I was mooching around the Self-Help section in my local Barnes and Noble the other day when I reflect on the first self-help book I've ever read. Most of the early, actually written on psychology and psychologists.
Remember: "I'm OK. You're OK."? It actually had pie-charts and intelligence they needed to get through them.
I remembered also that during the rise of the feminist movement in the seventies, the greatest of all self-help books have been feministBooks. Heady political matters. These books actually changed the course of life. How well I recall my first Consciousness Raising Group. It was scary-looking women in black Mao slippers on well-worn copies of full Simone de Beauvoir "second self".
I was introduced to many of these books in my assertiveness Raising Groups; aA phenomenon so familiar, then we would refer in passing to our Chablis and fondue, as the AR groups. As in "Whose AR group you arein? "I do not think AR groups is also available in those days. Why should they? You have the option of Betty Crocker and hipsters gone. In any case, these books were rare gold. - Circulated recommended, endlessly debated and few and sown .
Now, Self-Help only rival computer software as the largest department in any bookstore. Everybody, it seems, has something to say. Self-help books are opinion pieces. And some of them are opinion pieces in very narrow ribbon with a very large desk. And just tothings really interesting, we know nothing about the authors be evaluated as to whether their opinion, is actually worth more than a bus ticket and a cup of coffee. Do this. They are written by doing the dying, the sick, the addict, the narcissist. (Especially the narcissistic). Everybody's got the secret of life, or at least the magic bullet that will help you to be one or two days longer.
Since it does not govern by the FDA of the claims of these books, there is no legal protection. And whenMan, we are all searching for abbreviations. We hope against hope that there is a substitute for doing the work themselves. I personally believe that self-improvement is an inside job. It is not a "how to" - more a "Why can not I can." Most people know what they have to do, they just do not want to do it. (Stop bingeing, drinking, whining, welcomed the blame on everyone else. Butt off the couch and Get the day) the responsibility for your life.
Even if I borrow gay self-help books that Ithey do not buy for the same reason that I am not expensive supplements or vitamins. There are no quanitifiable degree of investment security. The half-life of my vitamin intake is about two weeks, or when I come to the end of the bottle, depending on what comes before. Then - unless I'm halfway through writing the Great American Novel, or training for a triathlon, I lose interest and assume that they do not.
These books seem relatively harmless. You can not claim, with one of them. Noneof them, you should criticize your neighbors, or cut people out on the highway. They are all about being nice to the people to limit appreciation of your family, not to your potential. They are all a good, solid Judeo-Christian, Buddhist, Bill W. values. Everything revolved together in a large centrifuge
The problem is, they work on fear. If you do not what they urge you to do, you run the risk of not failing to reach or achieve your potential. The pressure not to miss "the solution" isreally. What happens if you eat at the end of cat food alone, and that was the last thing you a not tried yet?
So, once again, as I was about mooching around the Self-Help section of the other half day expect to come across "All I about the life I have from my manicure" When I realized you need to know that in fact everything I ever needed to know, in life, I probably learned from my dog.
You do not know him, but he is quite a unique individual. He is courageous, indefatigable optimism, completePresent and without cunning. What you see is definitely what you get.
He is also a good listener.
He is a big monster dog who lives a few doors down and pounces on him every time he is afraid. So my boy steels and trotted as fast as he can, the terrible past the fence to his favorite pee spot obtained. No eye contact. He comes back the same way in a hurry. He gives me a rash, a frightened look, as if to say: "Waddya gonna do?" .
If I leave him alone, heasleep. If I let him out, he runs around happily and breathless, until he could no longer walk. Works in both cases. He has never had a grudge and is always ready to kiss and make it if I hold a grudge. He is an opportunist and take what he feels he needs to say all the food that falls on the floor or looks like it might fall to the ground.
He trusts that the Universe, aka me for his needs is available. He is walking on his plate and if it wants to eat the food in which he - if it is empty, it goesback to sleep, to eat .. or see how it works. He did not step on the floor thinking if we get the food and when it will be enough or whether it will be his last meal, or if its meeting nutritional needs.
I love my little guy with all my heart. After all - he's my guru. I'm just trying to find out how, as a mere man, I can obviously his wisdom and serenity.
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