The Best Self-Help Books Are Not Always Self-Help Books.
Our problems aren’t unique. Find inspiration from those that have lived before us.
We all have quirks that make us individual. We’re unique to an extent, but the challenges and obstacles we face every day, aren’t.
Whatever you’re going through, it’s likely that someone, somewhere, has been through a near carbon copy (or an even worse version) too. What’s more, if you look hard enough, you’ll probably find that someone has already written the book on it.
The Best Self-Help Books Are Not Self-Help Books at All.
Now before you open up the Amazon app and start searching through the self-help books, I want you to try something different.
Don’t get me wrong. love a good self-help book as much as the next person. I’d probably say I’m borderline obsessed with them. That said, there’s a genre that can be even more helpful in a crisis or when you need a pick-me-up; the Biography.
You see, there’s a misconception about celebrities. I’m unsure of the reason why but our favourite icons are generally marketed in such a way that suggests and insinuates their fame and status has developed overnight. It’s as if one day they were a nobody, the next day they’re a somebody. We think that their success is part of a smooth, straightforward journey, and it’s very misleading.
Let’s get real for a moment.
The route to the top isn’t a simple straight line. It’s not luck, not entirely anyway, and it’s certainly not easy.
The people that rise to the top are the one’s that ran through brick walls to get there. They are likely to have faced extreme levels of adversity, but it wasn’t enough to knock them off course. They may be fortunate in timings, but they worked hard to ensure they were in a position to be lucky when luck came knocking. They took chances, they found inspiration, and most importantly, they stayed consistent with their vision.
Stand on the Shoulders of Giants.
We want to know about the struggle. We want to see the torment the ‘untouchables’ went through and how they showed the resilience to keep standing up for what they believed, even through adversity. It’s this that we get inspired by when we read a biography.
“If I have seen further than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants” — Isaac Newton.
A good, well-written biography uncovers the life lessons of our heroes. They’ve been through the challenges we have, and then some. How did they deal with it? What can you take from this?
It’s one thing to read a book that tells us what we should be doing, it’s another entirely, seeing real-world examples of it. It adds flesh and bones to the ideas and lessons. It makes them human.
Ok, I’m Intrigued, Now What?
First of all, find a biography of someone you can relate to in some way. They could be the crème-de-la crème of your industry, maybe they’ve been vocal in the past about issues that resonate with you or perhaps they were brought up in a town nearby. In a way, it’s nice not to put too much thought into it, if you come across a title that fills you with intrigue, go for it.
Next, study the lessons. Make a highlighter your new best friend — Go crazy. Make notes and put thought into how it relates to your current situation. You will refer to these ideas and life lessons regularly so it will be time well spent.
Finally, if the Biography resonated with you in some way, read any other books mentioned within the text and research any of the other figures discussed.
Deep dive into the lives of those that inspire you. The lessons you unearth could prove invaluable to your success.
Final Thoughts
Read about the lives of great people. Notice the similarities you share. Take inspiration from the struggles and obstacles and use this to guide you to the life you desire.
Don’t stop believing in yourself. The people you are reading about didn’t, and they’re living proof of what you can achieve.
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