It's a very good article calling for a lot of reflection. Self- development is not a one shoe fit all, it all depends on the level of self-awareness. Are you comfortable with who you are? how much do you want to grow?, and what is the end goal?. And more important how do you define success? Is it the material accumulation?
Save time on reading with books summaries. You can save 3 hours a day times 365 days in a year by reading books summaries.Let your mind explore other dimensions of living.Don't limit your potential to mental capacity. There is more to life than self development.Search for other meanings of living.You can ask Google.
I started reading self development at a young age. And I've become conditioned to see most activities as a waste of time but because I felt guilt and anxiety I fell more into time wasting activities. I have become desperate and self-loathing as I compare myself to these gurus I read about and criticise myself for my weaknesses and lack of commitment because I know techniques to improve. I wonder what life is like without self development. I think now, only read these books when in a position to implement, and read less books so you can apply more
I fully agree and endorse what because I am a sports scientist and within sports psychology there are two categories of people those who need to avoid failure whilst there are those who need to achieve. I am in the need to achieve category and I thank you so much for writing this article because it's true and exactly what I am going through at the moment. However, I am a firm believer in the brain eventually working everything out by itself eventually but bringing things into your conscious awareness can either speed things up and or prevent the same situation happening in the future because you are now consciously aware of it.
Yes, Very important topic is being discussed here. Why to carry constant pressure of Self-development as it creates constant pressure to be better. I too have experienced this and as you rightly pointed out, we should strike a balance between self-development and self-acceptance (+ count your blessings!). Over these years I moved to more on the other (self-acceptance) side of it but now I want to move to the other side of it.. but certainly not at the cost of my mental peace.
I totally agree with you. Too much Self Development Reading is like an Endless Road and it may be difficult to have time for some other very important things. Instead of looking for problems to solve is a better approach to face and solve them when they appear, if that is the case. Thanks for your Article. Vladimir Bolivar
Dear Paul, I like this article very much!!! It gives me wonderful food for thought. Sometimes we are just doing too much. So often less is more. And I like rhe idea with the curfew, ahahahaha! Thanks much. Warm regards Gaby
Great! Thank you! Actually that showed me why I am such a happy person. Because I reduced self-development things to the minimum (of course sometimes I think it’s too less) and just enjoy life :)
Great job. For me, I self develop to meet needs - current or future. Once such needs are met I will deliberately observe a break. When there is need again I will naturally feel the urge and bridge the gap by going for it.
In line with your position on this matter, too much of everything is bad. It is also true that it is easier to read than putting knowledge into practice. I doubt if knowledge that is not put into practice is relevant.
Why don’t we just burn all those evil things? As is the case with most things in life, it’s not the item that’s bad, it’s when it’s taken to the extreme. In this instance, “extreme” is very individual, and thus, so is what’s “appropriate. So, it’s all just relative. While I think you stretch the argument to caution against those who focus too much on self-development (as the opposite is far more often the concern), you do have a point. Balance and moderation is good advice on almost anything. Thanks for sharing a different perspective.
Hi Paul I agree that too much of anything is not beneficial, and everyone is unique and have various levels of whats too little too much, each person has to findings their own Goldilocks level to reading self help material. The danger however on over-reading is that it May become a convenient way to avoid doing something concrete with what we have gained from reading these books. My Humble view is that we should have an actionable plan after reading each Book we complete, on how we are going to apply the learnings our daily lives or use it to make a paradigm change in yourself or teach it to others (like you do) otherwise It makes no sense in reading these books. (Mo)
Paul...really enjoyed this week's podcast...I listen to you weekly and as a 65 year old recent retiree, I found your topic of particular interest. Eventually work stops (perhaps not totally, but to some degree), but the habits that successfully carried you through your career do not. I spent many years in professional development (about 25 of my 40 years with my organization) so was very much focused on self-development for personal implementation, mentoring and teaching. It's very difficult to stop...so I look forward to your weekly messages which I share with my two sons (mid 30's, one attorney, one business owner). Keep up the great work...
This article is a perfect reminder for people like me! For the last 3-4 years, I have been obsessed with learning more, more, more! I always feel like I don't know enough, or that I have not dissected myself (my beliefs) enough. There is always more to learn and unfold. I agree that self-improvement is such an important exercise for self and community, but I also think that it can make us feel like less, and therefore make us focus more about the future vs the present. I have come such a long way, so I don't feel at a loss for all the energy put into myself so far. But there is a shadow of fear that I am not far along enough. Though my tribe of advocates tell me different, the real challenge is accepting myself for who I am today on this journey. To know that no matter what, I will not let future me down, so I should enjoy the moments I have today. Thanks for writing and sharing this article Paul!
