IMPORTANT CLARIFICATION/CORRECTIONS: I want to preface this by saying that I don’t think the entirety of the self-help industry is bad - and as some of you have rightly pointed out, not all the fault should be given to the industry itself, consumers of the industry need to take accountability for their actions as well. Self-help has benefited me greatly, but only when I approached it from a place of not using self-help as a “quick fix” for motivation and happiness -this video was intended to look at various traps that people can fall into if they use this industry in the wrong way, which I had been doing previously. I realise now that there must be a BALANCE - both your consumption and action must have a symbiotic relationship, and a combination of both can make self-help something that could prove to be genuinely useful. So with that in mind, see this video as a look into the aspects of self-help that have been taken and misused by both the producers and the consumers of the industry, but not a hit piece on the self-help industry as a whole. Hope this clarifies things! 🙏 Edit #1: Also, when I say “my first year in college” in this video I am referring to sixth form (US equivalent of grades 11/12) - we sometimes call this “college” in the UK. Edit #2: I was harsh when including clips of Gary Vaynerchuk in this video! - Although I didn't mention him by name specifically, I did imply that he was somehow a negative influence of the "self-help" community. Gary V is actually very outspoken against certain aspects of the self-help industry that I've referenced to in this video, and he is a legitimate entrepreneur who profits mostly from his media company, not from self-help. By no stretch of the imagination should he be pegged in the same category as "guru's" like Grant Cardone - this was definitely a mistake on my part. Edit #3: I recommended Echarte Tolle's "The Power of Now" book at the end of this video. I want to emphasise that whilst I enjoy this book for its philosophy on mindfulness, and bringing awareness to your thoughts, I do belive that are many elements of the book that are "woo-woo" and pseudoscience. Bare that in mind if you ever purchase his book.

My father always says “If working hard was to make anyone rich, construction workers would be the richest men in the world” Edit: You really think the world consists of the 1st world country where you lay your comfortable asses at? People working at construction are suffering all around the world, stop saying “they make good money” etc. They work under minimum wage and even worse, there is still slavery in the world, did you know that?

“A patient healed is a customer lost.” This is the mindset of the self care industry.

the self-help industry has led me to the point where i thought relaxing and having time for yourself is procrastination. i always felt so guilty for not doing something "productive" even tho i have been sudying most of the time. i have also started to have symptoms of neurosis. thank you self-help industry :)

The problem we have is because Most people always taught that " you only need a good job to become rich " . These billionaires are operating on a whole other playbook that many don't even know exists.

Toxic positivity is a huge one that in culture globally, people have now ended up shaming others for being *real* rather than _“positive”_ .

After reading about a dozen self-help books you'll start to realize that they all pretty much consist of the same content.

Life is so much better when your parents teach you early on how to detect BS before you’re standing in it. Mom, Dad-for the millionth time-thank you.

"Say no to Motion and say yes to Action." Indeed, I've heard this from other mentors as well. We can do things that feels like a progress but it wasn't. Like reading books, listening to podcast, watching educational videos is also a form of procrastination, because instead of putting your knowledge into action you get stuck doing these stuff. Very DANGEROUS and not everyone is aware of this.

"If you want self help why would you read a book written by somebody else? That's not self help, that's help." Thanks George.

Advice from my father: "How you get good at something isn't what you do when you're motivated, it's how you persevere when you aren't."

After consuming 3 years of self improvement I got understanding of this: i don't need 100 gurus, i need 1 guru, i don't need 100 books, i need 1 book, i have to take 100 actions, from that 1 book.

this comment section is more valuable than any self help book.

"Sleeping eight hours a day? that's a third of your life!" Yes, but it's the best third dude!

