Self-help my ass…
Have any of you ever read a “self-help” book? Like; You can do it all or Think positive and you will have it all. The titles are kind of made up, but you get the drift? Anyway, I used to read lots of them, starting when I was 16. I tried desperately to find a solution, understand my self, fix myself. I understood a little bit more, I did. But mostly I felt even worst because I realized if everything that happens in life is all my responsibility, it´s also my fault? That sucks. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for positive thinking! My soul loves it!
So I found those books again, years later, and I´m reading them again. It´s easier to see the whole picture now, understand what I can change and accept it. That´s because I have lived, put a few more years of life-experience on my hips. Somebody who was 38 when I was 16 probably tried to tell me, that I had to learn by living. Hey, somebody over 60 would probably tell me I´m only a child, actually somebody over 60 did tell me that! The books help, they do, but most of all, I´ve learned to help myself, and I guess they have to take some of the credit. They made me search.
I just wish they could add a little spoon of humor! Maybe I’ll write a fun book one day about self-help! Like “How to Self-help without kicking yourself in the ass…”
How about you, did you crack the code on how to help yourself? Is your soul happy?
My spirit is like a roller coaster, like many peoples around I guess…I’m weary of people always up….I don’t know, maybe they understood something I did not get so far, or they don’t bother with anything…as for the books, I did not read many of that type, but two that a friend lend me, it is in french, it is titled ‘sagesses concordantes’, it is a collection of extracts from Prajnânpad et Krishnamurti, Vimala Thakar et Etty Hillesum writings, I found it ‘enligthening’, mainly they say that you have to learn to let live flow and ‘sail’ with it, of course there is much more to say about it, but it would be too long to wrote….:)
I know the feeling of roller coaster… All too well. I’m working on flowing…. Getting there, wish it was easier!
good luck! to both of us..:))
I know exactly what you mean. I’ve been trying to read some selfhelf books, but I found out that it was so much easier just helping myself. You’re the only one in your life that can help yourself in the beginning, and you really just have to admit that you have the power to change your own life. : ) My soul is very happy, I just don’t always see that it is. To ease my mind and body I often go for waks, take photos or read books. That really helps me to create things, like photographs.
I think we do have the power to change our life, that’s what I’m counting on now… It helps to have other peoples insight as well, like yours! I’m happy your soul is happy, that makes the world a better place, you know!?
I know what you mean about the lack of humor in many self-help books. That’s why I like Stuart Wilde’s take on things. He’s (almost) always having a laugh. Having said that, I think all the S-H books I’ve read boil down to one idea: acceptance. When I am at odds with myself, or the world around me, tension comes and out of tension suffering. A walk in nature normally fixes almost everything!
That’s so true, I used to go for walks in the forrest in Norway, now I go for a walk on the beach…same same but different;-)
My soul is happy….waiting for my body to catch up.
Sam
Oh I know that feeling…