Soooo, because Jordan Peterson had this issue with a psychiatric drug, his entire life, his intellectual, academic, and career accomplishments, and every ideal, idea, or proposal he has ever presented is become invalid? Really? Isn't this like saying the Declaration of Independence is invalid because Jefferson had personal flaws? Can no one speak a truth unless they are infallible?
I'm very much in agreement with you that the self-help genre, replete with authors getting very rich by telling people whatever self-serving drivel they want to hear, is an area where one needs exercise maximum "caveat emptor", but: Who of us humans, and especially you apparently, Mr. Bartee, could have anything to offer, if we were to be held to the one-dimensional standard you're laying on Jordan Peterson?
Show me where I discounted "his entire life, his intellectual, academic, and career accomplishments, and every ideal, idea, or proposal he has ever presented".
Nothing wrong with pointing out that JP is human. "Blind spot" is an accurate characterization. Had JP been paying attention, he would have been attuned to the danger of benzos. They are seductive. But two often-repeated quotes come to mind: Thomas Sowell's "There are no solutions. There are only trade-offs." And Robert Heinlein (and others) "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch." The comforting embrace of benzodiazepines is an illusion. Like everything, it comes at a cost. And the cost is too high.
I know this is not your intention but I like the suggestion that the cost of ANYTHING is too high, especially the illusion of not living in illusion. There are two ways of living: 1) Being what the rules say to be and 2) finding out what you are if you ignore the rules (without making that another rule).
This topic is too deep for me at the moment. Hopefully, one day I'll be able to contribute something worthwhile but it's not today.
One thing I've noticed - those who set out to 'help' others, usually allow their egos to get in the way and thus end up achieving the opposite whilst giving the rest of us a good laugh.
SFG I agree with you: connect with the wellspring of the good, the true and the beautiful. For me, that means striving to be a branch of the VIne, God the Son, Jesus Christ.
Ben, I agree with you in general about self-help literature (SHL). Instead, if you don't subscribe to a particular religion, consider starting with the cardinal virtues of wisdom, self-control, justice (embracing honesty and fairness) and courage. A lot of self-help literature that isn't total BS boils down to exhorting us to cultivate one or more of these qualities. (You may enjoy an essay by Chesterton about self-help literature, already legion in his day, where he says it's a pep talk for the anxious at best and buncombe otherwise.)
A lot of SHL assumes a working, specifically American society where rights are respected, people aren't starving or constantly paying bribes or protection money to some scoundrel, and an abundance of honest, competent people. For many years we came close enough to that ideal in enough places that the old-school immigrant, already rich in virtue, found success to be a piece of cake. "You mean all I have to do is work hard, learn something useful, be honest and I can actually have a good life. Pinch me!"
But society daily falls apart more and more. Not only will personal virtue increasingly prove unable to achieve The American Dream, it may well attract persecution. In the end, success is about being, not having; of liking the person staring back at you in the mirror, no matter how cracked or fancy the mirror may be. As I like put it, being a good card player is one thing, and the cards you've been dealt is another.
The one overarching thing I'd tell any young person who asks about success is: You must suffer yourself into existence. If, for example, we wish to be a master violinist, then we must be willing to constantly live on the edge of mastery, to live a lot of the time in the land of "consciously incompetent." And so it is with the virtues; in seeking to be more courageous, we become more aware of where we're cowardly. One of the "10%" jewels extracted from SHL literature (in this case, the book "The Path of Least Resistance") is the following: 1) Have as clear and complete a view as possible of the state of affairs you want to have; 2) Have an unflinchingly honest view of where you are right now; and 3) maintain the resulting tension and use it to give you the energy and drive to get to where you are to where you want to be. That tension, by the way, entails suffering, but also points the way to relieving it, at least until you set the next milestone.
There are a relative handful of SHL books that are useful (partly because they require you to do some work yourself.)
That is fantastic advice that I second! Very well stated. But one has to add NUTRITION, exercise, good food, and whatever else helps to elevate ones mood. deb
This is an important fact. Having been all in on improving people's lives prior to the pandemic, and having turned my attention and energy toward politics after awakening to the globalists' evil schemes, I've struggled to bridge the two subjects. That said, I've given it an honest effort, and will continue to do so, because I believe that the ultimate solution to geopolitical chaos is an elevation of inner (spiritual awareness). This is how we cultivate the discernment, drive, and determination that will be necessary to defeat global tyranny in our generation.
