So are you a resolutions person at the beginning the year? Do you fill your mind with how-to’s, goal-setting, and lists of intentions for the coming months?

I have to say I’m always slightly more organized and “intentioned” at the beginning of the year, and while I don’t always stick to my plans, I make progress bit-by-bit, so I try to be easy on myself and remind myself of forward movement rather than dwelling on the steps back. Because there are always steps back.

My goal for this year is to let go a little more—stuff, negative thoughts, and perceived missed opportunities, mostly—and to be more creative.

These are the titles on my 2016 Be Inspired reading list:

Shonda Rhimes’ Year of Yes. Who isn’t inspired by this lady’s story? But when her sister muttered a simple complaint two years ago, “You never say yes to anything,” the Hollywood powerhouse realized she was right, and it was time for a change. Resolving to face everything she feared with a yes rather than a no, Shonda changed her life, then wrote a book about it. One I intend to read in 2016.

Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic. I’m always intrigued by books on creative living and this one has received bundles of praise and accolades. Not surprising, since Gilbert has been a proponent of living creatively and authentically for years, particularly in her blockbuster memoir Eat, Pray, Love. January is always a good time to remind ourselves to follow our dreams and take steps to mine our own curiosity and take steps toward inspiration and against fear, and I’ll be peeking into Gilbert’s suggestions this year.

Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. Not a new release, of course, but I simply love this book and try to pull it out at least once early in the year as a reminder to do things I love, to be inspired by my own creativity, and to strive to live a fulfilling life.

Susan Branch’s The Fairy Tale Girl. Ever since a friend gave me a copy of Susan Branch’s charming Love as a wedding gift, I’ve been a fan of this whimsical artist and writer, and for Christmas, my husband gave me a copy of her new memoir. I find SB’s books enchanting and hopeful, but her memoir tells the story of how she turned love and loss into a new lease on life and led her to her artistic career. Uplifting and motivating.

Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Somehow this little book has sparked a decluttering revolution. We’ve heard a lot of it before, but Kondo says it in a Zen-like way that makes you want to act, since she promises peace and joy will rise from the ashes of your jumbled mess—as soon as you get it out of your house. Now for the time and the courage to act! Decluttering is always on my list of goals, so we’ll see if Kondo can help me finally whip my home into a haven in the near future.

Are you reading any books with an eye to making changes in 2016? What are they, and what do you hope to achieve this year?

Happy New Year, Happy New You! 

Bobbi Dumas is a freelance writer, book reviewer, romance advocate and founder of ReadARomanceMonth.com. She mostly writes about books and romance for NPR, The Huffington Post and Kirkus.