Sometimes
life seems better on paper. We make
lists of what we plan to do, as if the compilation of the list makes it an
eventual reality. We craft ideas,
philosophies, rules, or procedures as it relates to work, school, or other
aspects of our life, giving us a false security of tackling the typical issues,
needs, obstacles, and burdens that accompany real living. But the truth is, we rarely live up to what
we write down, from our affirmations, commitments, wish lists or even our
apologies.
We simply are not as good as we hope to be, and we can’t live at a level or style that exceeds our most optimistic imagination. Are we writing books with proscriptions to problems and issues that are more idealistic than practical, something most readers will never attain or sustain?
We simply are not as good as we hope to be, and we can’t live at a level or style that exceeds our most optimistic imagination. Are we writing books with proscriptions to problems and issues that are more idealistic than practical, something most readers will never attain or sustain?
Where
do policy-makers, self-help gurus, and field experts go wrong when looking to
solve a problem with a well-intentioned book?
The
list can be quite long if we were to start noting why books fall short of
preventing, curing, healing, or minimizing our problems, but here’s a stab at
it:
1.
Many
books are strong on identifying a problem, but weak on providing solutions.
2.
Often
the solution to a problem is unmanageable, perhaps requiring skills, money,
time, and resources that simply are not available.
3.
In
the process of addressing one issue, a new one is created, zeroing out the
benefits.
4.
Many
books provide solutions that set a high mark, one closer to perfection, than
mere improvement, and that can prove to be too challenging to achieve.
5.
Rarely
does a book fit all sizes and needs. We
don’t do the same things for the same reasons in the same way at the same time
as each other, even though it seems like there are patterns to human behavior.
6.
People
misunderstand, misinterpret, or respond inappropriately to the advice they are
given, so even if the book is great, some readers lose out due to their own
inability to properly digest the information presented.
7.
A
book may not be enough on its own to tackle big problems. That’s why we have doctors, coaches,
therapists, consultants, seminars, friends, family and other influences to help
shape our progress. If you lack support sources you may not be able to fully employ a book’s advice to your advantage.
8.
It
seems we can’t just treat one problem in isolation, but rather it is in the
context of a full balanced life that we look to tackle an issue. What we should do is simultaneously seek to
address all issues that need attention, so that you begin to form the healthy
habits, thinking, and relationships needed to grow holistically.
9.
A
book can be terrific but if we lack the courage, confidence, brainpower or
emotional makeup to follow through on what we read, we simply can’t benefit
from it. It’s as if we are given the
secret to life in a language that we don’t speak. What a tease.
10.
Many
books may sound good but are founded on faulty or unproven science. They may lack facts, truth, or complete
information.
11.
Readers
see contradictory advice when they go from book to book and don’t know who to
believe in.
12.
People
don’t read enough books, especially those who need help and would benefit
from reading. But even those that read
books, are they choosing wisely? Reading
sub-par books could be worse than no reading at all.
We
can live life by so many different standards. Do we live in a way that pleases
another – a spouse? A parent? Do we live the way we were taught to even if
that standard becomes outdated? Do we
live based on a religion, a singular value, or goal? Do we live with a purpose and intention – or
do we merely look to react at what comes our way and strive merely to survive
and not thrive? Do we change our ways
based on our needs?
How
do you avoid the pitfalls of life -or deal with them? If you discover a way to
live life, you’ll probably write a book about it. Will anyone really benefit from it?
On
the other hand, if you really want to make the world better, dream up a better
one with fiction. Perhaps perfection
comes from having an idea – and not acting on it. Write about what could be; just don’t try to
live it.
Life
always looks better on paper – or else you can just turn the page.
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Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are his alone and not that of his employer. You can follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels more important when discussed in the third-person. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog 2016 ©.
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