Most of the self-help books assume that there is nothing and no one out there to help you but yourself. It all appeals to the human ego and makes you the center of the universe. The problem is that when you are the center of everything, you fail to notice others around you and your part in a cosmic reality. These books unconsciously tell you that there is no god, no help, no spiritual reality. The books teach that you, as a human being, are the highest point of all evolution and greatness in the cosmos. There is no higher intelligence. Like everything in the USA now, it is all about ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME. Others are welcome only as long as they fill some niche in my life. When the need vanishes, the person is thrown out. As an old man, I can testify that living this way is really hard and lonely. Being totally self-centered does not make you happy. Just look at Donald Trump. He is unbelievably rich, powerful, and famous. Does he ever look happy? And he is probably one of the most self-centered people on this planet! If this philosophy really worked, shouldn't he be the happiest man on earth? But an old Pet Shop Boys song said it best: "TOO MUCH OF EVERYTHING IS NEVER ENOUGH" . This lyric seems to fit Trump and many wealthy famous people. They are searching in the wrong place for fulfilment. Their greed and lust is so great that many humans do NOT have enough because the elite need more and more and more and more. When someone with 400 million dollars needs even more until his dying day, you know that this is a mental sickness, if not even a demonic oppression. They will pursue this wrong philosophy until their last breath, trying to make it work for them. There is even a bumper sticker "Whoever dies with the most toys wins!" Can you think of any philosophy more pathetic and the path to total failure as an authentic human being? But if you truly believe that you are the center of everything and there is no spiritual world, then I guess greed makes sense.
Amazing. I was sitting down, reading my book 'Success for Dummies' written by Zig Zegler, and asked God to show me in any way he could, if this book in any way could lead me astray from him, and he lead me to this video. Glory to God. Thank you as well, sir.
Thank you!! I read all the self help books there was to read before I became a christian. It leaves you with an immense feeling of weight that you should be doing all these things to achieve something that will make you happy. It never makes you happy and the weight of it crushes you. Jesus is the only way. I don't read any self help books now.
Thanks for raising this question. When I was taking a faith formation class in the seminary we too brought up this topic and prudence brought us to the same process of thinking. Also even to be careful that those same self-help “gurus” don’t lead you into “faith” topic areas like New Age stuff. One person that comes to mind is Tom Cruise’ with Scientology beliefs or other celebrities that may give motivational speeches but come from beliefs that are way different from our own.
I love that you acknowledged the ability to gain some value from these other ways. How some ever this Lord is the only real way! Jesus on the water, in the boat, Keep eyes on God when in the pit!
I've worked in a bookstore and people were buying "The Secret" and other of these self-help book.. I couldn't recommend these books because I never read them... and I felt bad...like I missed something.. But you explaining this, now it's clear... I didn't miss anything!!!
Glad you made this. I'm only just getting back to my faith, and am starting RCIA soon to eventual convert to Catholicism, and while I've already seen benefits to reopening my heart to Jesus, I'm still only really at my beginning phase of having a true faith instead of a blind faith. I still have a lot of work to do, both learning wise and growth as a human being, so I was still entertaining the idea of maybe 1 or 2 self help books. I'll probably give it some time, and focus on my personal growth with God and better Catechizing myself. I've heard great things about the book Atomic Habits, but like you said, I wouldn't want a book like that getting in the way of what's really important; however, I do think some secular approaches for getting over bad habits, so long as they aren't contradicting the Church and the Bible, can be beneficial. But obviously prayer and devotion is incredibly powerful, and whatever we feel like we're overcoming on our own, regardless of having faith or not, God is all behind that. While I do believe you can create all the bad in your life, and of the good that happens, even if it means you're putting in the hard work, ultimately came from God giving you the strength to do those things, by allowing something you read to resonate with you in a way that helped you make better change.
these How Tos... they are good application for living and dealing with the world. God / Jesus is the awesome savior for our life loving God, and for loving others as yourself ❤️❤️❤️ thank you so much for reminding us ❤️❤️❤️
Let me preface this by saying, *I am Catholic and I have a self development channel on RUclips.* Before you read my response, I enjoyed your video, and I am writing this out as in a conversation with an open dialogue tone. No attacking, this is just my interpretation, and I'd love to not get attacked, and I'd love even more to start a more in depth conversation on the topic. I understand your perspective, and in some areas I agree with you, and I agree that some books do ask you to put yourself first. And, there is no religion of self development, there is no self savior out there. However, I do disagree that the entire genre will turn you into a selfish person. I disagree with your interpretation of what Zig is saying. Jesus told us to love one another and to serve one another. Of the books I felt good about reading, I have never walked away thinking how can I use this to be more selfish. How can I use this to get ahead. I have read some that had their own interpretation of a "high power" or "supreme being" and those books did turn me off. Those books, while giving another perspective, did make me question not only that portion of the book, but the entire book itself. Again though, there are a number of books that are self help that do mention God. That do mention the need for prayer. That do mention the need to put God first in your life. Our life is a journey, and Jesus is the only way to God. We must put our Catholic faith first in our lives. You mention that these shouldn't be all we read, and they shouldn't be. There is something to be said about the same message being presented in different ways though. Self help books do have a number of messages that Jesus taught us, they are just presented in different way. I believe God gave us all talents that we need to use to love and serve God, love and serve one another, and help bring more people to God. There are books out there that can help something click, and it can help you accomplish these things. Thank you for the video, and thank you for taking the time to put it out there. I love the channel! Keep us the great work!
