leadership. This was my favorite personal development read of 2025.

Key takeaway: This book helped me put words to emotions I've been grappling with in 2025: uncertainty, anxiety, and the need for steady leadership amidst AI disruption, the news cycle, and rapid change. Brown’s concept of finding "strong ground" by balancing stability with adaptability became a daily practice for me. Brene beautifully captures the paradoxes many of us carry, and the overwhelming feeling lately that something is wrong with me because I don’t see the world in black-and-white or as us vs. them. Maybe you felt it too? And it can be easy even in a moment paradox to singularly blame, but that is not the answer. Her book reshaped how I lead my teams and interact with those in my circle, focusing on building trust and psychological safety rather than pushing harder.

Brené Brown introduces the idea (from her therapist) of operating "above the line" versus "below the line." Being above the line means showing up with curiosity, courage, and compassion, while below the line is marked by reactivity, fear, and falling into old leadership archetypes like defensiveness or control. I now fully recognize and accept the triggers that pull me below the line, and that one self-awareness habit changed everything.

Her framework allows me to pause, reset, and consciously choose grounded, courageous responses that foster connection and resilience in my team, especially during times of rapid change. It is an immediate "gut check" to STOP if I am working, or showing up "below the line" because nothing really good other than "let's not do that again" comes from action taken when you are "below the line."

Strong Ground also helped me see my trigger language sooner. For example, if I mentally start my day with "ughhhhhh, I do not want to get up," or "I am so overwhelmed," then I am already beginning to creep downward below the line. Awareness of the language I use in my OWN HEAD is really the key to working from presence rather than self-imposed fear or pressure. 

The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins

Mel Robbins’ The Let Them Theory taught me to stop wasting energy trying to control others and instead focus on my own life, happiness, choices, and goals using the simple mantra: "Let Them."

Key takeaway: Let go of the urge to control others' actions and accept people/other adults as they are. Shift your energy inward and ask yourself, "What can I do next?" Let Them and Let Me - this mindset lowered my stress around work deadlines and in places where I volunteer or choose to invest my time.

In my experience managing work deadlines, I’ve seen this dynamic most often in organizations I serve. Over time, instead of trying to micromanage or control how teammates handle their tasks, which only adds to stress, start practicing the "Let Them" mindset. A gentle reminder to accept that others will do things in their own way and on their own timeline (not to be confused with just not doing it at all). Then, shifting to the "Let Me" part, focus inward and ask, "What can I do next to keep things moving forward?"

This simple shift helped me release frustration and refocus on what was within my control, like adjusting my own priorities or communicating expectations clearly. It also carried over to my volunteer work, where I previously felt overwhelmed trying to meet various expectations, and I learned to say yes when I can and no when I cannot, even if it means no one picks it up. Yes, it is okay if some tasks don't happen; maybe it was time for them to fall away.

My dad actually recommended Mel Robbins’ The Let Them Theory to me, and since then, I’ve been following her podcast for ongoing inspiration. This mindset has been a game-changer in lowering my stress and improving how I show up in all areas of life.

Profit First by Mike Michalowicz

This book introduced me to the idea that financial strategy is as much about behavior as it is about the numbers. Profit First completely flipped how I think about business finances. Instead of using the traditional formula Sales - Expenses = Profit, it advocates Sales - Profit = Expenses. By taking profit first, you force your business to operate within the remaining budget. The human element in Profit First lies in its focus on behavioral psychology and the mindset shift it requires. Mike Michalowicz designed the system not just as a financial tool, but as a way to change how entrepreneurs relate to money.

Key takeaway: This cash management system transformed how I handle my small business’s finances. Allocating profit upfront removed the stress of hoping there would be money left at month-end. It made me more disciplined about spending and saved me from last-minute cash crunches. Setting up separate accounts for profit, taxes, and expenses gave me peace of mind and clarity.

