7 Painful Paradoxes of Self-Improvement that Create More Problems Than They Solve

A lot of the self-improvement industry and advice is backwards. The more books we read the further away from our goals we become. Ultimately we want to be happier yet we are accruing more and more things to fix before we are happy with ourselves. In this episode, we explore the biggest paradoxes where the work we do can make us more brittle and breakable: Effortlessness Paradox - The harder we try the harder we make it Happiness Paradox - Pursuing Happiness instead chases it away Validation paradox - Seeking external validation prevents internal validation Emotions paradox - Suppressing emotions makes them overwhelm us The Shadow - Rejecting our flaws makes them worse Planning Paradox - Overplanning reduces adaptability Self-Improvement Paradox - The more things you find to fix the more broken you feel Searching and finding can be different things. We learn a more subtle approach to self-improvement that spends more time building wisdom and focusing on smaller immediately actionable steps with less chasing and running in circles. We find answers to the question "How do we balance the art of wanting to improve whilst also wanting to live in contentment in the present?" Upgrade to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Sponsors 🥙 Hello Fresh - America's #1 meal kit provider 10 free meals across 7 boxes HelloFresh.com/FreeGrowthMindset Get in Touch 👋 Free Call - Schedule Link 📧 Email - GrowthMindsetPodcast (@) gmail,com Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. 📺 Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) 🛜 Website - GrowthMindsetPodcast.com Chapters: 00:00 The Effortlessness Paradox 03:08 The Messy Reality of Self-Improvement 04:23 Introduction to the Growth Mindset Psychology Podcast 05:14 The Paradox of Pursuing Happiness 07:49 The Paradox of Validation 10:52 The Paradox of Emotions 12:53 Carl Jung and the Shadow Concept 13:49 Acceptance Over Rejection 15:07 The Planning Paradox 16:29 Understanding Uncertainty Tolerance 16:47 Steve Jobs' Journey of Adaptability 17:27 Embracing the Unexpected 18:06 The Paradox of Self-Improvement 18:44 The Dunning-Kruger Effect in Self-Help 19:49 The Slow Process of Real Change 22:12 Balancing Self-Improvement and Acceptance 25:22 The Timid Cat Analogy for Happiness 26:33 Final Thoughts and Farewell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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There are a lot of opinions on how to master your mind, but then there’s PSYCHOLOGY. We’re all stuck with the brain we’re born with, but we aren’t stuck with how we use it. Learn science-backed answers to make the most of your mind and your life. CURIOUS? Growth Mindset Psychology is the "self-help sceptic" podcast for the curious. Whether you want to improve performance, navigate setbacks, or know who you are. We find answers to the true science of self-improvement. So put down the astrology chart and start working with your mind, instead of against it. With over 8 million downloads and 60,000 monthly listeners, you’re invited to join. PROCESS Instead of telling you what to think, we discuss how thinking works. Armed with a stack of science journals, textbooks and a boatload of curiosity, we uncover the mechanics of the mind. Why? >>> Success is personal! You might want to make the most of your neurodiverse strengths, start a business, or simply find more reasons to smile. Hone your ability for independent thinking and growth with mental models to pursue your definition of success. HOST I’m Sam Webster Harris, a lifelong learner with ADHD, a raging curiosity, and an obsession with finding answers to hard questions. After launching several businesses, travelling the world and nearly dying a few times I concluded that science and Psychology are where it’s at. What actually makes people happy? What’s the best way to treat a brain? How can I get more done? Studying the answers we find that changing behaviours requires building mindsets, mental models, and a healthy relationship with failure. I run the show to help listeners enjoy nutritious content that feeds their minds (and I needed a legitimate excuse to cover for my reading addiction). PREMIUM Go Ad-Free and listen to exclusive content. Support the show and access the AMA features and community Discord. Growth Mindset Premium ARCHIVE Previous guests include Olympians, Scientists, Billionaires, and Sam's Mum. Past series: — Psychology vs Stoicism — Time Management for busy mortals — Independence and knowing yourself — Cognitive biases and rational thinking — Psychology of connection — Carol Dweck and the Multiverse of Mindsets