"Everyone is a part mess and part masterpiece, just like you."
- Patricia Leveque
Have you ever felt like you are full of those inner voices that pull you back every time? Or do you lack the confidence to put yourself clearly in front of others? Everyone at one or the other point in time has felt it. So, what do people do at that moment in time? They often move towards self-help resources to bring out the burning desire in their minds. Though our surrounding is full of these resources, the most important question to address here is:
How to utilize self-help advice to the fullest?
Everyone wants to improve their lives and achieve their goals. This idea itself has given birth to self-help resources. We all read them, and quotes from them are also very common on the internet but we rarely find them helping us in the best possible manner. This blog will share some ways to utilize self-help advice so that you can truly improve your life.
1. Take notes
It's a common mistake people make. They read self-help resources, understand the meanings, and grasp the ideas but forget to note them. So, you don't repeat it. Don't just read self-help ideas as if they are stories or articles, take notes and compile the best advice from them, so that you can look at them later. This will help you to remember an important part of the self-help advice.
2. Read a variety of books
“I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, 'Where's the self-help section?' She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.”
― George Carlin
It's a thing to admit that every person has a different self-help need, so the same book will not be able to meet everyone's purpose. So, read books that give you a positive aura and help you to make the best out of your energy which will help you to grow fully. You must seek and read different areas from the self-help genre so that you can learn to improve all aspects of your life and not just one or two.
3. Take it personally
When you deal with the harshness or rudeness of people, it is advised that you should not take that personally. But when it comes to self-help resources, you must take everything personally to have the maximum impact of the self-help advice given.
Always imagine as if the book is telling you something or correcting your behavior that hurdles your success.
4. Have an open mind
Some advice provided in the books might feel contrary to what you have been believing so far but, oftentimes it's best to think about it instead of immediately rejecting it. New ideas can be found by exploring thoughts that feel different or new to us. So, open your mind and make use of the new ideas to the fullest.
5. Ask a mentor
Some self-help resources have deep and complicated knowledge compiled in them, especially when dealing with philosophical ideology. Thus, it is recommended to ask a literate person or a mentor about complicated thoughts and take guidance from them. Wrong interpretation or half knowledge is dangerous and that’s why when you are confused, it’s better to ask a wise person than to assume something wrong. Otherwise, instead of helping your 'self', it will disrupt it.
6. Identify action items
Mistaking that "grasping ideas is action", is worse. Self-help tools can only help when you will take action to help your 'self'. Identify the patterns and advice which can help you and can be implemented by taking action. Without taking action, seizing many self-help books won’t help you.
7. Change habits
Habits define a person. While reading self-help resources, you must have found that changing these habits will benefit you in this way and so on. So, first, identify easy-to-change habits to make small but crucial changes in your life. Then slowly start challenging difficult-to-change habits. As you change your habits according to your goals, you will notice that the path to your destination is getting easy for you.
8. Make plans
“The only time you fail is when you fall and stay down.”
― Stephen Richards, Cosmic Ordering: You can be successful
Make plans and work over them seriously. See what actions you can take and which habits you can change. Start making plans and implement them in order to truly change lives in a systematic and realistic way. Without a plan, you will not be able to know what to do with the knowledge you have acquired through self-help resources.
9. Execute, evaluate, and repeat
“When defeat comes, accept it as a signal that your plans are not sound, rebuild those plans, and set sail once more toward your coveted goal.”
― Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich.
Observe the effects of the plans and the new habits that you have adopted in your life. If something is not working, either stop it or change it. If something is making your life better, continue doing it. Keep learning and practically implementing the lessons you get from the self-help resources.
10. Share your experiences
When you get something that has improved your way of life, then it is recommended that you share your experiences and wisdom with others. Through online forums, real-life conversations, blogging, and other platforms share the best self-help advice you got with others to let everyone gets a chance to learn something by which they can be helped.
These are some of the ways to utilize self-help advice to the fullest! Follow them they will lead you toward your goals. And remember the beautiful quote by Sheryl Sandberg, “Done is better than perfect.”, Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead.
Silly Opera is making it possible to create spaces where you can share your stories, have deep conversations about mental health, and these are open to all but based on an invite-only policy to ensure safety. We have listening circles, open-mic sessions, open discussions, ask-a-counselor and so much more. For more information write to us and to join our community by submitting this form. See you there!
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