My professional insight: While Profit First is fantastic for managing daily cash flow and behaviors, I still find it essential to keep regular accounting books. Traditional bookkeeping provides a comprehensive picture of your business’s financial health over time, ensuring tax compliance and supporting long-term planning. Profit First helps with the “on-the-ground” money management, but regular accounting gives you the scoreboard to track performance, profitability, and growth trends. For example, if operating expenses exceed 30-50% (see the book for suggested tiers), your business is crying out to you, and it is time to assess whether you have a sustainable model or need to change things up. Using both together creates a balanced approach that keeps your business financially healthy and sustainable.

Time Anxiety: The Illusion of Urgency and a Better Way to Live by Chris Guillebeau

Time Anxiety explores the fear that we’re always running out of time, and how that fear unconsciously shapes the way we live and work. Reading it revealed how much of the stress I felt was rooted in a false scarcity of time, driven by unrealistic expectations and misaligned priorities. This one hit me hard, and I cringed several times while reading it. Then I went back and listened to the audiobook.

Key takeaway: I learned to question the urgency I imposed on myself. Instead of chasing endless to-dos, I now prioritize what truly matters, embracing “enoughness.” This helped me break the cycle of stress from unfinished tasks. Although I still can fall into it. But at the end of the day, that self-imposed "not enoughness" language is just not helpful towards my productivity or well-being. Will I also continue to be a striver/high-performer? Yes, and part of that is accepting that self-defeating language gets me (and maybe you) absolutely nowhere. For example, I started doing a daily "enough list," focusing on a few meaningful tasks rather than a long, overwhelming checklist. Sometimes that means not squeezing in additional tasks, and going for a walk, or simply just doing something else entirely, like a puzzle. There are also recommendations in this book that don't work for me, but I still could appreciate the concepts. This simple practice of an "enough list" changed the way I engage with my day.

Jump and Find Joy: Embracing Change in Every Season of Life by Hoda Kotb

A late addition to my list, Jump and Find Joy combines personal stories and expert advice on embracing change as a growth opportunity rather than something to fear. I smiled a lot reading this one (Who has a blazer section? I literally laughed out loud). Thank you, Arlene, at Seven & One Bookstore in downtown Abilene, Texas, for the recommendation.

Key takeaway: Hoda Kotb’s warm, story-driven approach encouraged me to see change not as chaos but as a meaningful arc. Her advice to take "micro jumps" helped me overcome hesitation, whether trying a new course or having tough conversations. There’s a real vulnerability in learning something new, in being a beginner again. If we are not careful, it can chip away at our self-confidence as we get older, almost like we're supposed to “know it all” by now (which is hilarious, because who actually does?) lol.

For me, this played out when I signed up for an AI training workshop for grant-writing professionals, something I’d been putting off (and, honestly, still am). The idea of learning about this technology was intimidating, but breaking it down into small steps, a micro-jump at a time, made it manageable, although I am still working through it. The framework in this book helped me see where learning something scary and new could serve me, and where I could say “no thanks” or “not right now.” This book gave me practical tools and the emotional fuel to welcome transitions with courage and joy, a perspective that’s been invaluable as I reflect on 2025’s twists and turns, and what I desire to create in 2026.

Final Thoughts

All these books have one thing in common: they encouraged me to step away from self-imposed pressure and instead show up with presence and intention. Whether it’s through letting go of control, managing money wisely, embracing time’s limits, leading with courage, or welcoming change joyfully, these reads have reshaped how I live, work, and lead. I highly recommend these five personal/professional development reads. They’re not just books; they’re mindset shifts that can change how you show up and feel every day.

PRO TIP: Purchase these from your local bookseller or check them out from your public library.

Direct links to author pages:

Strong Ground

The Let Them Theory

Profit First

Time Anxiety

Jump and Find Joy

What about you? Any personal development reads from 2025 that shifted your perspective? I'd love to hear your favorites! I will probably read them too. :)