Self-Improvement Made Easy
A few years ago, I became obsessed with self-improvement books.
After reading over fifty of them, with more suggestions, systems, and strategies than I can count, I realized a key insight about what works and what doesn’t:
For self-improvement to work, it has to be EASY.
I go into more detail in this in my essay “Don’t Challenge Yourself,” but the most important point is this:
Many self-help suggestions are too difficult, time-consuming, or require too much willpower to be compatible with your nature and busy life. Which means that once you get past your initial burst of enthusiasm, you won’t follow them.
To be useful, a self-improvement strategy needs to make your life easier, not harder.
This blog is devoted to seeking out such strategies.
Overall, I focus on positivity, avoiding self-destructive behavior, easy wins, dodging common pitfalls, and relieving ourselves of common pressures placed on us by society or own mental hang-ups.
The same themes are in my book The Weight Loss Habit: The No BS, No Gimmick, (Sort of) Easy Way to Lose Weight and Keep It Off Forever.
To learn more of what this blog is about, read Don’t Challenge Yourself, or the Top Posts. You can also check out the last few articles here.
Bio – Steven Ray Marks
Steven Ray Marks started his childhood wealthy, then suddenly switched to being raised by a poor single mother working nights after his attorney father got caught stealing from his clients.
He has a BA in Economics from Georgetown University, and an MFA in Screenwriting from The University of Southern California.
Professionally, he switches between writing and accounting. He has been the Controller for several startups, and wrote video games based on Hannah Montana, High School Musical, and Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader.
He publishes the newsletter Five Boosts, which every week suggests five articles on easy ways to improve your life. (Subscribe)
He grew up obese, then in his mid-20s figured out an effective strategy for losing weight, and has kept the weight off since. His strategies for how to build the habits for lifelong weight-loss, without relying on willpower, are laid out in his book The Weight Loss Habit: The No BS, No Gimmick, (Sort of) Easy Way to Lose Weight and Keep It Off Forever.
He splits his time between Los Angeles and West Tennessee, with his wife and an ever-changing amount of foster kittens.
Contact info for questions, comments, interview requests, etc:
E-mail: stevenraymarks at gmail.com
Twitter: @YourselfHelping
Website: stevenraymarks.com
Medium: @stevenraymarks
Amazon: Steven Ray Marks Author Page
Instagram: @SelfHelpingYourself
Goodreads: Steven Ray Marks author profile
Gumroad: gumroad.com/stevenraymarks
