Why Simply Reading Medium Articles Gets You Nowhere
And the same goes for self-help books, online blogs, tutorials, and how-to guides.
In the 21st century, information is abundant. To the degree that almost anything that you wish to know is available using just a few taps. Isn’t that wonderful? 50 years ago, no one could’ve imagined that you could talk to another person across the world within a matter of a few seconds, or that you could buy almost anything through a computer.
The number of media that we currently have, through which we can access nearly unlimited amounts of information, is no less than a gift. In pre-modern times, knowledge could only be acquired either through physical interaction, or books. But the last 50 years have been magical, and have shaped the future in a completely new way.
Despite that, reading through how-to guides, watching online tutorials on “life” and reading Medium articles won’t get you anywhere. And here’s why.
Acquiring Information is Not the Same as Wisdom
What you’re currently reading, and the guides or podcasts you follow, are nothing more than heaps of information. Whether it’s philosophy, spirituality, religion, or character development — simply consuming information doesn’t make you a wise individual.
Wisdom and true knowledge come from implementing and consciously practicing the advice we listen to. It arises when we question why exactly something is being told to us, and when we take out the time to contemplate the intricacies of a particular lesson, instead of simply believing it.
After all, actions speak louder than words — and they definitely speak louder than knowledge. Both in professional and personal life, having a great amount of knowledge is futile without having the ability to apply it. That isn’t to say, though, that knowledge isn’t power — it certainly is. But perhaps a better way of looking at it would be to say that knowledge creates an ocean of opportunities for potential — potential that’s in our hands to make use of.
So, whether it’s a self-help book, an article on Medium, or life-changing YouTube tutorials, it’s time to actually implement the things we learn into our daily lives.
While acquiring heaps of knowledge certainly fuels self-esteem and confidence, we can’t unlock the true potential of that information until we apply it in our lives.
Thanks for reading
Are you interested in mental health and psychology? Did you know that suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in the US for the ages 10–34? Consider subscribing to my Substack newsletter The Mental Cadence — a newsletter dedicated to exploring and empowering mental health. It’s completely free, and I’m sure you won’t regret it.
Neh Joshi
