Hitting the Self Improvement Wall
Photo by Lacie Slezak on Unsplash
How much is too much?
I could be called a self improvement information junkie. I read many books and articles, and subscribe to about 12 podcasts; every single one of them has content about something to DO (or not do) to make your life better, or something to THINK (or stop thinking) to make your life better.
This has not always been true - I think it started about 12 years ago as I worked to maintain my weight loss, and to alleviate physical pain I was having. It broadly looked like a lot of learning and experimenting with particular healing modalities, eliminating certain foods or following a variety of dietary protocols, understanding the power of my thoughts on my body and actions, and more.
This behavior served me for a long time, and not only helped me, but has made me much better at my work. I made a lot of changes as a result of this information, and I learned a lot - and much of it was extremely helpful. But now?
What I am noticing is that despite the fact that I am satisfied with my level of wellness, and about the level of balance and ease in my life, constantly exposing myself to this information is occasionally provoking feelings of not doing enough - ever. And that is a really bad place to put yourself in.
All of this content can keep my mind too busy - and not in a good way. I used to find it all fascinating, fueling, and inspiring. Now it makes me feel a bit overwhelmed, that there are takeaways that I need to remember, like I am taking a course with too much content to keep up with. Upon noticing this shift, I asked myself is this deluge of information serving me anymore? The answer is no. And that’s okay; like many things - they serve us well for a time, and then they cease to do so.
The BIG THING I have learned is to pay attention to how something makes me FEEL in all the ways, and so with this, I am shifting the course a bit. Now, instead of filling my brain with self improvement books and podcasts, I am bringing in more music and fiction audio books. I am not giving up the podcasts and books; just corralling them to a certain amount of time each week, instead of all the time.
As you work to live a life of ease, ask yourself if the changes you seek are coming from a want to place, or a should place. Stay aware of what works for you. What feels overwhelming just thinking about it? What lights you up when you hear or read it? How does the idea feel in your body? If it brings up any emotion that makes you feel bad, or makes you feel less than, leave it alone. If it feels energizing, or intriguing, take one small step in that direction. Or take a break from all of it.
