Well as I was saying...(I explained in a comment in the last post why it ended so abruptly.)
Yes, what I was talking about was self-help books, positive thinking, positive affirmations, or what have you. I used to look down my nose at such things, snickering at Tony Robbins when he came on TV, etc., and sometimes for good reason. Much of that approach seemed to be saying "it doesn't matter what you get good at, as long as you succeed and are enabled to live the lifestyle of the rich and famous." I might have imagined the following: "Using Tony Robbin's principles, I became a far happier and more effective hit man, increasing my kill ratio as well as my fees. Today I am living the lifestyle I always dreamed of." Yes, Robbins and others would nod in the direction of personal values in their books, sometimes mentioning their personal commitment to God and family. But the real god of most people reading the books seemed to be simply that of personal fulfillment, in the worst sense of the term.
Anyhow, as I said, I look at things differently now and don't throw the baby out with the bath water. For the Christian, developing his gift and being useful in the world is part of his calling, but sometimes he/she can get stuck and sometimes the Tony Robbins of the world can help him or her get unstuck.
Essentially, self help techniques are a form of applied psychology--and psychology is what has been described as "common sense in a dress suit." Instead of simply picking up "skill at living" (wisdom) through trial and error, through the right sort of psychology (including some self-help methods) we are able to cut to the chase and start living more effectively sooner.
Yes it is true that fools can use such techniques as well as saints so we often hear of highly successful actors, businessmen, and politicians whose private lives are in chaos. But if we pick and choose what we read and what we use (remembering "all truth is God's truth") we can find much in self help that is of use.
Ah yes! It was one particular phrase mentioned by Canfield that had started me writing about this topic in the first place. It was, "failing forward." Having the attitude that mistakes are things to be used on the way to success--instead of proof that I'm a loser--can make all the difference.
That, essentially, is what has changed in my approach to writing this time around. I've been failing sometimes, yes: but failing forward.
Yes, what I was talking about was self-help books, positive thinking, positive affirmations, or what have you. I used to look down my nose at such things, snickering at Tony Robbins when he came on TV, etc., and sometimes for good reason. Much of that approach seemed to be saying "it doesn't matter what you get good at, as long as you succeed and are enabled to live the lifestyle of the rich and famous." I might have imagined the following: "Using Tony Robbin's principles, I became a far happier and more effective hit man, increasing my kill ratio as well as my fees. Today I am living the lifestyle I always dreamed of." Yes, Robbins and others would nod in the direction of personal values in their books, sometimes mentioning their personal commitment to God and family. But the real god of most people reading the books seemed to be simply that of personal fulfillment, in the worst sense of the term.
Anyhow, as I said, I look at things differently now and don't throw the baby out with the bath water. For the Christian, developing his gift and being useful in the world is part of his calling, but sometimes he/she can get stuck and sometimes the Tony Robbins of the world can help him or her get unstuck.
Essentially, self help techniques are a form of applied psychology--and psychology is what has been described as "common sense in a dress suit." Instead of simply picking up "skill at living" (wisdom) through trial and error, through the right sort of psychology (including some self-help methods) we are able to cut to the chase and start living more effectively sooner.
Yes it is true that fools can use such techniques as well as saints so we often hear of highly successful actors, businessmen, and politicians whose private lives are in chaos. But if we pick and choose what we read and what we use (remembering "all truth is God's truth") we can find much in self help that is of use.
Ah yes! It was one particular phrase mentioned by Canfield that had started me writing about this topic in the first place. It was, "failing forward." Having the attitude that mistakes are things to be used on the way to success--instead of proof that I'm a loser--can make all the difference.
That, essentially, is what has changed in my approach to writing this time around. I've been failing sometimes, yes: but failing forward.
posted by Ted | 1:05 PM
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