The Dangers Of Self-Help
July 17, 2010 by selfimprove
I’ve no idea exactly how many personal development or bestselling self help books sold over the last year – but I do know that self help is the fastest area of growth in publishing with millions of books being purchased each year. In addition, I know that, if you turn on your TV, open any newspaper or take a quick glance at the web’s blogs and forums, these self help books make little or no difference.
Many recent surveys conclude that we are more anxious, stressed and bewildered than at any other time in modern history – even a world war didn’t give rise to such abject fear as we are witnessing in a millennium where we all led ourselves to belief that humankind was finally moving to a new level. In fact, the wartime spirit that galvanized nations into powerful forces during the second world war, is nowhere to be seen in a brave new world where obsession with money – or needing enough of it to feel secure – is the order of the day and it’s every man for himself. What the hell has happened – and I use the world ‘hell’ deliberately because it seems to me that the normal life is much nearer to hell than heaven.
Bestsellers like ‘The Secret’ and ‘The Power of Positive Thinking’ promise a brighter, better life if you apply your mind in the right direction. Alternatively, Barbara Ehrenreich in her book, ‘Smile or Die’, claims that positive thinking has destroyed the US and ruined the world.
Having worked in the self improvement ‘business’ since 1996 – long before it was fashionable to admit to your friends or colleagues that you were ‘into it’ – I firmly believe that people who read these self help books are not only fooling themselves but are a danger to themselves and those around them. They read a bit, experience the ‘feel-good’ after-glow, perhaps even put something of what they’ve read into practice for a bit and then con themselves into believing that things are either better or, worse, about to get better – this is a general excuse for doing absolutely nothing whilst ‘waiting for something to happen’.
Books don’t change your life. Action changes your life – real action on a daily basis – action that you’ve got to take yourself. And I’ve seen precious little evidence of action. Sure, I see lots of reaction – but everyone reacts, we’re experts at is and it makes our lives worse instead of better.
So, put down your self improvement books and ask yourself this searching question? What action could you take today that can make your life better? As I don’t know anything about your life, I’ve no idea whether major action is required or, perhaps, it’s just something small. But I do know this – I am regularly questioning myself, challenging myself making certain that I keep taking the little and large actions that need to be done to push – yes, you’ve got to push yourself – my life towards more and more happiness and excitement. And I’ve the results to show for it.
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