Yes, I’m sure you think that one book you once read changed your life.
No, maybe it was my book.
Don’t get me wrong, self-help books are helpful, but I think people misunderstand what self-help books are actual Are doing.
Let me elaborate on this.
The not-so-secret self-help secret
Let me be brutally honest here: there is nothing new about self-help books. They are simply reusing ancient wisdom from religions, philosophies and legendary thinkers.
A real game changer?
packing.
People get very weird when it comes to advice, so how you give it makes all the difference. Repackaging age-old knowledge allows these ideas to reach more people than ever before, and that’s not a bad thing.
Last week, 97 people received breakthrough treatments. Will you be one of them this week?
Easy to understand, hard to apply
Self-help ideas are the epitome of “easy but hard.”
It’s easy to understand, but very difficult to actually do.
Unlike intellectual or physical work, self-help problems all involve emotions. On the surface it looks very simple, but on the inside you will feel like you are conquering Everest.
That’s where the magic of packaging comes into play. The way the concept of self-development is presented can give you a temporary boost of motivation, but it won’t last forever.
Learning: Sneaky Saboteur
Indeed, self-help books can make positive changes in your life. But in the end, you have to work on something else, simple but difficult.
Here’s the kicker: Learning can feel like progress, even when it isn’t.
People use self-help books as crutches to avoid facing their conflicts head-on, assuming that the next book will make everything easier. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t.
And fun fact: on average, people who buy one self-help book end up buying seven more.
Get out of the self-help trap
Self-help books can sometimes help, but they can quickly turn into another disorder. That’s why it’s important to focus on hands-on, real-world exercises and activities. the goal? To challenge yourself or others to sit down and actually do something.
More than just conversations and sharing ideas, we can make real progress and create lasting change.
