Self-Help Vs. Real-Help: How to Actually Improve Your Life

What does psychology say about the role of information in building wisdom and lasting change in our lives? There is an explosion in self-help content. From gurus on Tik Tok to 85,000 self-help books being published a year. But what actually works? This episode explores the psychology of learning and how to put information into practice: How to identify time-wasting nonsense? 3 steps to build a healthy content diet The best forms of content for retention and lasting changes? Take home strategy to build deeper wisdom You'll come away with an improved growth mindset that doesn't fall for promises of instant results and is ready to put time and effort into cultivating wisdom instead of consuming it. Recommended Books: Slow Productivity - Cal Newport The Power of Habit - Charles Duhigg Pachinko - Min Jin Lee Wild Swans - Jung Chang Replay - Ken Grimwood Dalai Lama's Cat - David Michie And The Mountains Echoed - Khaled Hosseini The Mood Of Future Joys - Alastair Humphreys Siddartha - Herman Hesse Science References: Dr Robert Sternberg - What is Wisdom and How Can We Develop It Dr Patricia Alexander - The Development of Expertise: The Journey from Acclimation to Proficiency Dr Paul Zak - The Neuroscience of Narrative Transportation: Why Inspiring Stories Make Us React Dr Keith Oatley - Fiction: The Narrative Simulation of Social Worlds Dr Richard Nisbett - The Geography of Thought: How Asians and Westerners Think Differently 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 🐏 Unbound Merino - Highest quality Merino wool clothing 10% off with code 'PSYCHOLOGY' UnboundMerino.com Get in Touch 👋 Free Call - Schedule Link - https://cal.com/samwebster/mindset 📧 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 - Growth Mindset Chapters: 00:00 How to actually help yourself with self-help 01:18 The Paradox of Modern Self-Help 02:36 The Slow Wisdom of Ancient Cultures 03:06 The Harm of Fast Advice & Illusion of Instant Mastery 05:01 Cal Newport's Framework for Personal Development - Three Types of Self-Help Content 06:17 The Candy Bar of Self-Help: Social Media 07:06 The Protein Shake: Longer Form Content 07:50 The Full Meal: Books 10:08 The Power of Narrative Transportation 19:27 The Value of Diverse Perspectives 20:56 Building a House of Personal Growth 22:08 A Balanced Approach to Content Consumption 24:13 The Danger of Overwhelming Amounts Information and Instructions 27:07 Conclusion: Cultivating Wisdom Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Most self-help advice is guesswork dressed up as wisdom. We dig into psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral science to find what actually changes lives. WHY LISTEN? Over 8 million downloads because we answer the questions that matter: How do I build mental strength? What creates lasting motivation? How can I understand my own mind well enough to work with it, not against it? This podcast is for curious skeptics who want frameworks backed by psychology studies, not Instagram quotes. Whether you're navigating procrastination, building self-discipline, or designing your own philosophy for a life well lived—we explore the hidden psychology behind real change. WHAT YOU'LL GET Mental models and simple techniques from cognitive psychology, positive psychology, and ancient wisdom traditions like Stoicism and Buddhism. Being a human can be confusing, learning about it doesn’t have to be. We cover everything from emotional intelligence and habit formation to brain health and the nervous system. WHAT YOU DON’T GET No pseudoscience. No oversimplified "hacks." No hustle porn. Just practical insights on mindset improvement, self-development, and human psychology that respect your intelligence and mental health. THE APPROACH Instead of telling you what to think, we explore how thinking works. Armed with psychology studies, social science research, and relentless curiosity, we uncover the mechanics of belief change, attitude change, and personal development. Success is personal. You might want to leverage your neurodiverse strengths, build a business, or simply discover how to be happier. We provide the mental frameworks to pursue your definition of success with mental strength and self-care that fits your life. YOUR HOST I'm Sam Webster Harris—a lifelong learner with ADHD and an obsession with finding answers to hard questions. After launching businesses, traveling the world, and nearly dying a few times, I concluded that psychology and science are where real wisdom lives. This show is my excuse to dive deep into health and fitness research, behavioral psychology, and cool science while helping you build genuine self-discipline and motivation. PREMIUM Go ad-free and access exclusive content, AMAs, and our community Discord. Growth Mindset Premium PAST SERIES 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 and Relationships — Carol Dweck and the Multiverse of Mindsets — Addiction and Behaviour Change — Nervous System Mastery and Polyvagal Theory — Mental Strength and Self-Discipline