I found it amusing af to see at the bottom of the stack of designated "self help" books depicted when I went to "restack with a note" the excruciating "Becoming Michelle Obama" which seems to be widely misunderstood as having the title "Becoming" and the author "Michelle Obama." If denial of reality were a text, it would be that book.
We supposedly live in a "post truth" era when all things bright and beautiful are being defiled with buckets of paint or cans of soup by ugly nasty urchins who screech about their feelings. They demand that others believe the lies they have been taught about a boiling world due to the farts of cows and the exhalations of humans. Then when their green reptilian overlords insist that trees must be clear cut to sequester carbon and whales must be murdered for offshore wind farms, they screech all the more.
Happily, there are many truths to be learnt. There is an objective reality. A is actually A, even if someone has another opinion. Also, God loves us and sent his son to purchase for us the rewards of eternal salvation. Upon the solid rock foundation of hearing the words of Jesus and doing them, many hundreds of millions of people built a civilisation called Christendom which the demon worshippers hate. Indeed, the demon worshippers hate humanity and want to enslave mankind. Some decades back they revealed (with the Georgia guide stones among other cues) that they are very lacking in imagination, and can think of nothing better to do with 8 billion souls than slaughter 7 billion 500 million of them.
The universe is very large. We began to understand not only how large it is in the time of Galileo and Kepler but we have, since the era of Robert Goddard, begun doing what Kepler suggested in his letter to Galileo in 1610: Create ships and sails capable of navigating the celestial atmosphere and you will find men to man them, men unafraid of the vast emptiness of space.
On the note of actual, factual reality, it is imperative to discern the distinction between one's personal beliefs (interpretations of reality) and the universe as it is (that exists empirically whether we are aware of it or not). Stories of God's love, while noble, worthy, and valuable, invariably reside in personal beliefs, and therefore are interpretations of reality, instead of observations of reality itself. This is a critical distinction for those who struggle with religion. The takeaway is that the stories can provide immense value, whether they are real or not. With this logic in place, the rational mind is then free to roam the religious landscape in search of wisdom, peace, and perhaps even the proverbial savior. As human beings, I believe this spiritual quest is the quintessential driving force self-improvement, across the board, regardless of religious affiliation or lack thereof. Thems my thoughts on that!
Great post. You suggest you will continue with politics because that is what "WE" want, so I will just note that I have been enjoying your more personal posts. It is not for me to choose, but I think the personal road is particularly honest.
My favorite philosophers and spiritual teachers could easily be called self improvement in some sense, though in Buddhism the essence of self improvement is paradoxically transcending over concern with the self, since the inner voice that introduces itself as your self is often in fact the "problem". And LaoTzu is the paradoxical self improvement author who suggests giving up on improvement as the highest wisdom: "To Become Whole, Be Twisted". And it works. And Nietzsche. And Nietzsche.
I always wondered who would follow someone who looks as unhappy as Jordan Peterson. I'm happy to say recently he is looking happier. But still his voice is often the voice of self that Eastern Philosophy might warn you away from. His standards are the apogee of conventionality. This may be the medicine that some people need. As for me: they make me reach for something with the bracing fragrance of suicide.
I can't follow what Peterson says half the time. Too many big words signifying nothing. Supposedly his wife is turning Catholic, so she is rubbing off on him (so he says). Attaining more humility in one's life is always a positive, never a negative.
great post Ben, one that resonates with a lot of people. On your last point, about creating a community of some sort, curious to hear more about the steps you are taking
Before I dive into the comments - which are sure to be a treasure trove of anecdotal self-help advice - let me just say this: THANKS FOR BEING REAL. (you can stop reading now)
To expound upon your pondering, there are three truths that have shaped my life to a great degree:
1) Life is full of pain and suffering. (Life's not fair, so I just have to deal with it. Chance and chaos affect us all, and it's how we handle this fact that determines of level of happiness.)
