The hottest Self-help Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health & Wellness Topics

i know i should fix my toe fungus, and yet

Both Are True • 152 implied HN points • 28 May 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. People often ignore problems even when they know they should fix them. For example, toe fungus is not pleasant, yet it can take time to seek help.
  2. Sometimes we feel frustrated when family members try to help us with our issues, even if we really need it. It's a common reaction to feel defensive instead of accepting support.
  3. Procrastination can lead to ongoing issues that become more complicated. Making a plan and actually following through is key to overcoming challenges.

Still lying to yourself?

Disaffected Newsletter • 619 implied HN points • 13 Dec 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. It's okay to limit contact with abusive parents, even if it's hard to do so. You don't owe them understanding or forgiveness.
  2. Remember that your parents' mistakes are not your responsibility. Their behavior is not a reflection of your worth.
  3. Acknowledging the truth about your childhood hurts, but it’s a necessary step towards healing and finding a better life.

7 Reasons to Stop Being Lazy in 2024

Litverse • 139 implied HN points • 27 Dec 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. Laziness is equated with greed and ugliness by the author, representing a lack of contribution to life
  2. Being idle leads to stagnation and loss of self, portraying idle people as uninteresting swamp creatures
  3. Earn your leisure by balancing work and relaxation, engaging in constructive leisure activities rather than aimless consumption

Yearly Kickoff and The Origins of LIFE

Human Programming • 12 implied HN points • 08 Jan 26
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. A tiny, consistent practice—daily journaling plus a weekly review—can serve as a practical system for improving how you live.
  2. Design the system so it reviews and updates itself; this simple self-improving feedback loop can grow and adapt over time.
  3. Sticking with a minimal system over years lets it coevolve with you, turning a small habit into robust routines and larger projects.
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Are You in a Virtuous or Destructive Cycle?

The Unabashed Observer • 99 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. Identifying whether you are in a virtuous or destructive cycle is crucial for personal growth. Virtuous cycles lead to positive outcomes, while destructive cycles can be harmful.
  2. Breaking out of destructive cycles requires recognizing the problem and making a conscious effort to change. It can be challenging, but essential for improvement.
  3. Understanding oneself and being open to self-evaluation is key to recognizing and addressing the cycles we are in. Self-awareness is the first step towards breaking out of destructive patterns.

Resolutions

Soaring Twenties • 208 implied HN points • 02 Feb 25
🎭️ Culture Self-help
  1. Enjoy the process of learning and creating. Taking your time and being organized can make the experience much more fulfilling.
  2. It's important to set personal resolutions that truly matter to you, instead of following trends or what others expect.
  3. Reading can be a meaningful activity, especially when done mindfully, allowing you to savor each piece and reflect on it.

Productivity boosters, 2x revenue, saying NO, engineering as marketing, writing 5 books.

Play Permissionless • 259 implied HN points • 07 Feb 23
💼 Business Self-help
  1. Finding a productive work environment with like-minded individuals can significantly boost productivity and focus.
  2. Saying no to certain business opportunities is crucial for maintaining quality and ensuring sustainable growth.
  3. Engaging in deep, long-form writing like book projects can lead to clearer thinking, coherence, and nuanced understanding, even with just a small daily time commitment.

How Jimmy Carr reinvented himself

A Bit Gamey • 13 implied HN points • 21 Dec 25
😂 Humor Self-help
  1. You can reinvent yourself at any age; be willing to become a beginner again and try new paths.
  2. Treat failures as feedback, not final answers. Test ideas quickly, learn from flops, and keep iterating until something works.
  3. Happiness is something you design by choosing how to spend your time and who to spend it with, and humour can help you carry pain and shrink problems.

Least Destructive, Most Productive

Advice you don't need • 59 implied HN points • 02 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Self-help
  1. Every ending comes with a bit of damage. When we leave a job or relationship, it can hurt, and things often don't go as planned.
  2. Staying unhappy costs us more in the long run. If we avoid making a change out of fear, we might end up in a worse situation.
  3. It's important to find a way to transition that feels right for us. We should aim to minimize hurt while still taking care of ourselves.

Just Don't Be Stupid

Polymathic Being • 65 implied HN points • 29 Jun 25
📖 Philosophy Self-help
  1. Inversion is about looking at problems from a different angle to avoid mistakes. Instead of just chasing success, think about what could go wrong and how to prevent it.
  2. Applying inversion helps in both technology and psychology by allowing us to see potential failures. This way, we can develop better solutions and reduce fear of the unknown.
  3. A key part of inversion is acknowledging negative outcomes. By thinking about what we dread and planning for it, we can manage life's ups and downs better.

