The Self Help industry is projected to be worth 14 Billion in 2025.

That's a lot of people buying self-improvement books, crushing personal growth courses, and devouring podcasts.

While it may seem that millions investing in self-improvement can only be a good thing, there is a danger in becoming a full-scale "self-help junkie:"

It can lead to self-deception.

Self-deception is dangerous because it's subtle. You can't ignore that you need to get your life together when you're at rock bottom. But if you deceive yourself, you can justify living below your potential for years before you do something about it.

And what better way to deceive yourself than having plenty of evidence to support that you're "into self-improvement?"

I know the trap is real because I fell into this trap when I first got into self-improvement.

Based on my experience, I will expound on the three common danger zones for the self-improvement trap and how to avoid them.

Trap #1: Passive Learning

The most profound lesson I've learned in 31 years is that we don't learn in the abstract — we learn by doing.

• I made more progress in a year of playing music professionally on cruise ships than during my 2-year diploma in Jazz Guitar.

• I became a better programmer by building my first full-stack web application than by doing a 6-month coding BootCamp.

Improving requires iteration from real-world feedback; you have to get your hands dirty.

You need to have skin in the game. This is tough — the stakes for failure are higher during real-world learning. But this is precisely what makes it more effective.

There is no substitute for raising the stakes.

Real-world learning is active learning and the only way to grow and progress truly. Because it is inherently uncomfortable, many opt for the cozy alternative: passive learning.

Passive learning is abstract learning with no real-world context.

You engage in passive learning when you do online courses on a subject but don't start doing anything.

While a certain amount of studying and observation is necessary, you are stuck in passive learning mode when the balance skews more towards studying than doing.

What you spend time learning should always be limited to what is most pertinent to your next step. There is no legitimate reason for too much study before getting your hands dirty — learning and action should be paired together.

Passive learning is most often a means of procrastinating.

You're afraid to get your hands dirty and do the work, so to soften the blow, you make half-hearted attempts at "learning" so you don't have to face the reality of your fear.

Endless research and studying are a way to feel like you're doing something without actually having to do anything.

Solution:

Never allow time for purely passive learning.

This doesn't mean that you never read or learn about a topic, but ensure that it is paired with active learning.

If what you intend to do with what you learn is too far in the future, then passively learning about it isn't the best use of your time.

Prioritize what you can take action on.

For example: Let's say you want to start a blog.

• Passive learning: Completing courses and reading up on blogging, keyword research, and SEO before you launch anything.

• Active Learning: Take action at each step of your learning journey. Launch first, and then allocate some time every week for continued learning.

Trap #2: Positive Procrastination

Binge-eating cookies and watching reality TV is the elephant in the room of procrastination — you can't miss it.

While blatant procrastination is a problem, at least you can't use it for self-deception. Procrastination is more dangerous when it's sneaky and disguises itself as something valuable.

Positive procrastination is when you put off the most important work you should be doing for something useful but less important.

If you see yourself as someone "into self-help," you'll have no shortage of positive procrastination inspiration.

• Blowing off your morning writing sesh to read your 80th self-help book? Positive Procrastination.

• Listening to another podcast instead working on content for your business? Positive Procrastination.

• Reading other people's articles when you're supposed to edit your own? Positive procrastination.

The key trait of positive procrastination is that it involves consuming rather than creating. It's sneaky because you're consuming helpful things, but this doesn't change the fact that you're still procrastinating on the most important thing.

Solution:

Designate time for conscious consumption. When you allocate time for the books and podcasts you want to consume, you won't need to take time from your most important tasks to fit them in.

The same goes for all other candidates for positive procrastination: Ensure adequate time for doing chores, cleaning your room, exercising, and your admin work.

When you designate a time for these activities, you won't be able to fool yourself into using them as a way to neglect the most important thing.

Trap #3: Empty Habits

Morning routines used to be so hot.

But they've cooled off a little lately as people are figuring out that you don't need an exhaustive morning routine to be productive.

Most of the time, these lengthy routines create negative returns on productivity.

Habits should earn their place in your routine by providing obvious value.

Empty Habits only protect your self-image as "someone who is into self-improvement" but don't provide concrete results.

You may have an elaborate morning routine that involves a 30-minute meditation, 5 k run, superfood smoothie, burning sage, and positive affirmation journaling.

These are all good things to do. But whether these habits are good or not isn't the most critical question. A better question is:

“Are these the best things for me to be doing with my time?”

You may be better off waking up, slamming down some water, grabbing a coffee, and getting to work.

Classic self-improvement habits can also distract you from the most crucial part of real personal growth: progress.

Sure, you're meditating, journaling, and taking cold showers. But are you making progress in your life?

Are you facing your fears, doing things that challenge you, and growing as a person?

Or do your "good habits" only serve to console you from the other bad habits that hold you back?

If your honest answer is the latter, you've fallen into the self-improvement trap.

Solution:

Tie all habits and parts of your routine to outcomes.

If meditation and cold showers make you feel better and improve your effectiveness, then make time for them.

But beware of using habits to distract yourself from being honest about how you're not putting in your best effort where it counts.

Self Improvement boils down to conquering the things that scare you and solving problems in your life.

It's not about how many courses you've done, how extensive your library is, what time you get up, or how many cold showers you took last week.

The best course of action for personal development is to stop counting your books read and cold showers taken and pick a problem in one of the big three areas:

• Health

• Wealth

• Relationships

You can’t fail to grow as you go through the process of solving your problem since your consciousness inevitably expands.

You will not be the same person after having created a successful business (or even a side hustle).

You will not be the same person when you lose 30 pounds and get a 6-pack.

You will not be the same person when you learn to put yourself out there and start dating, or rekindle the spark in your marriage.

You will have grown.

No book, course, or new habit in your morning routine can compete with legitimately solving a problem and improving your life.

Don't be distracted by passive learning, positive procrastination, or empty habits.

Solve problems in your life.

When you’re ready, here’s how you can work with me.

I want to help you ditch confusing diets and workout programs and help you achieve your fitness goals in a way that works for you.

If you’re tired of spinning your tires, failing to get results, and wondering what you’re doing wrong, apply for 1-1 coaching now.

Your results are guaranteed.

You’ll hit your goals, or I’ll work with you for free until you do.