Peddling Hope

Challenges with Self Help and Self Development Literature

Let’s take a step back for a moment and look with a critical eye at some of the attitudes of the self-development and self-help movement.

There seems to be a general idea amongst self-help gurus that positivity and hope are the antidotes life’s most devastating issues. With global politics and economics beyond the control of the individual, we are invited to write our gratitude journals and look towards a brighter future.

Now, I’m not for one minute suggesting that techniques like gratitude journaling, positive thinking, reframing experience and mindfulness are of no value. Quite the contrary. What I am saying is that all the positivity and hope in the world will come to nothing if there is no attempt to take action.

Hope is best considered as an ointment which can ease the immediate pain but does not on its own move us to better, more useful solutions.

Likewise, positivity, is a useful attitude if it results in meaningful actions.

Living in hope and exuding positivity alone will not change your situation.

When you read self-help literature, and I include my own in this, you will often be presented with inspiring ideas, quotes and stories. The reason the authors of such…