Brother, this is the first video I watch in your channel. I'm a 19 year-old 6'3 male, I come from a very Catholic family of 8, and I've become very involved in self-help but for purely self-aggrandizing reasons: get rich, get jacked, get hot girls, travel around the world, do what you want, etc. This is without a doubt the greatest internal struggle/battle in my life and I really need to tackle it seriously and head-on. On one side I have the self-aggrandizing path and on another the holy path (which I intellectually know brings greater happiness and joy). I look at people like Jason Evert, Taylor Marshall, etc. and my heart burns with excitement of such a difficult, but holy life. Good news is, if and when I fulfill the self-aggrandizing, I'll realize it's not the answer and then turn to God. I just don't see any other way it could go. God Love you, nevertheless
Most of the self-help books assume that there is nothing and no one out there to help you but yourself. It all appeals to the human ego and makes you the center of the universe. The problem is that when you are the center of everything, you fail to notice others around you and your part in a cosmic reality. These books unconsciously tell you that there is no god, no help, no spiritual reality. The books teach that you, as a human being, are the highest point of all evolution and greatness in the cosmos. There is no higher intelligence. Like everything in the USA now, it is all about ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME. Others are welcome only as long as they fill some niche in my life. When the need vanishes, the person is thrown out. As an old man, I can testify that living this way is really hard and lonely. Being totally self-centered does not make you happy. Just look at Donald Trump. He is unbelievably rich, powerful, and famous. Does he ever look happy? And he is probably one of the most self-centered people on this planet! If this philosophy really worked, shouldn't he be the happiest man on earth? But an old Pet Shop Boys song said it best: "TOO MUCH OF EVERYTHING IS NEVER ENOUGH" . This lyric seems to fit Trump and many wealthy famous people. They are searching in the wrong place for fulfilment. Their greed and lust is so great that many humans do NOT have enough because the elite need more and more and more and more. When someone with 400 million dollars needs even more until his dying day, you know that this is a mental sickness, if not even a demonic oppression. They will pursue this wrong philosophy until their last breath, trying to make it work for them. There is even a bumper sticker "Whoever dies with the most toys wins!" Can you think of any philosophy more pathetic and the path to total failure as an authentic human being? But if you truly believe that you are the center of everything and there is no spiritual world, then I guess greed makes sense.
I love you man. What an incredible video. Thank you so much for all you do. You have made a difference in my life.
Dan McGovern thanks! I appreciate. If you don't mind me asking, what stood out to you? 😀
Amazing. I was sitting down, reading my book 'Success for Dummies' written by Zig Zegler, and asked God to show me in any way he could, if this book in any way could lead me astray from him, and he lead me to this video. Glory to God. Thank you as well, sir.
Thank you!! I read all the self help books there was to read before I became a christian. It leaves you with an immense feeling of weight that you should be doing all these things to achieve something that will make you happy. It never makes you happy and the weight of it crushes you. Jesus is the only way. I don't read any self help books now.
Ruby Lee thanks for watching. So glad to hear you’ve discovered Christ. 😀
@@Catholicspeaker thank you 😇💖
I wish I could like this multiple times! Thanks Ken! God bless.
Martin Ciglenecki thanks!
Thanks for raising this question. When I was taking a faith formation class in the seminary we too brought up this topic and prudence brought us to the same process of thinking. Also even to be careful that those same self-help “gurus” don’t lead you into “faith” topic areas like New Age stuff. One person that comes to mind is Tom Cruise’ with Scientology beliefs or other celebrities that may give motivational speeches but come from beliefs that are way different from our own.
Wonderful inspiring message, just love it, thank you for sharing
Excellent
Thanks Ken God bless
I love that you acknowledged the ability to gain some value from these other ways. How some ever this Lord is the only real way! Jesus on the water, in the boat, Keep eyes on God when in the pit!
This is an excellent Catholic perspective on "self help"..thank you Ken!
Alexandra Kubebatu your welcome. Glad you found the insights valuable.