2) Life is fundamentally good. (Despite the pain, all we really have to do to survive is eat, sleep, and procreate, thus, we are hardwired to enjoy our survival / time on planet Earth.)
3) Life is a spiritual journey. (I am not just a physical and mental being. My body and mind both change, and I can directly observe and direct these changes, therefore I'm something more.)
One of the most exciting thoughts to ever tickle my brain was the idea of self-directed evolution. How much of my suffering is self-induced? How do I overcome the subconscious inertia that feed these patterns of self-induced suffering? Why do I keep acting like an idiot, even though I know better? I've spent a stupid amount of time wrestling with these questions, and slowly, after an immense amount of physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual suffering -- the vast majority of which was self-induced -- I finally figured out how to forge a better path forward. All that to say, as you set out to forge this new path for yourself, I'm always game to kick around ideas and share what's worked for me. Best of luck!
Not that I am particularly religious, but the only self-help book you would need is the bible. Or stoic philosophers, if you prefer. It all comes down to the realization that you will eventually die one day.
Wishing you well with your efforts. If one finds just the right "self-help" book that clicks with one's journey, it can, ahem, help. Yet also i find it very telling that there is no "help others" section in bookstores, or "help Earth / help various species / help your neighborhood"....
"Moving forward, I’ll keep writing about politics because that’s what people care about, I suppose... What I really want now is to create something worthwhile and honorable, and to stimulate the development of a community here or elsewhere with other people who aim for the same."
Politics. Why people care about that I'll never know. I try to stay away from politics on my stack as I find talking about it makes me physically ill. I believe I've withdrawn from the macro world so much that even talking about it gives my micro world body a massive headache. I prefer to talk about God and when I do people run away in disgust. That's ok. It makes me happy to talk about what is truly worth talking about.
Find what makes you happy or at least not miserable. That is the key to life. Doing what other people want you to do even though it makes you unhappy is the sure path to depression.
But all you really need is a long walk thinking about what needs to be tightened up and what really does not, taking notes and transcribing them when you get home.
For me, simplicity is the Nice of Life. Though I have a normal amount of dishes, bowls and cups, I keep most of it on my balcony, in a washed out Omaha Steaks styrofoam cooler and keep just one of each including knife fork and iced tea spoon, with an extra long handle that is often handy.
As soon as I dirty something I rinse it completely free of debris including one tem inch and one fourteen inch fry pan and one one quart and one two quart pot.
As soon as I have a full meal's worth of rinsed dishes, I give a small quick squirt of detergent and bang them out as soon as I finish the meal.
This solved multiple problems and it's great never having a sink full of dirty dishes to deal with.
Save most recreation for weekends is another of my custom designed for me self help.
I am fortunate to have a very detailed genealogy compiled by professional historians, and if we have one consistent major flaw it is that we like to party way too much.
Most of the negative aspects of that are dispelled by compartmentalizing recreation so it can't interfere with taking care of business.
The Lynchpin of all for me is early to bed, early to rise, which also resolves a lot of the issues associated with enthusiastic partying.
Two things are simply true; most bad stuff happens late at night, and an hour's sleep before midnight is worth two hours after
It's not Rocket Science, it's your Circadian Rhythm...
Seems like a pretty solid vetting process... but I'd suggest making room for the "guru within." That is, allow for the possibility of gaining your own profound insights through introspection. Keep in mind that all of the wisdom of the sages that has been passed down through the ages shares a common source: this wisdom has come from within. As it is said in martial arts, seek not to follow in the footsteps of the masters, seek what the masters sought. The masters found their own wisdom, developed their own methods and techniques, and shared these lessons with the lesser adepts. I'm all for learning from others, but my two greatest teachers have been pain and the power of my breath. In my experience, breathwork (disciplined breathing) has been the key to unlocking ever deeper insights into the nature of reality, the nature of myself, and the intriguing mysteries of the Eternal Enigma. ...just my two cents!
The only head doctor you need is God. Give him a try. You seem to have sought all others.
“In my distress I called to the Lord; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears.”
