Self-help advice can ruin your life.
That is, if you aren’t careful about which advice you follow and how you follow it.
This is why I often take a rather critical view of self-help gurus, in articles like my cornerstone piece Don’t Challenge Yourself! and my recent post You Can’t Solve Problems Through Willpower.
I’ve seen it happen.
I’ve lived through it.
My father completely destroyed everything he held dear by doing things commonly recommended in the bad kinds of self-help books. He went from being wealthy and successful, to broke, unemployed, mooching off friends, and still not having enough money to buy food.
This all happened before self-help books were as popular as they were today. He was making his own terrible decisions and not following anyone else’s advice.
But today I see many gurus recommending others make the same awful choices my father did. While motivational posters seem to find the worst advice imaginable to be inspirational.… Read more