*Reading self-help books can be in itself a form of procrastination.*

It took me being hospitalized, diagnosed Lyme disease, and shutting down the doors to my business to realize that I had been ignoring the "negative thoughts" and just needed to think more positively. In reality I was deeply trying to communicate with myself that I was unbearably unhappy doing what I was doing. I worked myself right into the ground at 29 and nearly lost everything. I think one of the main reasons that my body became susceptible to sickness is that I had drained the life out of it and was physically and emotionally exhausted. 18 months later and I'm still learning this difficult lesson. Self help obfuscates the work that needs to be done internally and makes it feel like you are doing inner work. That you are changing. You are not changing you are just becoming someone that you will recognize less and less.

It’s also occurred to me that the self help industry preys on people who don’t love or believe in themselves. They are trying to provide results and answers which an individual can only find in themselves. In other words, no one else can live your life for you. No one else outside you knows your needs or can fulfill them. Each persons truth comes from their own heart which cant be replaced by advice or instructions from anyone else. Intuition is free of charge✨💛💯💯

My grandpa told me one thing that sticks with me to this day: "Always chase that next horizon, but don't stare directly into the sun." This means that, while you should strive for self improvement, do not lose yourself doing so. Stay true to who you are, even if everyone doesn't like you for it.

The biggest issue with self-help is it tend to make people believe they have issues that they really don't have.

"If truth Kills them ,let them die" Thank you Sir for this enlightenting video

Thank you for exposing the world that we live in today. From your video, I've found words to express myself and thank you for bringing in the the new term ''toxic positivity'' we need to speak on that more.

The “working hard” message has become one of the most toxic for me. Because if you do something and it doesn’t work, it’s clearly not because it just doesn’t work for you, it means you just don’t work hard enough. Eventually you start to question your worth and it can go to a very unhealthy spiral. Realizing that I just need to figure out how things work for me has become one of the most important things in my life so far.

You know what's better than reading self help books? Reading things you actually genuinely like. Edit: I see this has become a controversial take

OH MY GOD, THE TRAPS YOU MENTIONED WERE EXACTLY THE ONE I WAS GOING THROUGH IN MY LIFE. This Video has CHANGED ME. Thank you for saving me and many years of my future! 😊

Great video…I can relate a lot and when I gave up “self improvement” after ten years of “hustle” attempting to get rich and winding up with burnout and nearly coming close to a heart attack, I’ve never felt better about my life.

i wish more people said “hard work is important for success” rather than “hard work is KEY to success”

It's so comforting to see finally people have started talking about this toxic hustle culture, fake motivation, worthless motivational gurus, false self help & all.

Thank you, that's all I can say. Thank you so much. I've been there, and you put it in words that I struggled to find. I encourage you to keep doing what you're doing!

I remember someone calling self help "motivation porn".

The "Toxic Positivity" and "Hustle Culture" segments describe about 98% of social media posts nowadays.

Whenever I felt unmotivated I used to watch these motivational videos on UKposts where they say “you gotta be the hardest working person in the room and if you aren’t, someone else will be” and I felt really motivated…for like 15 minutes and in those 15 minutes all I did was make a schedule. The rest of the day I daydreamed about how great my life would be if I become the hardest working person in the room. That’s it. Nothing really happened. I was back at procrastinating the next day, now with a crippling sense of incompetence.

For being a young person you seem to be "awake!" Not necessarily pessimistic but more a realist. Lots of wisdom. I'm proud of you.

Thank you James! I was also trapped in this loop of being a mindless consumer of the self help industry. I am now taking the time to do the work from all the collective information I gained.

"Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner." - Lao Tzu.

Thank you for putting words to something I've always felt, but never known how to articulate. This was brilliant.

I see I’m a little late to the party given that this was made two years ago, but, thank you for making this video exposing the truth about the self-help industry. 🙏 I’ve gotten caught up in it too, and had pretty much the same experience, and I’m glad to find out that I’m not the only one,that I’m not crazy, just a normal person trying to navigate this thing we call life.

I am from a developing country so very new to many of the ideas of self help. I was wondering about the new hype taking over me as I got exposed to the world of self help. I felt the sense of losing control unaware of the other side of the subject. Thank you for the enlightenment!

