Self-Help Vs. Real-Help: How to Actually Improve Your Life

Growth Mindset Psychology: The Science of Self-Improvement

What does psychology say about the role of information in building wisdom and lasting change in our lives?

There is an explosion in self-help content. From gurus on Tik Tok to 85,000 self-help books being published a year. But what actually works?

This episode explores the psychology of learning and how to put information into practice:

• How to identify time-wasting nonsense?
• 3 steps to build a healthy content diet
• The best forms of content for retention and lasting changes?
• Take home strategy to build deeper wisdom

You'll come away with an improved growth mindset that doesn't fall for promises of instant results and is ready to put time and effort into cultivating wisdom instead of consuming it.

Recommended Books:

• Slow Productivity - Cal Newport
• The Power of Habit - Charles Duhigg
• Pachinko - Min Jin Lee
• Wild Swans - Jung Chang
• Replay - Ken Grimwood
• Dalai Lama's Cat - David Michie
• And The Mountains Echoed - Khaled Hosseini
• The Mood Of Future Joys - Alastair Humphreys
• Siddartha - Herman Hesse

Science References:

• Dr Robert Sternberg - What is Wisdom and How Can We Develop It
• Dr Patricia Alexander - The Development of Expertise: The Journey from Acclimation to Proficiency
• Dr Paul Zak - The Neuroscience of Narrative Transportation: Why Inspiring Stories Make Us React
• Dr Keith Oatley - Fiction: The Narrative Simulation of Social Worlds
• Dr Richard Nisbett - The Geography of Thought: How Asians and Westerners Think Differently

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Growth Mindset Psychology:

Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement.

📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset)

🛜 Website - Growth Mindset

Chapters:

00:00 How to actually help yourself with self-help

01:18 The Paradox of Modern Self-Help

02:36 The Slow Wisdom of Ancient Cultures

03:06 The Harm of Fast Advice & Illusion of Instant Mastery

05:01 Cal Newport's Framework for Personal Development - Three Types of Self-Help Content

06:17 The Candy Bar of Self-Help: Social Media

07:06 The Protein Shake: Longer Form Content

07:50 The Full Meal: Books

10:08 The Power of Narrative Transportation

19:27 The Value of Diverse Perspectives

20:56 Building a House of Personal Growth

22:08 A Balanced Approach to Content Consumption

24:13 The Danger of Overwhelming Amounts Information and Instructions

27:07 Conclusion: Cultivating Wisdom

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