The pursuit of self-improvement can easily slip into compulsion or addiction, leading to a cycle of constant learning without real change. It's important to recognize that sometimes the best action is inaction, allowing oneself to simply exist without the pressure of continuous improvement. Self-help should serve as maintenance rather than exhilaration; effective growth often lies in dull, repetitive practices rather than engaging in ever-exciting new modalities. This highlights the risk of avoidance through ceaseless self-betterment activities, where individuals mask their personal responsibility for change by continuously seeking external solutions.
Are you addicted to self-improvement? Are experts really any better than the rest of us at knowing how to make positive changes in our lives? What are some common pieces of life advice that just don't seem to work?
Drew and I tackle all of these questions today in our brand new, updated format for the pod. Find out why self-help can turn into pseudo-religion (and why we should bring back exorcisms), whether or not a huge mega-study by a bunch of fancy experts can tell us anything about behavioral change, and some common self-improvement tropes that just don't do it for us.
Here's the study we discuss: Megastudies improve the impact of applied
behavioural science
Let us know what you think of the new show format in the comments below.
Use code MARK to get 15% off your order of health tech gear at https://BonCharge.com
Get one month of Shopify for just $1 at https://shopify.com/idgaf
Get 10% off health services at https://marekhealth.com/idgaf
And sign up for Your Next Breakthrough, my weekly newsletter that will help you be a slightly less awful person: https://markmanson.net/breakthrough
Got a question for us? Leave it in the comments below or send it to podcast@markmanson.net
Theme song is "Icarus Lives" by Periphery.