“If you’re looking for self-help, why would you read a book written by someone else?” -George Carlin

I am 32 years old. I've been trying to reach my "perfect" self by reaching mental, physical and spiritual "perfection" for the last ten years. It has consumed almost every aspect of my life and has left me feeling worthless most of the time. Last night, I had a mental breakdown because the stress of trying to eat perfectly, work out every day for two hours, read a book, "grind" for money at work, and try to be a perfect christian finally broke me. I've decided to take a step back and let go of this poisonous mindset that is killing me. I want to enjoy my life without feeling guilty anymore. I want to sit down and play Fallout New Vegas for a week and not beat myself up because I'm not "grinding." I'm done with this. I'll never reach perfection or that balance I want in life. And from what I've seen, no one else does either. We're all human and we all have flaws.

I would like to say thank you for this video. It has brought awareness to how much I consume and not enough action. All the while thinking I'm being productive with my time. But not actually achieving anything. Also I felt really happy for you at the end of the video because although you didn't pursue acting your now doing this and I think your really good at it. Good for you well done 👏🙂

This is the first video of yours I watched, and damn, it got me hooked to your channel. The storytelling, production value; it’s really inspiring.

Self Help: Work 90 hour weeks, work from 7pm - 2am on a side gig Also Self Help: 8-9 hours sleep is key to productivity

Getting enough sleep is way more important than "hustling".

Painfully relatable. Going through a self help detox and really appreciate this video. ❤

Strange how many books we are ready to read about self improving, but very few (if any) how science work or (and) how to do real staff around the house (changing sockets, fixing plumbing etc). The worst thing these self improving gurus steal from a person is time; time wasted which cannot be purchased back.

People who actually work hard don’t have time to tell everyone how hard they’re working.

This video of self help being anti self help is actually self help too

Absolutely agree, both new age industry and self improvement industry are pretty much scam based. You cannot proove right or wrong on energy healing or self improvement. In both cases it's power of suggestion that you buy not the result you hope for.

I appreciate this video because it shows the other side of the self help world and deep down we know that this theory's are true. Balance and not getting blind by one type of thinking is important.

My father once said something to me that I think was the single most valuable piece of advice I have ever been given. We where moving, my dad had a MBA and he had a ton of books he would read back during his MBA degree (Rich Dad Poor Dad, A random walk down wallstreet, Only the paranoid survive, etc, and a bunch of case studys) I remember him not allowing those books to be brought to my new house after I requested them. As for why, he said to me, and I will always remember this moment "Joey, you are young. Looking back all these years, these books have done nothing but killed my creativity, it gives you a mindset, it gives you a frame of doing something, it makes you think there is no other way to achieve something, it keeps you thinking inside the box. The more you read these self help books, the more you feel the need for knowledge, the constant thought that you dont know something, and that by the grace of god, knowing it will change your life. Thats wrong, you already know everything you need, you learn by doing, not using that same time and hunching over some book. Sure some of these books are good for you (Rich Dad Poor Dad) they help change your mindset, but too much of anything is not good, and in the case of self help books, its exactly the case.

My hotdog once told me: "The moment you decide to eat me, is the moment you lose me forever." It hasn't left my table since.

Thank you for making this, I hope it reaches as many people that need to hear it as possible ❤️

This year is when I realized that nothing has changed. Also, you are my favorite UKpostsr. This video was me. my gosh. Waking up at 2am. Running on 4 hours of sleep. Because I am creating a better version of myself. I isolated myself from 'losers', read a shit ton of books, personal development videos, working out, eating right, living on a schedule. Man it makes no sense me saying it all because you laid it all out in this video. Just like your LOA videos, its me. You are quality over quantity. I even quit my job back in 2019, to "be my own boss" following many of this self help bullshit. The second worst decision ever. I am so happy I finally caught sense. It may take me awhile to build up a momentum. But now I have the sense to leave these things behind and start my life a new, from scratch. My LOA/spiritual/metaphysical/pseudoscience journey lasted from 2009 - June 2023, 14 painful disappointing, heartbreaking, failure years. My self help journey lasted from 2017-2022, 5 years of burn out, being busy but achieving nothing. I also use to think what hard work(80+ hours) is Elon Musk talking about when he has a team/staff/employees working for him. Grant Cardone, Dan Lok, Dan Pena, Gary Vee, Tony Robbins. It was always something about these guys that seemed off to me. I saw them more as marketers than people who actually wanted to help. I was watching a Dan Pena seminar on YT a few years ago when he dropped the bomb that Napoleon Hill was a con man and failed businessman. Fact check and it was true. The only person I turn on from time to time and listen to is David Goggins... but I dont get caught up in following him or anyone else anymore. To conclude, thank you for another amazing video. There is nothing like personal experience.

