#91: The Dark Side of Self-Improvement [Video + Podcast]

Welcome to Episode #91 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “The Dark Side of Self-Improvement.”

We all want to make our lives better in some way, right? Unfortunately, it might sometimes seem that the harder we work, the more difficult and frustrating life gets!

That’s because self-improvement has a bright side AND a dark side. If we’re not careful, our good intentions can lead us down a path to ruin.

Join me as I share two BIG challenges you’re going to face when trying to improve your life. Then stick around as I lay out four tips to stop your self-improvement from turning into self-destruction. (Cheat sheet down below.)

Dramatic enough for you? 😀

To LISTEN to “The Dark Side of Self-Improvement,” you can either:

• Play the show below… or download to your device.
• Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher or Google Podcasts or Spotify.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe to Podcast: RSS

To WATCH the video version or READ a short summary, scroll down below.

If you’d like to support this show, share the link with a friend or leave a quick review over on iTunes. Thank you!

Oh—and don’t forget to sign up for free email updates so you can get new shows sent to your inbox the minute they’re released.

Thanks for listening! Keep fighting for a happy life!

The Dark Side of Self-Improvement

Here’s the video! If it won’t play, try this direct link.

As always, if you’d like to keep the conversation going, feel free to leave a comment here or through my Contact Page.

Cheat Sheet

Self-improvement is a drug… and like any drug, it can be used or abused. It can lead you to good health and success or over-training and addiction.

Two issues on the dark side of self-improvement include:

The fear of missing out. Since you can always improve, it’s easy to fall into an endless hunt for something bigger and better. A new style, a new teacher, a new move, a new exercise… where does it end?

Never feeling good enough. Addiction to improvement provides motivation to keep learning, but it robs you of confidence in what you’ve already learned. The buzz of getting better is muffled by a scream of doubt in your ability. Which leads back to hunting for something more.

So, what can you do to keep moving forward in your learning without stepping backward into crippling insecurity?

TIP #1: Choose your goals wisely. If you’re going to suffer, make sure the reward will be valuable to you. You may become addicted to improving your score in a video game, but will that effort make your life better? Focus on goals that will pay you back for your work.

TIP #2: Define the WHY behind your goal. Are you looking for fulfillment in your job or money? Are you looking to connect with people on social media or do you want as many followers as possible? Do you want to earn a belt or skill in what you’re doing? When you know why you’re doing something, it makes it easier to know which efforts to increase and which to decrease.

TIP #3: Measure with maturity. Progress towards your goal will often be invisible to you. It takes effort and TIME (kung + fu) to be successful. When you get frustrated by where you are now, think back to where you used to be. When you focus on how far you’ve come, you’ll be inspired to keep moving forward.

TIP #4: Commit to your choices. Yes, there is always something new to learn, but if you are constantly chasing the new, you will never gain the value from the old. Consider–no one is great at EVERYTHING. A master must choose to follow their own way at some point. The sooner you do, the better you’ll be.

The bottom line–self-improvement is a powerful drug with a very real dark side. Use it to heal and help you, not harm and hurt you.