Depressing, Not Depressed

Situation Normal • 128 implied HN points • 16 Feb 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. There's a big difference between feeling depressed by what's happening around us and actually being depressed. You can be upset about the news but still feel okay inside.
  2. Taking care of your mental health is important. Things like therapy, medication, and yoga can help you feel stronger and more resilient.
  3. It's possible to face dark times and still come out okay. You can experience tough moments without letting them define how you feel about yourself.

Why don't gurus scale?

Sasha's 'Newsletter' • 173 implied HN points • 06 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Self-help
  1. Some gurus are really talented at helping people and can create big changes quickly. However, their personal skills often don't scale to help more people.
  2. Gurus rely on their personal charisma and unique techniques, making it hard to replicate their success on a larger scale.
  3. Many in the spiritual scene may struggle with growing their impact because their methods are too personal and can't reach a wider audience.

The Self-Destruct Button

We're Gonna Get Those Bastards • 7 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Self-help
  1. Everyone has a self-destruct button and can self-sabotage, so avoid putting yourself in tempting or risky situations that make it easy to act on impulses.
  2. Reputation and conscience matter more than money because secrets are exhausting and guilt lasts longer than any short thrill, so protect your reputation by living honestly and openly.
  3. Build unassailable character by refusing short-term pleasures that carry big costs and following basic ethical principles in both personal and professional life.

A One-Minute ADHD Test (23/30)

psychotechnology • 12 implied HN points • 24 Nov 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. There’s a six-question ADHD screener you can do in about a minute, and scoring 4 out of 6 is a strong reason to seek a full clinical assessment because the test has very high specificity but misses about a third of true cases.
  2. With adult ADHD prevalence around 5%, a 4/6 score translates to roughly an 87.5% chance you actually have ADHD, so a positive result is meaningful rather than likely a false alarm.
  3. ADHD is often highly treatable; stimulant medications help 70–90% of people and can greatly improve quality of life, and there are non‑stimulant options if stimulants aren’t suitable, so getting assessed can be life‑changing.

A Tale from the Friend Zone

Bet On It • 135 implied HN points • 03 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Self-help
  1. Sometimes, people see you as a friend and not a partner, and it's important to accept that. Trying to change their mind often doesn't work.
  2. Many people end up staying friends even when they have feelings for someone, which can lead to regrets later on. It's crucial to recognize when to move on.
  3. Reflecting on past relationships can bring up feelings of regret, especially when we realize things about people we once cared for. It's a part of life.

Belly-to-belly Lisbon, Nicotine, New Schwarzenegger book (bad), Numbers go Up (good)

Play Permissionless • 79 implied HN points • 10 Nov 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. Travel updates: Belly-to-belly meeting in Lisbon after Bangkok and Barcelona trips. Seeking recommendations.
  2. Book review: Enjoying 'Numbers go Up' by Zeke Faux for intriguing behind-the-scenes crypto stories.
  3. Health insight: Trying nicotine gums after learning about potential benefits. Contrasting the disappointing new book by Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Jordan Peterson: The Helpful Rambler

Fake Noûs • 654 implied HN points • 01 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Self-help
  1. Jordan Peterson gained popularity for his outspoken views and self-help advice.
  2. Critics point out Peterson's tendency to ramble and use metaphorical language.
  3. Many people love Peterson for the practical advice he gives and his charismatic delivery.

What are you letting go of in the New Year?

Men Yell at Me • 133 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Self-help
  1. Think about what you want to leave behind as the New Year starts. It's a chance to reset and focus on what matters.
  2. Taking breaks and enjoying downtime is important for well-being. Don't feel bad about resting and recharging your energy.
  3. Reflecting on the past can help guide your future. Use your experiences to decide what changes to make in the coming year.

Expose Yourself

Disaffected Newsletter • 359 implied HN points • 04 Aug 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. Facing your fears can reduce their power over you. When you take steps to confront what scares you, like crossing a scary bridge, it can actually make it easier over time.
  2. Developing personal techniques to cope with anxiety is important. Things like distraction or reminding yourself that you are safe can make a difference.
  3. Avoiding situations that trigger your fears can sometimes make them worse. Instead, tackling those situations head-on might help you feel more in control and less anxious.

This is How The World Ends. Not with a Bang, but a Smile.

