Do People Who Don’t Need Self Help Need Self Help?
A month ago, I embarked on a ‘Tony Robbins’ challenge—a crash course in “releasing the power within” so to speak. I procrastinated, but I also got flack from everyone. My friends. My family. My boyfriend. Everyone.
I am not a twentysomething hot mess like many of the “it-girl” celebrities you see on the pages of the tabloids. No, my life isn’t perfect, but I am certainly happy. From the exterior, I definitely don’t look like someone who needs self help, but I wonder: Do people who don’t necessarily need self-help need self-help?
Yes—and Jennifer Aniston would agree with me. In a recent interview with Parade, the Love Happens star reveals her love for self-help books. Sure, the 40-year-old cougar can’t catch a man that’s right for her, but she understands the value in motivational books. While I am in no position to relate to Aniston as a celebrity, she’s still a human and gets it—we all need a cheerleader sometimes.
“I say to people who look down their noses at motivational books, ‘Screw them.’ I’m telling you, people have got to mind their own business. It just shows, so obviously, their own fear or resentment,” Jennifer said. “They put down somebody else’s choice to sort of make themselves feel superior. They could probably use a little self-help themselves.”
While I may not need the intense self-help like many celebrities who’ve fallen from grace (not you, Jennifer) over the years, I do need to reach my highest potential. Notice I say “need” not “want.” It’s a must, a necessity in my life. That’s why I am hoping Tony Robbins’ peak-performance strategies measure up.
I know Jennifer Aniston would have my back about self-help, but do you think people who don’t need self help actually need self help?
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Kerry Lauerman
Joan Walsh
Salon.com
Comments
Those are the people, no matter who they (family, friends, etc), you should be the most wary allowing to influence your decisions or emotions.
Good for you, by the way. I've had no experience with Tony Robbins, but I know what you're talking about from other interests that I've embarked upon to improve myself. Generally, I've come to conclude some people have really issues with "help", and real issues with the idea that anyone can improve themselves.
Those same people, at least in my experience, are the ones who focus on the negative in life, thrive on spreading gossip and false rumors, and are covertly hostile (or some would say passive-aggressive).
Breaking patterns are incredibly difficult and it takes time. She may have been aware of the issues and that's why she had so many self-help books. Sometimes it takes reading a bunch before you find the one.
Over the years, what I found is that those who would make fun of what I did were themselves crippled by the very same opinions they projected toward me. In the meantime, I am enjoying my life, and that's the point isn't it?
http://open.salon.com/blog/robin_sneed/2009/09/02/c0-dependence
And what Mary said! xox
And Dr. Wayne Dyer- WONDERFUL! ..so many others, most aggreeably, maybe are about money and profit- however, there are a very few that really know what they are talking about.
I assume your whole point was to be on the front page, and see how many comments you received.
I think most self-books have a temporary, fast-food effect. And many times, they are so loaded with generalizations- they just don't go deep enough.
And some of the authors are so disturbing and vaguely cult-like. There are very few who don't seem a little bizarro to me. Just not real.
At this point of my life, I'd much prefer to read Carl Jung and go a little deeper. Or read an inspiring autobiography where someone lived what they believed. That's just me.
And I agree with you - ultimately it's what works for you.
The other thing I find peculiar? Generally, women are the target audience for self-help books. I wonder why and what that means. You just don't see a man reading "Men are from Mars..." (one of my least favorite books of all time.)