Incredible. The script, music, editing but most importantly the overall message.

13:30 "Rich people don't sleep 8 hours a day!" He's right. They sleep 10 hours.

Brother James - you are the man. Thank you for making this one. My wife of 20yrs had recently left us (&3 daughters) for this same fakery - and it's heartbreaking. There are true dangers and life destroying consequences from these people and their BS. We are fine now and seem to move with what has happened. However please people watching take note and knowledge up. Our lesson is yours to learn.

Thank you for making these videos and allowing people to watch them, to the end, for free.

"If you are motivated to go to the store to buy a motivational book, aren't you motivated enough?" - George Carlin

The irony is that by watching this video I also felt like I've accomplished something.

Power of Now is an amazing book! One of my favorites. Most people tend to suggest things like "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" which I feel like is just a piece of sales material. It has a lot of good concepts, but the overall intention is not to help, but to addict the reader to the consumption of self help.

Even though I have recently been obsessed and hooked with your videos I still think your work is a version of self help per se.

I never understood the “don’t sleep 8 hours a day it’s too much” hustle mentality. You need at LEAST 8 hours of sleep to stay healthy and keep your mind sharp. Especially when you are a teen going into your 20s

“ I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, 'Where's the self-help section?' She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.” - George Carlin

The way u make ur videos really gives me goosebumps. Keep going man, i feel like since watching ur videos for the last week. I’ve learned more than the last year. Love from The Netherlands!🇳🇱

Self-help has led me to some pretty healthy habits i wouldnt have picked up otherwise. All my parents could give me is, " just pray about it" . Self-help led me to therapy. The worst of self-help is " the reason you're poot is because you're lazy", or simply, "dont sleep".

Self Made man is a myth of our century, an illusion that feeds egocentrism and solitude. We must learn how to live with others and share, instead becoming lonely super burned out individuals.

"Absorb what is useful, discard what is not, add what is uniquely your own" - Bruce Lee There's a truth in this video. There's really a scam in the the self-help community. But, I think if you just utilize self-help in moderation and focus on the action then it won't do you no harm. And assess if something suits you, if it's not then don't follow through it. Don't become obsess with "self-help" but with your actual development.

I've read numerous books, until 1 day I thought to myself that this wasn't working and I kept wasting time and money making other people rich. All my problems were being suppressed, I was getting a addicted and no real improvements were coming. I'm glad you found the courage to post this video because there are a lot of people who need to wake up from the hypnosis they are under. There are genuine persons with real intentions to help, but you cannot expect to just sit around and read ridiculous scripts and expect to achieve success overnight without a plan and real moves towards your goals. Success come to those who apply successful habits consistently.

I dont even need to finish the video to hit Like!! this topic was dancing on my head for the last 10 years, thank you so much for putting all that thoughts in a way i couldnt even explain it to my self

"Someone is profiting, someone is winning. The question is; who?" Ad: Hey guys, it's Tony Robbins!

The worst thing about self help guidance is that there is no tangible product at the end. If you say to a 'guru' 'that didn't work for me', they will just tell you that you didn't work hard enough

Everything he said in the video is also mentioned in the book „the subtle art of not giving a f*ck“. The whole toxic positivity thing and questioning ur believes. You just have to read the right books. The self help world can be very dangerous and addictive, but when consumed in a healthy dosis it can be life changing.

