10+ Best Articles on Self Help
The most useful articles on self-help from around the web—beginners to advanced—curated by thought leaders and our community. We focus on timeless pieces and update the list whenever we discover new, must-read articles or videos—make sure to bookmark and revisit this page.
Top 5 Self Help Articles
At a glance: these are the articles that have been most read, shared, and saved on self-help by Refind users in 2023.
What is ...?
New to #self-help? These articles make an excellent introduction.
What Is Self-Parenting And How It's A Part of Healing
Forget mantras and self-help that do not work. Use these simple self-parenting strategies to make lasting changes in your life.
How to ...?
How to be kinder to yourself
Self-compassion techniques aren’t self-indulgent – they’ll tame your inner critic while helping you change for the better
«So I dedicated 10 minutes to sit down and reflect on the same questions I ask my clients to help them clarify their values. These were my answers:»
How To Say No, For The People Pleaser Who Always Says Yes
Constantly saying yes to everything and everyone drains us of time and energy. This episode helps explain the roots of people-pleasing behaviors and how you can say no more often.
«A hard no is clear, concise and brief — "No, thank you" or a "Thanks so much for asking. But I'm not able to this week." A soft no might be easier for a recovering people pleaser. That's when you give more of an explanation. For example: "Thank you so much for asking me to do this project. It sounds really exciting, but I don't have the bandwidth for it at this time." Simple.»
How to Build Self-Esteem (And Does it Even Matter?)
Chock-full of goofy and irreverent metaphors, this post from self-help author Mark Manson is a fun read. Don't let the irreverent tone fool you - Manson has sharp insights into what self-esteem is, why it has such a hold on the popular imagination, and why that hold is perhaps misplaced. His casual style, and adult language might not appeal to everyone, but it's certainly not boring. He helpfully includes footnotes to deeper reads if you're interested in a more in-depth approach and provides essential tips for cultivating a healthy sense of self-appreciation.
How To Read A Self-Help Book In 90 Minutes
Do you have a lot of self-help books on your reading list? This simple system helps you to read a self-help book in 90 minutes.
Short Articles
Short on time? Check out these useful short articles on self-help—all under 10 minutes.
Why we need rituals, not routines
How rituals can help you approach basic tasks more mindfully.
«Currey describes a ritual as an activity that eases a person into a focused mindset, a liminal state that is conducive for thinking, creating, or just being. “Rituals create and mark a transition towards a different kind of mental or emotional state,” he said. This can look different for every person, but it’s helpful to approach rituals as a soothing, meditative activity that allows the participant to be physically and mentally present»
"I read 300 self-help books, these are the top 3 life lessons I learned"
The more I read, the better I felt about my life.
103 Bits of Advice I Wish I Had Known
Today is my birthday. I turn 70. I've learned a few things so far that might be helpful to others. For the past few years, I've jotted down bits of unsolicited advice each year and much to my surprise I
100 Tips for a Better Life
The other day I made an advice thread based on Jacobian’s from last year! If you know a source for one of these, shout and I’ll edit it in. Possessions 1 .If you want to find out about people’s…
«It is cheap for people to talk about their values, goals, rules, and lifestyle. When people’s actions contradict their talk, pay attention! »
Why self-understanding could be important for empathising well
Those who lack a clear self-concept might get consumed by another’s experience, becoming distressed rather than helpful
Long Articles
These are some of the most-read long-form articles on self-help.
What Happens When Modern Society Rebrands an Ancient Philosophy?
Everyone from Silicon Valley billionaires to self-help enthusiasts is repurposing Stoicism for our modern age, with results that are good, bad, and highly indifferent.
«Things like “wake up early,” “go for a walk,” “journal,” “eat well,” “read,” and “get active” are good pieces of advice, but surely not specifically Stoic behaviors. »
Every self-help book ever, boiled down to 11 simple rules
The basic advice in hundreds of bestsellers is older than you think.
«life is suffering. Once you accept this, the next level is not simply to expect it — but to rush headlong into the things that make you afraid.»
Improving Ourselves to Death
What the self-help gurus and their critics reveal about our times.
5 Tenets of a Negative Self-Help
Look, I know what you want to hear. I know you want to hear that everything is going to be alright—no, better than alright, that it's going to be fucking amazeballs. I know you want to hear that the…
How did self-help shape the minds of Woolf and Hemingway?
Woolf loathed it but it spurred her on. Hemingway drew ideas of manliness from it. Self-help haunted the modernist imagination
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