Life and problems go hand in hand. Wouldn’t you agree? No matter who you are or how much money you make, you will always have certain concerns, some problems to solve, or a few crises to deal with. Life is incomplete without challenges, and the only way around them is through them. While a lot of people are trying to find that elusive ‘way’, the self-help book genre has struck gold chasing this reality. With the slogan “promise a solution for every problem and the world will follow”, self-help books have become the therapist, counsellor, teacher, and friend, all rolled in one, who gives the best advice for all those who need it.
Such books seem to have all the right tips for how to get through the teens effectively, fall in love, have a happy marriage or handle a break-up, build a successful career and live life happily ever after. Yet, they are hardly ever permanent solutions, given that our lives are ever-evolving and passing through various phases. Depending on the phase you are in, only you have the power within to help you out of the situation or find the answers to the questions in your mind. As Elizabeth Gilbert says in her book Big Magic, “we are all walking repositories of buried treasure” that can help us find our own happiness.
“Look within” is a phrase you must have heard before. The Buddha said it thousands of years ago, but it holds true even today. When you start looking inward for the answers—about life, career, family, or relationships—your journey of self-discovery begins. You learn things about yourself that no book can ever tell you. Why you are the way you are, why your relationships fail, what makes you happy and what doesn’t—everything starts unravelling, one after another. Your life becomes an open book for you.
The road to self-discovery goes through self-help, but it is not an easy journey. Many people tread this path, and some lose their way along that journey of life, thanks to distractions—your phone, social media, weekday blues, weekend getaways. With so much going on in the outside world, you forget about the inside world. You lose touch with yourself, with who you are and what makes you feel alive. To take care of yourself, you need to make changes in your life that may seem impossible in the beginning, but the long-term returns help you see life in a new light. Once these changes start turning into habits, each habit takes you one step closer to healing yourself, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Here are some changes that might help you make that start.
For instance, rather than saying “I can’t come for the movies”, say, “I don’t want to come for the movies”. It reflects confidence and assertiveness.
Self-help is a genre of literature that offers advice, guidance, and techniques for individuals to improve their personal development, overcome challenges, and achieve their goals.
Self-help books can provide valuable insights, practical strategies, and motivational stories that can inspire you to make positive changes in your life, develop a better understanding of yourself, and achieve personal growth.
While self-help books can offer valuable tools and perspectives, life is constantly changing, and no solution is one-size-fits-all. It is essential to adapt and evolve as circumstances evolve in order to maintain personal growth and happiness.
Yes, self-help can be a powerful tool for self-discovery. By looking within and exploring various techniques and approaches offered by self-help resources, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of themselves, their values, and their aspirations.
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