The Dangers Of Self Help

I don’t know exactly how many personal development or popular self help books sold over the last year – but I do know that self help is the fastest area of growth in the publishing world with millions of books being sold every year. In addition, I know that, if you turn on your TV, look at any newspaper or take a quick glance at the web’s discussion groups and forums, these self help books make little or no difference.

Many recent surveys testify to people being more fearful, 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 century where we all led ourselves to belief that humankind was finally making major strides. In fact, the wartime spirit that galvanized nations throughout World War II, is conspicuous by its absence from a brave new world where obsession with money – whether it’s wanting more of it or fearing that you don’t have enough of it – is the order of the day – it’s a case of every man for himself. So what the hell is going on – and I use the world ‘hell’ deliberately because it strikes me that everyday life for many is much nearer to hell than heaven.

Bestsellers like ‘The Secret’ and ‘The Power of Positive Thinking’ point towards a brighter, better life if you use your mind in the appropriate manner. 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 personal development ‘business’ for over fourteen years – 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 just fooling themselves but are a danger to themselves and those around them. They read a little, experience the ‘feel-good’ after-glow, perhaps even put a little of what they’ve read into practice for a bit and then con themselves into believing that things are either better or, even more dangerous, about to get better – the all-too-common general excuse for doing absolutely nothing whilst ‘waiting for something to happen’.

Reading books doesn’t change your life. Action is what changes your life – real action on a daily basis – action that you have to take yourself. And I’ve seen precious little evidence of action. Sure, I see plenty of reaction – but everybody reacts, does it regularly and makes the world we live in worse instead of better.

So, close up your self help books and ask yourself this searching question? What action could you take right now that will improve your lot if life? Not knowing your life, I’ve no idea whether major change is called for or, maybe it’s just something little. But I do know this – I am constantly questioning myself, challenging myself and ensuring that I keep auctioning those things that need to be done to push – yes, you’ve got to push yourself – my life in the right direction. And I regularly see the results.