Have you heard about the new ADDICTION that’s sweeping the nation? It’s a 693 billion dollar industry. And it’s called self-help books.
I’m calling it an addiction, because we seem to have an insatiable HUNGER for buying books and taking classes that offer the promise of a better, more successful life. We drink, smoke, and overeat because we think it’s going to ease our pain. And we read self-help books because we think it’s going to inspire us to transform our crappy life.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for people empowering themselves. And I’m not saying that ONE book should FIX your life—I have loads of self help books on my bookshelf, and they’ve all contributed to how I’m living my life today. There’s nothing wrong with arming yourself with as much inspiration and tools that you think you can absorb.
But it becomes an addiction when you read and read and read, and read, and NOTHING IN YOUR LIFE CHANGES.
I see this phenomenon all around me. Self-help addicts speak a lot of wisdom, they have powerful tools at their fingertips, and they even have understanding, BUT, They have ZERO ACCESS to the life they want.
WHY?
It’s very simple: They are not taking ACTION.
And it’s because they are not taking action, that they keep going back to books and classes and conversations, and inner-dialogues looking for their magic pill, their FIX. Believe me, I’ve been there. I’ve gone through periods where all I do is read and understand, and I end up feeling like I’ve eaten ten boxes of chocolate chip cookies—it tastes good, but it leaves me feeling stuffed, stuck, an immobile.
Examining and questioning your life takes place in your head, but your LIFE is NOT happening in your head.
When I was eight years old, I thought a lot about riding a bike, I watched others ride their bikes in an attempt to understand how they were able to balance themselves on that bike. But my understanding of it only went so far. The day came when I had to get on my own bike and risk falling off of it. I had to experience it for myself. And yes, I fell, but I got up and tried to figure out this balance thing. And oh! the exhilaration of when it all clicked into place—I’ll never forget that day when I got it. This was me out of head, doing my life, getting into action.
So, before you get tempted to buy another book or take another class, take a look at that thing you’re trying to achieve or that goal you’re aiming for, and ask yourself: What small tiny ACTION can I do today that will lead me in that direction?
Get out of your head, and get into your life. Otherwise, you’ll be left with only explanations and NO life.
{ 0 comments }



