Self-Help: A Starting Point

I've previously mentioned that if you lack a clear direction in life, self-help can provide essential tools for crafting a fulfilling existence. It offers guidance in planning, setting objectives, and executing those plans. In essence, it serves as a foundation for those who are just starting their journey. Having already traveled this path extensively, I feel it's time to move on.

Self-Help for Transformation

I only encountered the self-help genre after hitting a low point in my life. For nearly three decades, I wandered aimlessly, battling depression until I stumbled upon the concept of self-help. It became a lifeline, helping me rediscover my purpose and inspiring my journey as a writer. However, I believe that those in need of self-help are individuals facing the same struggles I once did—not me, as I have already undergone my transformation.

“I walked into a bookstore and asked the clerk, ‘Where’s the self-help section?’ She replied that if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.” — George Carlin

What’s the point of clinging to something if you’ve outgrown it?

Teaching self-help suggests mastery of its concepts, indicating that I have outgrown this stage and need to explore new territories.

“Those who know, do. Those who understand, teach.” — Aristotle

Self-Help: Not the Complete Answer

As I delve deeper into the self-help realm, I realize it doesn’t hold all the solutions to life. I’ve engaged with numerous books and courses, practicing various techniques like mindfulness and goal-setting. Yet, I’ve come to understand one undeniable truth:

“Self-help doesn’t possess all the answers to life. It simply can’t, as we are not fully in control of our destinies.”

Ultimately, we must sometimes surrender to the flow of life, as that is where true understanding lies.

What Will I Invest in Next?

I am shifting my focus toward business-related topics. I aspire to explore areas such as economics, entrepreneurship, and human behavior. While these subjects may seem to fall under the self-help umbrella, they diverge significantly from traditional self-help themes like mindset and self-discipline. I’ve outgrown these concepts and now seek to expand my horizons.

Mark Manson, a well-known figure in self-help, made a similar choice to step away from the genre for this very reason—growth comes from moving beyond what we’ve long practiced.

“The typical path for self-help authors is to spend decades recycling the same ideas in different formats... That sounds as exciting to me as sticking my hand in a light socket.” — Mark Manson

Final Thoughts

Self-help has provided a valuable space for many, allowing us to uncover our true selves. However, remaining stagnant in one area of life can be detrimental. That’s why I’ve chosen to redirect my time and resources away from self-help.

To summarize:

• Self-help is primarily for those just starting out.
• It serves those seeking personal transformation.
• There’s no value in clinging to something that no longer fits.
• Self-help doesn’t encompass all of life’s answers.

If you share my sentiment and have spent considerable time in this space, consider venturing into more significant areas of growth.

The time for expansion is now. Don’t hold yourself back.

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