James, I love your videos. I always look forward to them and i'm going to be honest, I've also been procrastinating to watch this video, and I'm glad I watched it. You are so right about being vulnerable and susceptible to those traps, it's almost like "what you think, you attract, or what you manifest you attract". I was trying to get myself out of the shitty situation and because of desperation, I ended going through the worst phase of my life. I knew that if my head was thinking right, I definitely would've picked out that it was a trap.

As Ram Dass said: "when you get the message, just hang up the phone". Endlessly consuming advice is the most vicious form of procrastination.

This video called me out way too much😂 when you said “making a studying schedule and calling it a day without actually studying” I felt that

Really well made video, hearing u hit some of those points really made me feel less alone with some stuff that’s been on my mind today. Godspeed to u and what ever is next for u brother❤

This is a really great video! Extremely relatable and a message that needs to be heard. Good job

there is a huge difference between self-help and self-discovery. The first pushes you to compare yourself to others, while the second makes you embrace your uniqueness and your "imperfections"

"Sleeping eight hours a day? that's a third of your life!" I don't like this simplistic way of looking at things. It is not a third of your life wasted. You are still breathing, still experiencing being a human being. Still dreaming. Sleeping is a sacred time, and it is necessary for your brain, heart, and soul to be firing on all cylinders. But hey, these days many people listen to the hissing noise of the imaginary abyss and are too disoriented to comprehend the sacredness of nature

Maybe one of the best things i have done to myself lately is watching your videos and understanding what you say because i have been there myself. Keep posting content i am happy to support with whatever i can . Stay safe kid 🙏.

Solid video and great advice, especially about the books to read based on what one is facing and when. Also, strategy and plan of action is key!

The product that this industry produces is what I like to call "Inspiration Porn."

"the business of selling hope" is going to grow exponentially during this global crisis, great video! Thank you!

as a self-help addictor in the past, it took me 5 years to realize that I was struggling about some toxic positive thought I had from self help books. Self-help is good for u to have short motivation but then I have to actually doing something. Be realistic guys! Don't believe 100% in something people told u, believe in your experience. This guy is talking damn right about my thought at self-help books, and content. Thank u!

3 years and I guess this is so far the one video that I had watched with full concentration and without skipping a moment. You earned a sub here!

That is why minimalism and stoicism saved my life.

"Create more, consume less."

This is THE - PERFECT - VIDEO. Pure Art. Congratulations!🙏

thankyou for making this video🥺 a year ago i started to believe in these things, it tottaly ruined my mental health and my mindset, i am now recovering from it, it is really hard, i am still scared

Hands down the best video so far ! Key lessons I took away: - Don't allow yourself to consume more material than you take action on - Working hard and working smart is the key to the two-piece puzzle. - Observe your thoughts and habits objectively - Never BS yourself. ( Echart Tolle) - Focus on what your task/business needs right now. Ignore the fluff. (Action Faking) - You're underrated af

"Somebody is profiting. The question is, who?" Cue UKposts ad: "Hi, I'm Tony Robbins" - no joke, this happened

Give this man an award! He is a beacon in this dark world. Thanks for your knowledge and wisdom!

Vulnerability and authenticity will do it every time. Well done.

I think one statement that can relate to this strongly is "too much of anything can be bad for you"

When you need help because you can’t stop helping yourself.

… WOW… You are.. absolutely brilliant.. a genius creator really. I’ve been binge watching lots of your videos and I’m just speechless. Keep up the amazing work. Looking forward to notifications of new posts of yours 😊

I'm too tired to coherently write about how awesome this video is but i just wanted to say James you have such a fantastic voice, honestly gorgeous

“Toxic positivity” and “hustle culture” these are genuine issues. My friend the other day was suggesting I could improve my life if I get up at 5:30am even though he knows I work night shift…. Really think about that

The “work harder” mentality (hustle culture) is truly horrible. It teaches to be your own slave, and therefore to treat yourself in a cruel manner, the way a slave master would.

Thank You someone someone someone like you James had the nerve to put up a video like this to finally put the light out. TY 🎉