{"id":6366,"date":"2020-06-11T13:30:00","date_gmt":"2020-06-11T20:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lifestyle.org\/?p=6366"},"modified":"2023-08-04T11:19:00","modified_gmt":"2023-08-04T18:19:00","slug":"does-self-help-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lifestyle.org\/does-self-help-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Does Self-Help Work?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Self-help \u201cwisdom\u201d is everywhere these days. New self-help books pop up every day, and social media is overflowing with inspirational quotes from self-help experts.<\/p>\n

Although people want to improve their lives, many are skeptical of self-help books and personal development gurus because they wonder if it really<\/em> works.<\/p>\n

The good news is that research shows that self-directed therapy can work if done right.<\/p>\n

You may not feel like a \u201cnew person\u201d or the best version of yourself, like most self-improvement books promise, but you\u2019ll probably feel less anxious and depressed. Plus, you\u2019ll learn some skills that\u2019ll stick with you for the rest of your life.<\/p>\n

Here are some tips that can make the difference between buying countless self-improvement books that end up not working, and finding that one book that will change your outlook on life.<\/p>\n

Find The Right Book\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Anyone can declare themselves a \u201cself-help guru\u201d and write a best-selling book. However, the best books are backed up by solid science. The Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies website (abct.org<\/a>) has a great list of such books covering a wide spectrum of mental health topics from anxiety to bipolar disorder.<\/p>\n

Sticking to books that have received the seal of approval from recognized institutions can steer you clear of every new book, podcast, and guru that crosses your path. It can also help you stick to battle-tested techniques, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), that licensed therapists use.<\/p>\n

Take Notes<\/strong><\/p>\n

While it\u2019s relaxing to curl up on the couch with a good book, that\u2019s not the best way to get the most from a self-improvement book. It\u2019s important to highlight things that stand out to you and take notes of the most important lessons from each chapter. Review your notes to identify the steps that would make the biggest difference in your life right now.<\/p>\n

Take Action<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unless you take action, your life won\u2019t improve. To benefit from a self-improvement program, make room in your schedule to practice what you\u2019ve learned. Experiment, play, have fun! Notice what works and what doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n

Try at first to follow the program as closely as possible; it\u2019s okay to skip a step if you have serious doubts about its usefulness in your specific situation, or if it compromises your beliefs. But don\u2019t skip steps just because you\u2019re eager to get to the end.<\/p>\n

Self-help works if you do it the \u201cright\u201d way. Stick to books and resources recommended by reputable organizations, take notes as you read, and, finally, take action on what you\u2019ve learned.<\/p>\n

Keep in mind that self-help isn\u2019t a replacement for counseling or therapy. Serious mental health conditions require the intervention of a qualified professional.<\/p>\n

Photo by My Life Journal<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/p>\n<\/span>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Self-help \u201cwisdom\u201d is everywhere these days. New self-help books pop up every day, and social media is overflowing with inspirational quotes from self-help experts. Although people want to improve their lives, many are skeptical of self-help books and personal development gurus because they wonder if it really works. The good news is that research shows…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":4265,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[1100,1098],"aware":[1752,1756],"class_list":["post-6366","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","tag-personal-development","tag-self-help","aware-attitude","aware-existence"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDoes Self-Help Work? - Lifestyle<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/lifestyle.org\/does-self-help-work\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Does Self-Help Work? - Lifestyle\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Self-help \u201cwisdom\u201d is everywhere these days. 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