This video should be seen by every Christian there is! Such profound truth! I watched it 2x in a row lol
Alvina Rayne Keto Lifestyle & Vlogs thanks again for the encouragement. I appreciate your thoughts. 😀
Alvina Rayne Keto Lifestyle & Vlogs I checked out your channel! Your health journey is inspiring. 👍
@@Catholicspeaker Aww thanks! 🙂
I've worked in a bookstore and people were buying "The Secret" and other of these self-help book.. I couldn't recommend these books because I never read them... and I felt bad...like I missed something.. But you explaining this, now it's clear... I didn't miss anything!!!
Glad you made this. I'm only just getting back to my faith, and am starting RCIA soon to eventual convert to Catholicism, and while I've already seen benefits to reopening my heart to Jesus, I'm still only really at my beginning phase of having a true faith instead of a blind faith. I still have a lot of work to do, both learning wise and growth as a human being, so I was still entertaining the idea of maybe 1 or 2 self help books. I'll probably give it some time, and focus on my personal growth with God and better Catechizing myself. I've heard great things about the book Atomic Habits, but like you said, I wouldn't want a book like that getting in the way of what's really important; however, I do think some secular approaches for getting over bad habits, so long as they aren't contradicting the Church and the Bible, can be beneficial. But obviously prayer and devotion is incredibly powerful, and whatever we feel like we're overcoming on our own, regardless of having faith or not, God is all behind that. While I do believe you can create all the bad in your life, and of the good that happens, even if it means you're putting in the hard work, ultimately came from God giving you the strength to do those things, by allowing something you read to resonate with you in a way that helped you make better change.
these How Tos... they are good application for living and dealing with the world.
God / Jesus is the awesome savior for our life loving God, and for loving others as yourself ❤️❤️❤️
thank you so much for reminding us ❤️❤️❤️
I sure had a few but they seem to don't work, long term and they overlap (most are the same).
God bless.
Thank you. I have Always have doubt about self help.
Well said Ken!
Thanks for the comment Gail Liggett 😀
This is a true story. It took a vessel of God to help me with my sins.
Pray for me
🙏Lifting you up Danny
Ken - thank you, thank you.
Your welcome theresa gray 😀
thank you very much 💖💖💖💖
AMEN, again I say AMEN !!!!🙏
Thank you so much..
Let me preface this by saying, *I am Catholic and I have a self development channel on RUclips.*
Before you read my response, I enjoyed your video, and I am writing this out as in a conversation with an open dialogue tone. No attacking, this is just my interpretation, and I'd love to not get attacked, and I'd love even more to start a more in depth conversation on the topic.
I understand your perspective, and in some areas I agree with you, and I agree that some books do ask you to put yourself first. And, there is no religion of self development, there is no self savior out there.
However, I do disagree that the entire genre will turn you into a selfish person. I disagree with your interpretation of what Zig is saying. Jesus told us to love one another and to serve one another.
Of the books I felt good about reading, I have never walked away thinking how can I use this to be more selfish. How can I use this to get ahead. I have read some that had their own interpretation of a "high power" or "supreme being" and those books did turn me off. Those books, while giving another perspective, did make me question not only that portion of the book, but the entire book itself.
Again though, there are a number of books that are self help that do mention God. That do mention the need for prayer. That do mention the need to put God first in your life.
Our life is a journey, and Jesus is the only way to God. We must put our Catholic faith first in our lives. You mention that these shouldn't be all we read, and they shouldn't be. There is something to be said about the same message being presented in different ways though. Self help books do have a number of messages that Jesus taught us, they are just presented in different way. I believe God gave us all talents that we need to use to love and serve God, love and serve one another, and help bring more people to God. There are books out there that can help something click, and it can help you accomplish these things.
Thank you for the video, and thank you for taking the time to put it out there. I love the channel! Keep us the great work!
Praise the lord
thank you ❤️❤️❤️
Brother, this is the first video I watch in your channel. I'm a 19 year-old 6'3 male, I come from a very Catholic family of 8, and I've become very involved in self-help but for purely self-aggrandizing reasons: get rich, get jacked, get hot girls, travel around the world, do what you want, etc.
This is without a doubt the greatest internal struggle/battle in my life and I really need to tackle it seriously and head-on. On one side I have the self-aggrandizing path and on another the holy path (which I intellectually know brings greater happiness and joy). I look at people like Jason Evert, Taylor Marshall, etc. and my heart burns with excitement of such a difficult, but holy life.
Good news is, if and when I fulfill the self-aggrandizing, I'll realize it's not the answer and then turn to God. I just don't see any other way it could go.
God Love you, nevertheless
Great video. EVERYTHING needs to always be put at the service of God IN LIGHT OF Scripture and the Catechism. Appreciate your work!
Thank you for the comment and for watching. God bless you, "Say Yes to Holiness."
So glad to have come across this video! God bless you!
Sara Feolino I’m glad you found us. Many more videos here. Every Wednesday we release a new one. 😀
loveeee