As a millennial, I grew up in a generation obsessed with self-help and personal development. We’ve all read at least one self-help book and binged watched some Tedx talks, or even attended a personal development workshop.

We follow influencers and motivational speakers, who dedicate their lives on social media to help their followers.

The self-help industry has been going on for years – even decades. You read a book or watch a youtube video about personal development, and now you feel inspired.

Start eating healthy, you meditate and work out. You plan your day and have an optimistic approach.

You have it all figured out! What’s next?

You want to consume more information. More “Self-Help”. You NEED to get better!

The problem, however, is that self-help can turn into an addiction. You have access to thousands of motivational speakers giving you their advice, without any scientific basis. You over-dose on information and never feel fulfilled with yourself.

You’re never enough, and you want more information from them.

Yes, Self-Help can turn into an addiction, and you end up getting lost in the personal development scams.

First off, you need to understand that Personal Development and Self-Help are first and foremost a business!

The book author is making money out of you buying books. The speaker makes money out of you buying a ticket to attend. The Youtuber makes money out of your views. Even if you are provided free information, they are still making money out of sponsorships and other means.

It’s all about the money, and you know it.

Because of this, you will never get full information at once. They want you to come back. Buy the new book and watch the next video. Many so-called influencers and motivational speakers will make you feel worse while pretending to help you.

THEY WANT US TO COME BACK!

You’ll be stuck in their loop, without even being aware that you’re being taken advantage of. They want you always to feel down and that you are not enough to come back in hopes of “improving.”

This is especially dangerous because with everyone and their mother being given a platform to become a self-development gut, most of the current speakers, writers and gurus have absolutely no qualifications related to what they’re doing.

Even they, themselves, have no idea how bad the damage can be.

And let’s be real, we all listen to people without looking at what their qualifications are. Look at you now; you’re reading this article without knowing anything about me, the writer. Am I qualified enough to tell you how to live your life?

Probably not.

But there was a huge possibility that you’d continue reading if I gave you tips on how to develop yourself.

Here’s the thing though. It’s great that you want to go out there and try to become a better person, and you should always aspire to be better—no shame in that.

However, you need to know who you’re listening to.

Speaking oddly and fake confidence doesn’t mean these people know what they’re talking about.

Can we take a moment and remember Charles Manson? Famous killer and cult leader started as someone who claimed to be helping his cult members with personal development scams up until he brainwashed them all into becoming serial killers.

Do your research before listening to those who are making money out of your misery. More importantly, don’t over-consume the information.

Before you jump into the next book, make sure you implement what you read before first, or you’ll be falling into the personal development scams of the self-help industry!

And remember, Jordan Belfort from Wolf of Wallstreet is now a motivational speaker!