Comments on: Self Improvement Sucks

By: Paul H

Paul H — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 16:30:25 +0000

There definitely is some truth here, with people wanting the quick answer and the change without the pain, as you say. All the self help crap like “The Secret” is without doubt trash. That doesnt mean all self help / self improvement is though. You just have to be selective in material and realistic in goals and techniques, Simply asking for money damn sure aint gonna get you any. But meditating to relax yourself, doing some mindfulness exercises to enjoy your work place more, and some well chosen exercise for self esteem will definitely help motivate and inspire you and that WILL lead to money. So it’s up to the reader to be responsible too, I think.

By: Cave Canem

Cave Canem — Sun, 04 May 2008 01:02:50 +0000

Hey you, they’re people out there cheering for you even though you don’t know it! It’s one of those lessons we never learn as a kid even though a hundreds of different people feed us, educate us, heck pull us out of the street all before we can stop popping on ourselves. :^)

My point is life is a spiral up or in decline and because sometimes that spiral is huge its hard to see if were moving up or down… just keep going because trust me it matters. If you don’t you’ll be hurting all of us that have been cheering you on since you were a baby. (Go Cathy!)

Chin up Lady, it’s all do-able
C.C.

By: The Sunk Cost Fallacy And Self Improvement - Part 1 | Ripples of Improvement

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:57:15 +0000

[...] fallacy. However, the sunk cost fallacy can apply to other self improvement endeavors as well. In Self Improvement Sucks, I talked about how we jump from method to method, looking for the one that has the least amount of [...]

By: A Better Life Requires A Continual Commitment | My Super-Charged Life

A Better Life Requires A Continual Commitment | My Super-Charged Life — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:09:54 +0000

[...] challenging, it’s hard. Well, let me tell you the truth that no one wants to admit: self improvement sucks!" What does she mean? Is she trying to discourage us from trying to improve [...]

By: It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better, But Don’t Coast Before It Gets Great | Ripples of Improvement

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:02:13 +0000

[...] 2008 | In Changing Mindset – Considerations | Table of contents for Downside of Self ImprovementSelf Improvement SucksJust Because Your Working On Self Improvement Doesn’t Mean You’re Always Getting [...]

By: Cathy

Cathy — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 10:34:21 +0000

Evan,

Thank you. I’m glad that I got the message across that I wanted to. I, too write the “good” posts, but I wanted to make sure I included information about the other side of self improvement as well.

I do agree that it’s good to keep looking for easier ways. However, in my experience, even the ways that appear easier often have their own pain as well. In the end, I’m not sure there is a way that doesn’t include *some* pain. I also agree that it does help when we *choose* to undertake a self improvement effort, rather that being forced into it.

By: Evan

Evan — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:08:34 +0000

Hi Cathy,

This post is much needed. I think people write the self-development stuff often when they are on the high from the breakthrough. This is understandable but a bit misleading – the pain that was gone through and the integrating the new into their life both get lost.

I think it’s good to keep looking for easier ways. Why endure more pain than we have to? Small and consistent with lots of support and reward seems best for most things. There probably will be other times, but it is good to have a strong base so that we know we can get through these other times. This is my approach at least. We don’t have to do anything painful just because someone says we should. We need to know that it is our choice (and why we are doing it) I think.

Thinking of you as you continue on your journey. Wishing you love and blessings.