Evaluating Self-Help: Strategy #2 – Grandiose or Realistic Claims?

goal-setting

In Dr. John Norcross’s book, “Self-Help That Works”, he offers 12 strategies to evaluate self-help claims, separating rhetoric from truly effective tools for self improvement. In our last post, we discussed his first strategy, which encourages seekers to not judge a book beyond its cover–to look beyond slick marketing and hype.  The second Strategy is:  2.  Select a resource that makes realistic rather than grandiose claims 

  • Sounds TOO GOOD to be TRUE…chances are good it probably isn’t true.         The quick, easy fix is so attractive and sells.  More reasonable, realistic approaches to change are boring and almost seem negative. 
  • BE SKEPTICAL of the claims for INSTANT, MIRACULOUS, IMMEDIATE results Whatever issue or situation in your life that you want to examine or change ( financial, relational, spiritual,physical, emotional) did not develop overnight and will take some time to change. Those patterns and habits have been formulated throughout a lifetime.  One can develop new insights, understand limiting thoughts, change destructive behaviors and learn more effective ways of reaching goals, but real lasting change takes hard work and time.  And our lives are always works in progress!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *