Shelf Help Vs Self Help
When you’re interested in a subject it’s easy to collect all sorts of information about it. For virtually everything there are lots of books, audios and dvd’s all promising to further your knowledge. There are groups and associations, magazines, newsletters and products to buy. And of course it’s easy to get lost surfing the net for hours looking for more information.
The problem is that you can get so lost in the research that you never actually get out there and do the thing you’re studying about. So you collect all this great information, file it away for later, and do nothing. That’s called “shelf help.” And while some information is certainly good, collecting stuff and putting it away (sometimes without even reading or listening to it) can actually take you farther away from achieving your dreams.
Why? Because you’ve put so much time and energy into collecting the material that you may confuse that with actually doing the thing you’re researching.
“Self help” in contrast is proactive. It is taking a piece of information, discerning weather it rings true for you or not and then integrating it into your life. You still do research and you probably collect some material but you use that as a springboard to take action.
Taking action is the difference between shelf help and self help.
Yes, you can opt for shelf help, but if you do your dreams will stay right there on the shelf with all those dusty books. By choosing self help you’ll eventually be able to pass those books on because you’ll have grown beyond what they have to offer and be living your dreams instead of merely dreaming them.
Which would you rather do?
4 comments
Permalink1
But Maria, you have not considered the time aspect. By collecting that information and shelfing it, i could be waiting for the right time which in this case my vary. So each time u do an act there must be an end result. There by self-helping. Results could be postive or negative. But still it will be a satisfaction.
Permalink2
Yes that is true. But most people (myself included) tend to collect information and never use it, then eventually get rid of it when they’re cleaning house. An unread book or course can’t do much for you, and neither can unapplied concepts and insights :)
Permalink4
You could definitely see your expertise in the paintings you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers such as you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. At all times follow your heart.
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