Why Self-Help Books Don’t Work…and What Does(greggwilliams.co)
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Why Self-Help Books Don’t Work…and What Does
http://greggwilliams.co/why-self-help-books-dont-work-and-what-does/
2 comments
There are 2 main pitfalls with self-help books:
1. they just give you generalized info with nothing concrete on how to implement it day to day.
2. they are like taking vitamins: it only helps if you are deficient in that specific area. And over consumption is downright harmful.
The only fix I've found for #1 is "The Slight Edge". While it's overly verbose etcs, the main takeaways are important:
* small choices matter and they add up.
* it's easy to make the right choice, but it's easier to make the wrong choice.
The only fix for #2 is having goals and tracking how well each philosophy works for you based on that goal framework (but that's a hard thing in itself).
1. they just give you generalized info with nothing concrete on how to implement it day to day.
2. they are like taking vitamins: it only helps if you are deficient in that specific area. And over consumption is downright harmful.
The only fix I've found for #1 is "The Slight Edge". While it's overly verbose etcs, the main takeaways are important:
* small choices matter and they add up.
* it's easy to make the right choice, but it's easier to make the wrong choice.
The only fix for #2 is having goals and tracking how well each philosophy works for you based on that goal framework (but that's a hard thing in itself).
I especially like Epictetus's idea on how to change one's habits. He states that if one wants to make a change in his life, he must realize to eliminate all past opinions and impressions. When one has a fresh mind that is open to new ideas, change can be made. Also, he explains that each time one makes a bad habit, a mental cut is made in one's brain. That cut will continue to grow and grow, until it forms a wound. Don't let that happen, says Epictetus. Think each day in every moment the change you want to make. The time is now, not tomorrow.