“Self-help junkies prefer to read about topics instead of learning by trial and error,” the now-wiser Pruce advises her readers. “Your procrastination is disguised by research. By reading books and surfing the Internet, you give the impression you are being proactive. In actuality, you’re delaying doing much of anything.”
Pruce’s own freedom from self-help addiction came when she started to tell the truth about herself in her online newsletter. Initially, it counselled readers how to eat and be healthy. “Then I started slipping in these idiotic stories about myself. I found I got a much better response when I just told the truth. When I gave people some great piece of information about their chakra system, I wouldn’t get anything back,” she said in a phone interview. “But if I said, ‘My husband’s pissing me off,’ they’d all go, ‘Yeah!’ ”
Tips from Confessions include, “Have the courage to talk to one or two women and find out if they’re as thrilled with their life as you think.” “Share your insecurities and see if others relate to your struggles.” “Consider being more open with good friends and close family members. By telling the truth, you have more opportunities to receive insight from others.” Adds Pruce, “It’s nice when someone rolls their eyes and says, ‘I’m having the worst day’ or ‘My husband’s driving me nuts.’ You can relate for a few moments. You don’t feel so much pressure to be perfect.”
Confessions of a Self-Help Junkie (US$9.95) is available online through Pruce’s blog “Enter the Circle.”
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