Thanks Paul, though this article is contradictory it is worth knowing. I love Movies and am excited about them coz am happy when watching... I only remember to use the extra time profitably and not feel guilty. I use Tracy's trick, in a week we have (7*24) 168hrs If you have an 8-5 job then you use 40hrs The time for sleeping would be 56hrs and we are still left with 72hrs If we take 3hr daily to transport ourselves and/or take breaks then we still have 51hrs If you dedicated 2-3hrs daily to read we will still have 30-37hr extra. I use these to have some fun and everyone has family they need that time with you. In my opinion I would call it benchmarking not comparison. Tracking your progress needs a reference point like you said first stop and reflect. if we set goal we look for mentors we look up to so we can attain those goals. Anyway I don't know much but I appreciate reading is like building a muscle.
I really feel this post, There is a bitter truth that self-development is a never-ending process, therefore, we should take a pause so that you can know how far we have come and recognize yourself, Make a habit of goal setting so that you can know your achievements properly.
Yeah,your words really, it inspired me a lot and I ask further for your inspiring and motivational articles that will built my future in terms of self growth,financially!!thank you and stay blessed.
I've just have been feeling some pressure that I couldn't really pin point what the cause is but now after listening to this, just this past few minutes, I'm relieved of the pressure. I believe the comfort for me is, as you've said it, from putting into remembrance where you come from in your journey and also taking a brake. For the past two days I've been just watching movies after work (Taking a break, without really understanding it because after watching the movies I would be feeling like, "What a waste of time?" But now I understand why I was watching the movies which I hardly do).
Thanks for this episode. I am a self-development junkie of sorts, having worked for non-profits for many years which focus on community development projects. This is often thankless work and real change is very slow. I have to work on balancing self-development goals and managing the anxiety that sometimes comes with working on yourself in this field of work. I've started to go through a set of questions to manage my anxiety and the emotions that can disrupt the working day and confuse priorities. Those questions are: What tasks or goals are bringing me anxiety; Why are they bringing me anxiety?; What can I do today that won't be so time consuming that it will take me away from high priorities?; What can I do in the long term?
Thanks for sharing Regan. I think asking questions like this are a great way to help find the right balance and deal with the anxiety that self-development can cause.
I wonder what life is like without self development.
I think now, only read these books when in a position to implement, and read less books so you can apply more
Very important topic is being discussed here. Why to carry constant pressure of Self-development as it creates constant pressure to be better. I too have experienced this and as you rightly pointed out, we should strike a balance between self-development and self-acceptance (+ count your blessings!). Over these years I moved to more on the other (self-acceptance) side of it but now I want to move to the other side of it.. but certainly not at the cost of my mental peace.
Thanks for your Article.
Vladimir Bolivar
I like this article very much!!!
It gives me wonderful food for thought. Sometimes we are just doing too much. So often less is more.
And I like rhe idea with the curfew, ahahahaha!
Thanks much.
Warm regards
Gaby
In line with your position on this matter, too much of everything is bad. It is also true that it is easier to read than putting knowledge into practice. I doubt if knowledge that is not put into practice is relevant.
I agree that too much of anything is not beneficial, and everyone is unique and have various levels of whats too little too much, each person has to findings their own Goldilocks level to reading self help material. The danger however on over-reading is that it May become a convenient way to avoid doing something concrete with what we have gained from reading these books. My Humble view is that we should have an actionable plan after reading each Book we complete, on how we are going to apply the learnings our daily lives or use it to make a paradigm change in yourself or teach it to others (like you do) otherwise It makes no sense in reading these books. (Mo)
For the last 3-4 years, I have been obsessed with learning more, more, more! I always feel like I don't know enough, or that I have not dissected myself (my beliefs) enough. There is always more to learn and unfold. I agree that self-improvement is such an important exercise for self and community, but I also think that it can make us feel like less, and therefore make us focus more about the future vs the present. I have come such a long way, so I don't feel at a loss for all the energy put into myself so far. But there is a shadow of fear that I am not far along enough. Though my tribe of advocates tell me different, the real challenge is accepting myself for who I am today on this journey. To know that no matter what, I will not let future me down, so I should enjoy the moments I have today. Thanks for writing and sharing this article Paul!
I only remember to use the extra time profitably and not feel guilty.
I use Tracy's trick, in a week we have (7*24) 168hrs
If you have an 8-5 job then you use 40hrs
The time for sleeping would be 56hrs and we are still left with 72hrs
If we take 3hr daily to transport ourselves and/or take breaks then we still have 51hrs
If you dedicated 2-3hrs daily to read we will still have 30-37hr extra. I use these to have some fun and everyone has family they need that time with you.
In my opinion I would call it benchmarking not comparison. Tracking your progress needs a reference point like you said first stop and reflect. if we set goal we look for mentors we look up to so we can attain those goals. Anyway I don't know much but I appreciate reading is like building a muscle.