2 Samuel 22:7 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/2sa.22.7.NIV
Soooo, because Jordan Peterson had this issue with a psychiatric drug, his entire life, his intellectual, academic, and career accomplishments, and every ideal, idea, or proposal he has ever presented is become invalid? Really? Isn't this like saying the Declaration of Independence is invalid because Jefferson had personal flaws? Can no one speak a truth unless they are infallible?
I'm very much in agreement with you that the self-help genre, replete with authors getting very rich by telling people whatever self-serving drivel they want to hear, is an area where one needs exercise maximum "caveat emptor", but: Who of us humans, and especially you apparently, Mr. Bartee, could have anything to offer, if we were to be held to the one-dimensional standard you're laying on Jordan Peterson?
Show me where I discounted "his entire life, his intellectual, academic, and career accomplishments, and every ideal, idea, or proposal he has ever presented".
I like Jordan Peterson in general.
Nothing wrong with pointing out that JP is human. "Blind spot" is an accurate characterization. Had JP been paying attention, he would have been attuned to the danger of benzos. They are seductive. But two often-repeated quotes come to mind: Thomas Sowell's "There are no solutions. There are only trade-offs." And Robert Heinlein (and others) "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch." The comforting embrace of benzodiazepines is an illusion. Like everything, it comes at a cost. And the cost is too high.
I know this is not your intention but I like the suggestion that the cost of ANYTHING is too high, especially the illusion of not living in illusion. There are two ways of living: 1) Being what the rules say to be and 2) finding out what you are if you ignore the rules (without making that another rule).
You're right, it was not my intention. But what you've written is more profound.
I tell my kids sometimes that "I don't let the world happen to me. I happen to the world." In my mind the statement is both ridiculous and meaningful.
I'm wishing you well.
This topic is too deep for me at the moment. Hopefully, one day I'll be able to contribute something worthwhile but it's not today.
One thing I've noticed - those who set out to 'help' others, usually allow their egos to get in the way and thus end up achieving the opposite whilst giving the rest of us a good laugh.
Stay strong and smile often.
SFG I agree with you: connect with the wellspring of the good, the true and the beautiful. For me, that means striving to be a branch of the VIne, God the Son, Jesus Christ.
Ben, I agree with you in general about self-help literature (SHL). Instead, if you don't subscribe to a particular religion, consider starting with the cardinal virtues of wisdom, self-control, justice (embracing honesty and fairness) and courage. A lot of self-help literature that isn't total BS boils down to exhorting us to cultivate one or more of these qualities. (You may enjoy an essay by Chesterton about self-help literature, already legion in his day, where he says it's a pep talk for the anxious at best and buncombe otherwise.)
A lot of SHL assumes a working, specifically American society where rights are respected, people aren't starving or constantly paying bribes or protection money to some scoundrel, and an abundance of honest, competent people. For many years we came close enough to that ideal in enough places that the old-school immigrant, already rich in virtue, found success to be a piece of cake. "You mean all I have to do is work hard, learn something useful, be honest and I can actually have a good life. Pinch me!"
But society daily falls apart more and more. Not only will personal virtue increasingly prove unable to achieve The American Dream, it may well attract persecution. In the end, success is about being, not having; of liking the person staring back at you in the mirror, no matter how cracked or fancy the mirror may be. As I like put it, being a good card player is one thing, and the cards you've been dealt is another.
The one overarching thing I'd tell any young person who asks about success is: You must suffer yourself into existence. If, for example, we wish to be a master violinist, then we must be willing to constantly live on the edge of mastery, to live a lot of the time in the land of "consciously incompetent." And so it is with the virtues; in seeking to be more courageous, we become more aware of where we're cowardly. One of the "10%" jewels extracted from SHL literature (in this case, the book "The Path of Least Resistance") is the following: 1) Have as clear and complete a view as possible of the state of affairs you want to have; 2) Have an unflinchingly honest view of where you are right now; and 3) maintain the resulting tension and use it to give you the energy and drive to get to where you are to where you want to be. That tension, by the way, entails suffering, but also points the way to relieving it, at least until you set the next milestone.
There are a relative handful of SHL books that are useful (partly because they require you to do some work yourself.)
That is fantastic advice that I second! Very well stated. But one has to add NUTRITION, exercise, good food, and whatever else helps to elevate ones mood. deb
Good stuff, thanks for sharing the perspective!
