It’s not a secret that I love trying out life systems and self-improvement ideas. And Goodness knows it’s a weird hobby. Flylady, Konmari, Everyday Systems, Bullet Journals, you name it. I find these things interesting and enjoyable to play with.<\/p>\n
That’s the thing. I’ve begun to look at it as a hobby<\/b>. Not every system I’ve tried has necessarily produced the results I wanted, but you know what?<\/p>\n
Some have. My homemaking skills are a lot more Flylady than Konmari, but wow was keeping my home tidy easier after I did the big ole tidying “festival” Marie Kondo suggested.<\/p>\n
I like listening to self-improvement books when I walk alone.<\/p>\n
None of this has exactly made me a paragon of virtue or excellence, mind. I’m not rich. I’m not skinny. I’m not famous. *wrygrin* My view of the improvement of the Self even questions how in the world these three big goals seem in any way to be listed as self-improvement.<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n
Fine, your house is tidy now. But do you treat people kindly?<\/p>\n
Okay, you’re rich. How did you get that way? Were you honest? Were you able to keep your integrity?<\/p>\n
Great, you’re skinny. Is this a virtue?<\/p>\n
Things I think would be better addressed in self-improvement literature:<\/p>\n
Not ONE self-improvement book I’ve seen discusses these topics much. Though, Marla Cielly of Flylady<\/a> fame and Reinhard Engels of Everyday Systems<\/a> seem to strike me as people to whom integrity and kindness seem to mean something.<\/p>\n But most of the so-called self-improvement literature I see is a lot less about becoming virtuous and a lot more about becoming inappropriately selfish. I say “inappropriately” because boundary setting can look selfish to someone wanting to take inappropriate advantage of you.<\/p>\n Few of these books discuss one’s duty to oneself and one’s fellow humans.<\/p>\n I think these questions are considerably more important than whether or not you have enough self-discipline to stick to a diet. For my own part, I find sticking to a diet a lot easier than being patient with strangers who frustrate me, speaking up about an injustice, or setting appropriate boundaries with people whose real motive is to use me as a thing or resource.<\/p>\n I think being a size two, being well-known or having a big bank account is trivial compared to that.<\/p>\n And I find it interesting that the self-improvement industry is largely silent on it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It’s not a secret that I love trying out life systems and self-improvement ideas. And Goodness knows it’s a weird hobby. Flylady, Konmari, Everyday Systems, Bullet Journals, you name it. I find these things interesting and enjoyable to play with. That’s the thing. I’ve begun to look at it as a hobby. Not every system … <\/p>\n