“I didn’t fritter away my character,” we shall say, “I forged it, purposefully, joyously, lovingly, day-by-day, moment-by-moment. I was here,” we shall say, “and I lived by choice not chance, by design not distraction, on fire not off-handed.” So let us release the old tales and excuses, and let us go forth and build our ideal selves. Day. By. Day.”
- Brendon Burchard, Live. Love. Matter.
Several months ago, Kozo introduced me to Brendon Burchard. Despite the fact that I read most anything, I’ve really never felt comfortable with the self-help genre. In fact, even though I trust Kozo’s judgment implicitly, I would have hesitated to go pick up a book by this author, so I’m glad he mailed it to me.
I’m not sure what my problem with the self help genre is, but I’ve read my way through entirely libraries– leaving that section fully un-read.
Of course, you can’t avoid a genre forever.
If you’re a book-addict like myself, someone is going to send a book your way, and you’ll probably read it. It’s like when alcoholics say they have a certain drink, but everyone knows anything will do in a pinch.
My name is Rara, and I’m a bookaholic.
It’s through this method that I’ve been introduced to the works of Deepok Chopra, Steven Covey, Tony Robbins, etc, etc, etc, etc. My thoughts? If I never see another one of those books in my life, I’d be okay.
Now, I’m not hating on self-help book readers. I love people who are constantly seeking to improve themselves, and their world, and the way we interact. That desire is a beautiful gift and it is why so many of my most treasured friends would list it amongst their favorite genre.
I’m also not hating on the authorship– at times, I found all of those authors to be exceptionally profound.
But.
It always seems like I’ve read all their words before.
Everything they have to say can be found in world scripture, or by interacting with strangers, or by meeting every new situation as if it will teach you something.
Unlikely missteps have been my self-help book. Dime store romance novels have been my self-help book. Andre the Giant, Muhammad Ali, Bette Nesmith Graham, Steven Fry, Catarina Fake, and many others have been my self-help books.
And based on the hundreds of self-help books I’ve read through prodding, gifting, or incident– I don’t think I’m quite far behind the curve. And, based on the number of friends I’ve had who have sunk their entire destiny while singing the praises of one of these multi-trillion dollar self-help gurus– I have to say that I’m firmly on the side of my way being the safer way.
Still, I recognize genius when I see it and Brendon Buchard’s books were glittered with many new insightful ideas. Some that I’ve never read or encountered anywhere, and some (like the one quoted above) that were old ideas said in a way that was meaningful to me.
I’ll be referencing his works a lot in the coming days as I play around with my plans for the next year because I am rebuilding. My mantra for 2014 is taken right from his quote above:
Choice not chance.
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I haven’t been feeling up to speed lately, and I’m so glad for those of you who are sticking it out with me. As I was writing this, I kept thinking how I would have normally whittled down all the ideas here to a tiny paragraph in a larger post that summarizes everything. Alas, with my brain functioning as it is, I’ll have to work these ideas out of my mind moment by moment. Post by post.
Are you a fan of self-help books? Are there other authors in that genre that would have been better to start with? Does your 2014 have a mantra or goal?
PS – Thanks, Kozo, for shaking me out of a box I didn’t even know I was in.
