Why Is The Personality In Self-Help Lacking?
“Much of the self-help world is predicated on peddling highs to people rather than solving legitimate problems.”
–Mark Manson, author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
Even though my master plan revolves around contributing to the self-help industry, it is my strong opinion that a large portion of the content available in it is garbage.
I’m not disputing the effectiveness of study, name and/or quote dropping, nor am I acting like my shit don’t stink. I am simply identifying what I feel is a major flaw in self-help — the lack of personality/sincerity/genuineness.
I feel as though most of the content available in the world of self-help needs more depth. It’s missing that touch that only humans can provide and it could benefit by being a little less refined and a lot more real.
And since I’ve self-helped my way to becoming a man of taking action, I am committed to changing the game with honesty, authenticity and simplicity.
;)
In the U.S. alone, self-help is an 11 billion dollar per year industry.
With people ready and willing to break out their checkbooks to better themselves, you’d hope that those benefiting from this extravagant spending would be focused on producing content that is second-to-none.
After all, these self-help “gurus” are being handsomely rewarded for their efforts.
It’s only fair that they exchange peoples’ hard earned money for some real value. Lives could potentially be at risk and being an artist comes with serious responsibilities.
So instead of treating everyone as though they’re the same, why not acknowledge that everyone is unique and special? Why neglect the chinks in your armor? Why not acknowledge them and use them to grow?
Nobody is perfect. We all make mistakes.
Problems arise. Life is complex. Life is also simple.
Sometimes, shit can get really confusing. It is what it is.
Self-help can’t solve everything.
Laissez-faire!
Who’s creating the Content, Robots?
More often than not, the content that gets the most views/recommends/shares isn’t the content that promotes uniqueness and individuality. It’s usually the same generic crap spun differently.
If you don’t believe me, click on the personal development or self-improvement tag and have a look at the top stories.
Anyways.
I find the lack of benevolence to be contradictory. Although these authors are creating and publishing their content with good intentions (I hope), a lot of it is too salesy and aimed to market.
If your content is truly good and resonating, do you really need to be overly annoying and persistent? Even though humans are forgetful creatures, if what you’re selling doesn’t resonate with your customer, why force the issue?
Let your work speak for itself!
It appears as though the industry revolves around selling more than it does sincerely helping individuals — which is despicable.
We Are Not the Same
Let me kindly remind you that everybody is different.
Just because I feel a certain way about a particular subject doesn’t mean that I’m right or that you have to agree with me.
Even though I have negative feelings towards an industry that helped change my life, I still appreciate everything that it’s done for me.
But I’m sick of all the generic rah-rah bullshit that breeds more sheeple than it does anything else.
If you truly care about self-help, promote individuality, not conformity. Show some respect. Help people grow to be whatever the fuck they want to be. Not what society wants.
Do your thang and if it’s good enough, things will work themselves out. If not, do something else.
Because self-help shouldn’t be about sales or e-mail lists or any of that other shit.
It should be human wanting to help fellow human.
That’s it. That’s all.
