Self-help or Self-hindrance?

Please make it stop, it’s almost become a bad habit! I realized I have spent an inordinate amount of my time inhaling self-help books. I love them, I love reading about the methods and strategies that others have acquired, how they have fulfilled their dreams and we can fulfil ours. However where has that left me? As I said reading self-help books, and then reading the self-help books the self-help authors have read or recommended. All the while idiotically believing I’ll be taken through my desired path. All that money. Which I have happily contributed. A quick search on the ‘world wide web’ will show you just how financially vast this industry is. All that time! Time I have frittered away, all the while not fulfilling my own dreams and aspirations. Don’t get me wrong, clearly there is a market for this genre and what is better than a real life feel-good story. The crux though is to put those motivators in motion. As I know only too well, nothing will change and nothing will happen if you don’t start doing. It’s not enough to ‘think’ things into action. Yes I love that sense of euphoria and elation on finishing a motivational read, all buoyed up. No I’m not naming any - need to break the cycle. Then what happens? Read some more, recite the affirmations like an incantation. Six months later I see I’m no further down the line with my life, having changed absolutely bugger all.
 
Yes the self-hindrance, I can practically see it start to surround me like a malevolent mist and I breathe it all in. Gradually I slide back to my default of overthinking, over analysing, actually just plain old procrastination, which to some degree is fuelled by reading said self-help tomes. What I’ve learnt is I don’t have that “go get ‘em” attitude but I knew that anyway and I am a coward. I like the thought of being able to reach my dreams and convincing myself I’m taking the steps to get there, arming myself with the necessary tools. Really I’m too scared to put myself out there, too scared to take that leap of faith! So come on people, don’t be like me, especially if you read those books, don’t forget the doing bit and don’t forget to help yourself!