Are you ready to unravel the layers of the self-industry to reveal the cult tactics underneath?
Ever wondered about the driving force behind our collective conversations about self-help, and where these ideas originated from?
Buckle up, because in the 1st of this 2-part solo episode, I’m taking you through my journey as a recovering self-help junkie— and the insights that have helped me redefine what authentic growth means beyond commercialized interests of a capitalist industry.
We can’t talk about the self-help industry (or any other capitalist industry) without setting the context. In this episode, I expose the aspects of self-help that are a form of capitalist propaganda, which is what makes it especially culty.
How do themes of late capitalism, religious fundamentalism, and patriarchy converge within the self-help industry? What mechanisms of mind control operate through self-help narratives? How does the self-help industry perpetuate a cycle of dependence and doom? And, more importantly, what impact does this have on our individual and collective well-being?
And of course, no episode would be complete if we don’t discuss next steps in how we can embrace authentic growth and interact with self-help in a mindful, intentional, and discerning way. Yes, there IS such a thing as ethical self-help and I’m going to provide some recommendations on how to find it!
Enjoy!
Outline & Timestamps:
Introduction
Explore self-help's impact on cognitive dissonance and gaslighting & its effects on individual and collective well-being.
My Self-Help Journey (04:24)
My personal journey through the self-help industry and what motivated me to have this candid conversation.
Insight into the Self-Love Trend (08:18):
Analyze how the self-love trend reflects broader self-help themes to uncover its implications for personal growth.
Distortion of Psychological Theories (16:36):
How Carol Dweck’s Growth Mindset theory reflects self-help’s misinterpretation of psychological science.
Unveiling Sociocultural Context (25:21):
Reveal self-help as capitalist propaganda & analyze themes of late capitalism, religious fundamentalism, and patriarchy.
Gaslighting by the Self-Help Industry (31:32):
Exploring self-help industry's manipulation mechanisms & its interplay with capitalism's cult-like undertones.
Toxic Individualism Explored (37:42):
Expose toxic individualism within self-help.
The Self-Help Cycle of Doom (40:30):
Navigate the cycle's exploitation of fear, exploitation, and dependence.
Unveiling Manipulative Tactics (48:45):
Expose less-obvious manipulative tactics in self-help to build trust.
Introduction to Ethical Self-Help (54:37):
How to discern between ‘good’ v.s. ‘bad’ self-help.
References & Show Notes:
Demystifying Self-love: Loving Yourself Beyond the Trend - My NEW E-book
Who Is Wellness For?- Fariha Róisín
The Toxic World of Self-help- YouTube Documentary
Navigating the Cult of Fitness Class, Self-help guides, and Groupthink- Shondaland Article
Self Improvement Might Sound Healthy. But There's a Downside to Wanting to Change- Time Article
Trying to Be Happy Is Making You Miserable. Here's Why- Time Article
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The Cult of Self-help (Part 1)