Your political writings will attract a different crowd vs self help. Both are important .
This is an important fact. Having been all in on improving people's lives prior to the pandemic, and having turned my attention and energy toward politics after awakening to the globalists' evil schemes, I've struggled to bridge the two subjects. That said, I've given it an honest effort, and will continue to do so, because I believe that the ultimate solution to geopolitical chaos is an elevation of inner (spiritual awareness). This is how we cultivate the discernment, drive, and determination that will be necessary to defeat global tyranny in our generation.
I found it amusing af to see at the bottom of the stack of designated "self help" books depicted when I went to "restack with a note" the excruciating "Becoming Michelle Obama" which seems to be widely misunderstood as having the title "Becoming" and the author "Michelle Obama." If denial of reality were a text, it would be that book.
We supposedly live in a "post truth" era when all things bright and beautiful are being defiled with buckets of paint or cans of soup by ugly nasty urchins who screech about their feelings. They demand that others believe the lies they have been taught about a boiling world due to the farts of cows and the exhalations of humans. Then when their green reptilian overlords insist that trees must be clear cut to sequester carbon and whales must be murdered for offshore wind farms, they screech all the more.
Happily, there are many truths to be learnt. There is an objective reality. A is actually A, even if someone has another opinion. Also, God loves us and sent his son to purchase for us the rewards of eternal salvation. Upon the solid rock foundation of hearing the words of Jesus and doing them, many hundreds of millions of people built a civilisation called Christendom which the demon worshippers hate. Indeed, the demon worshippers hate humanity and want to enslave mankind. Some decades back they revealed (with the Georgia guide stones among other cues) that they are very lacking in imagination, and can think of nothing better to do with 8 billion souls than slaughter 7 billion 500 million of them.
The universe is very large. We began to understand not only how large it is in the time of Galileo and Kepler but we have, since the era of Robert Goddard, begun doing what Kepler suggested in his letter to Galileo in 1610: Create ships and sails capable of navigating the celestial atmosphere and you will find men to man them, men unafraid of the vast emptiness of space.
On the note of actual, factual reality, it is imperative to discern the distinction between one's personal beliefs (interpretations of reality) and the universe as it is (that exists empirically whether we are aware of it or not). Stories of God's love, while noble, worthy, and valuable, invariably reside in personal beliefs, and therefore are interpretations of reality, instead of observations of reality itself. This is a critical distinction for those who struggle with religion. The takeaway is that the stories can provide immense value, whether they are real or not. With this logic in place, the rational mind is then free to roam the religious landscape in search of wisdom, peace, and perhaps even the proverbial savior. As human beings, I believe this spiritual quest is the quintessential driving force self-improvement, across the board, regardless of religious affiliation or lack thereof. Thems my thoughts on that!
Great post. You suggest you will continue with politics because that is what "WE" want, so I will just note that I have been enjoying your more personal posts. It is not for me to choose, but I think the personal road is particularly honest.
My favorite philosophers and spiritual teachers could easily be called self improvement in some sense, though in Buddhism the essence of self improvement is paradoxically transcending over concern with the self, since the inner voice that introduces itself as your self is often in fact the "problem". And LaoTzu is the paradoxical self improvement author who suggests giving up on improvement as the highest wisdom: "To Become Whole, Be Twisted". And it works. And Nietzsche. And Nietzsche.
I always wondered who would follow someone who looks as unhappy as Jordan Peterson. I'm happy to say recently he is looking happier. But still his voice is often the voice of self that Eastern Philosophy might warn you away from. His standards are the apogee of conventionality. This may be the medicine that some people need. As for me: they make me reach for something with the bracing fragrance of suicide.
I can't follow what Peterson says half the time. Too many big words signifying nothing. Supposedly his wife is turning Catholic, so she is rubbing off on him (so he says). Attaining more humility in one's life is always a positive, never a negative.
great post Ben, one that resonates with a lot of people. On your last point, about creating a community of some sort, curious to hear more about the steps you are taking
Before I dive into the comments - which are sure to be a treasure trove of anecdotal self-help advice - let me just say this: THANKS FOR BEING REAL. (you can stop reading now)
To expound upon your pondering, there are three truths that have shaped my life to a great degree:
1) Life is full of pain and suffering. (Life's not fair, so I just have to deal with it. Chance and chaos affect us all, and it's how we handle this fact that determines of level of happiness.)
