Self Help - Scam or Real

The self help industry is worth over ten billion dollars annually and that figure, particularly in this global recession, will grow. The big debate is it is a scam or do self help books really work? Do people appear to be happier, all evidence contrary I think, we seem more disillusioned, more aggressive, greedier and more unhealthy. Is is the fault of those that push personal development, or is at a result of political policies and economic climate. When times were good, we could afford more and therefore, wanted more. 

I have to walk through a large mall daily to get to my office and as you walk through the mall, there is a set of four doors stood in a row, side by side, and usually at one end one of the doors is open, and I watch people with interest as they approach this set of doors because even if people are on the other side from the door that is open they will cross all the way over and walk through the open door rather than make just a little bit of effort and push open the door that is right in front of them.

This is how, i view the self help industry, I think that the successful authors, such as Anthony Robbins, Dr John Demartini, Bob Doyle, Louise Hay, Mark Victor Hansen and Jack Canfield, to name a few, walk the walk and talk the talk and the reason why people continue to remain unchanged, even after reading these books, and why the self help industry gets such bad press is that people are not prepared to push the door.

We continue as humans to take the easy path even though sometimes it continues to cause unhappiness in our lives. Where as if, with just a little bit more consciousness about ourselves and the way our thoughts and beliefs affect our lives and by actually taking and following the advise of these experts, we could make a dramatic shift towards pure joy. 

Just spend a little bit of time today, listening the conversations of those around, whether they are friends, colleagues or just people you are sat next to in a restaurant. Take note of how many of these conversations are positive and how many are people complaining and enjoying doing it Listen to how you start a conversation with someone, do you always comment on the bad weather or how long it took you to get to work, take note?

I have started this blog, not because I am a self help guru, but I have spent a fortune on self help products and wanted to save you a little work, so I will review and list the ones that I really like and think that they are worth a purchase, I will also be honest about the ones that did not really work for me. 

P.S. try just pushing the door today and see the difference it makes.