This TED Talk by Suzanne Eder sheds an interesting light on self-improvement. We generally think self-improvement is always good. That continually trying to improve ourselves is the way forward. But Suzanne shares that there is in fact a dark side to self-improvement. And that is when it comes from a place of feeling as though there is something wrong with us that needs to be fixed.
When this happens, there are 2 things that often take place:
We look outside of ourselves for answers
Rather than using our own inner wisdom, we seek out others for answers. Which can then see us following common knowledge that potentially doesn’t suit us. This whole process can dis-empower us and leave us with a very hollow feeling.
This is also not to say that we can’t learn from others. There is plenty of knowledge that we can take on board to progress ourselves in many ways. But there is a key difference between doing this and giving away all your power.
There is a lack of fulfilment
If there is something to fix, this results in there being an ‘end goal’. Fixing the problem is the thing that can give us the satisfaction. And since that is out there in the distant, at some future point in time, there is generally little satisfaction in the here and now.
Every single step along the way is judged, and as we approach the end goal we are even likely to move the goal posts. This makes it ever harder to reach the end goal at all.
Losing contact with the present moment and self-judging will unlikely get you to where you want to go.
Suzanne encourages us to listen and trust yourself, through following your own inner guidance.
Learn more along with an example Suzzane shares of a client’s self-improvement experience by watching the full 11-minute TED talk here.
Want to watch even more TED Talks we have shared. Check them all out here.
