A lot of people knock self-help books——and in many cases, they're not wrong. So many self-help books suck. Personally, though, I've found several that have helped me a lot. Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way, Kenneth Christian's Your Own Worst Enemy, and Stephen Pressfield's The War of Art are just a few of the self-help books I go back to again and again when I need a tweak of inspiration.
What about you? Do you read self-help books? If so, which ones have helped you? How have they helped you? For me, the biggest benefit I've gotten from self-help books is that they have helped me to train myself to think differently. They've helped me to think more positively, which in turn helps me to actually do positive things instead of sitting around complaining about my life. (I'm not totally cured of this, but I've come a long way.)
Aside from The Secret,—which is BS, IMHO—what helps you?
5 comments:
Is The Joy of Sex a self help book? Cos I think that's the only one I've read!!!
The drawings didn't help but the text was so objective - it made sex quite functional!
Ok, off I go now!! LOL! Take care
x
I don't much read self-help books these days. I had counselling for a couple of years when I had a lot going on in my life, then again when I did a counselling diploma. I tell you, that diploma course felt like it took me and my life apart and left them in pieces all over the floor for me to put back together again!
After that, I didn't so much feel I needed self-help books. I wouldn't recommend a counselling course though - it was terribly gruelling and a lot of relationships break up during those courses!
I love that title: The War of Art. Hadn't heard of that one before and may have to read it just because of that (and your recommendation).
I read a bit of The Artist's Way and did morning pages and a few artist's dates. Then I stopped. Have done morning pages off and on since then. I get too caught up in the details - is it front and back of the page or is it just one side? *sigh* I know it's really all about just doing it.
LOL, Kitty! I may have to check that one out. : )
Fairy, I've had a couple of short stints of counseling myself, but it helped me. I suspect I didn't stick with it long enough, though. I might have had similar experiences to yours.
Sarah, I struggle with that, too. The thing is, while I'm dong the pages, I don't notice any changes. It's not until I've stopped doing them for a while that I notice a shift in my thinking, and how much I need them.
It's not counselling that I don't recommend, it's doing a course to become a counsellor that takes you to bits and leaves you with the pieces!
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