2) Life is fundamentally good. (Despite the pain, all we really have to do to survive is eat, sleep, and procreate, thus, we are hardwired to enjoy our survival / time on planet Earth.)
3) Life is a spiritual journey. (I am not just a physical and mental being. My body and mind both change, and I can directly observe and direct these changes, therefore I'm something more.)
One of the most exciting thoughts to ever tickle my brain was the idea of self-directed evolution. How much of my suffering is self-induced? How do I overcome the subconscious inertia that feed these patterns of self-induced suffering? Why do I keep acting like an idiot, even though I know better? I've spent a stupid amount of time wrestling with these questions, and slowly, after an immense amount of physical, mental, emotional, and even spiritual suffering -- the vast majority of which was self-induced -- I finally figured out how to forge a better path forward. All that to say, as you set out to forge this new path for yourself, I'm always game to kick around ideas and share what's worked for me. Best of luck!
Not that I am particularly religious, but the only self-help book you would need is the bible. Or stoic philosophers, if you prefer. It all comes down to the realization that you will eventually die one day.
Wishing you well with your efforts. If one finds just the right "self-help" book that clicks with one's journey, it can, ahem, help. Yet also i find it very telling that there is no "help others" section in bookstores, or "help Earth / help various species / help your neighborhood"....
"Moving forward, I’ll keep writing about politics because that’s what people care about, I suppose... What I really want now is to create something worthwhile and honorable, and to stimulate the development of a community here or elsewhere with other people who aim for the same."
Politics. Why people care about that I'll never know. I try to stay away from politics on my stack as I find talking about it makes me physically ill. I believe I've withdrawn from the macro world so much that even talking about it gives my micro world body a massive headache. I prefer to talk about God and when I do people run away in disgust. That's ok. It makes me happy to talk about what is truly worth talking about.
Find what makes you happy or at least not miserable. That is the key to life. Doing what other people want you to do even though it makes you unhappy is the sure path to depression.
It's all about do as I say, not as I do.
But all you really need is a long walk thinking about what needs to be tightened up and what really does not, taking notes and transcribing them when you get home.
For me, simplicity is the Nice of Life. Though I have a normal amount of dishes, bowls and cups, I keep most of it on my balcony, in a washed out Omaha Steaks styrofoam cooler and keep just one of each including knife fork and iced tea spoon, with an extra long handle that is often handy.
As soon as I dirty something I rinse it completely free of debris including one tem inch and one fourteen inch fry pan and one one quart and one two quart pot.
As soon as I have a full meal's worth of rinsed dishes, I give a small quick squirt of detergent and bang them out as soon as I finish the meal.
This solved multiple problems and it's great never having a sink full of dirty dishes to deal with.
Save most recreation for weekends is another of my custom designed for me self help.
I am fortunate to have a very detailed genealogy compiled by professional historians, and if we have one consistent major flaw it is that we like to party way too much.
Most of the negative aspects of that are dispelled by compartmentalizing recreation so it can't interfere with taking care of business.
The Lynchpin of all for me is early to bed, early to rise, which also resolves a lot of the issues associated with enthusiastic partying.
Two things are simply true; most bad stuff happens late at night, and an hour's sleep before midnight is worth two hours after
It's not Rocket Science, it's your Circadian Rhythm...
Seems like a pretty solid vetting process... but I'd suggest making room for the "guru within." That is, allow for the possibility of gaining your own profound insights through introspection. Keep in mind that all of the wisdom of the sages that has been passed down through the ages shares a common source: this wisdom has come from within. As it is said in martial arts, seek not to follow in the footsteps of the masters, seek what the masters sought. The masters found their own wisdom, developed their own methods and techniques, and shared these lessons with the lesser adepts. I'm all for learning from others, but my two greatest teachers have been pain and the power of my breath. In my experience, breathwork (disciplined breathing) has been the key to unlocking ever deeper insights into the nature of reality, the nature of myself, and the intriguing mysteries of the Eternal Enigma. ...just my two cents!