OK Doomer • 126 implied HN points • 30 Nov 24
🎭️ Culture Self-help
  1. There's a growing trend of courses teaching people how to smile, reflecting a culture obsessed with appearing happy despite feeling otherwise. Many are pressured to smile even when they don't feel like it, which can be unhealthy.
  2. T.S. Eliot's poem 'The Hollow Men' speaks to the emptiness of society and resonates more today as we face crises and pressures to conform, like forcing smiles.
  3. Forcing yourself to smile can worsen mental health issues, and it's important to acknowledge how societal expectations around smiling can be harmful.

Ask For and Accept Help

Polymathic Being • 85 implied HN points • 26 Jan 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. It's okay to ask others for help; doing everything alone can lead to failure. We’re social beings, and working together usually gets better results.
  2. People often struggle to accept help, especially when it’s different from how they would do things. Letting go of control can open the door to new ideas.
  3. Recognizing the differences between masculine and feminine qualities helps create stronger partnerships. It's important to appreciate both instead of treating everyone the same.

The Number One Reason Why You Have Been Underperforming.

Day One • 698 implied HN points • 29 Jun 20
💼 Business Self-help
  1. You don't need permission from anyone to build a career on the Internet; make up your mind to learn and your teacher will appear.
  2. On social media, personal branding is important and you can follow people for education, information, and entertainment.
  3. Building a personal brand online requires locating mentors, applying their teachings, and consistently showing up to share your value without waiting for permission.

DIY Psychological Parts-Work: A Hacker’s Guide to IFS and Entactogens (20/30)

psychotechnology • 8 implied HN points • 21 Nov 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. The mind is made of semi-independent parts or subagents that have their own ages, goals, and roles, and you can learn to notice and talk to them to get clearer answers about how you feel.
  2. Cultivate your inner system like a garden: practice parts-work sober first, develop your own simple ways of classifying and communicating with parts, and use what fits your mind.
  3. Entactogens (like MDMA) can make parts-work more plastic and compassionate while psychedelics may cause bigger, riskier reorganizations, so approach drug-assisted work cautiously and seek professional help if things get destabilized.

No Clear Answers

The Leadership Lab • 59 implied HN points • 21 Aug 23
🎙 Podcasts Self-help
  1. After a failed coaching program launch, the team regrouped to create 'No Clear Answers' podcast.
  2. The podcast aims to provide fresh perspectives, challenge conventional thoughts, and have fun.
  3. Episodes explore topics like imposter syndrome, motivation, and manifestation with actionable ideas.

The book with my name in it

10x your mind • 99 implied HN points • 03 Nov 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. Writing something that inspires others can lead to unexpected and meaningful connections, like having your name mentioned in a book
  2. Receiving or giving a good pep talk can help in improving confidence and motivation, especially when facing setbacks
  3. Key elements of a good pep talk include purpose, empathy, and providing perspective or direction tailored to the audience

Self-fufilling worry

Sunday Letters • 159 implied HN points • 07 Nov 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. Impostor syndrome makes us feel like we're not good enough, but it's common and can happen to anyone. Many people worry about being exposed as a fraud, affecting their confidence and performance.
  2. Worrying too much about our flaws can actually make us perform worse. Instead of focusing on what we can't do, we should put our energy into improving and celebrating our successes.
  3. By just doing our best and being kind to ourselves, we can overcome impostor syndrome. This mindset helps us grow personally and positively impacts the groups we belong to.

Writing is transformation.

Neckar’s Notes • 63 implied HN points • 04 Feb 25
📚 Literature Self-help
  1. Writing can help you transform your life. It allows you to explore deeper emotions and thoughts, leading to personal growth and healing.
  2. Using pen and paper for journaling can unlock creativity. Setting aside time to write helps you get in touch with your feelings and inspires new ideas.
  3. Creating a personal writing practice requires discipline and a clear mindset. Finding a quiet space and dedicating time daily can enhance your writing experience.

Hexagram 36

Daniel Pinchbeck’s Newsletter • 21 implied HN points • 30 Jul 25
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Self-help
  1. The I Ching can provide guidance during tough times, especially when the future feels uncertain. It has been used historically by many to find hope and clarity amidst challenges.
  2. Hexagram 36, known as 'the darkening of the light,' suggests a way to live in difficult circumstances. It encourages curiosity and perseverance even when things seem bleak.
  3. The I Ching's structure has been linked to the genetic code, which hints at a deeper connection between life and these ancient teachings. This connection may reveal insights about growth and change in all living systems.

Escape Shouldlandia | #255

Boundless by Paul Millerd • 182 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. Many people get stuck in a place called Shouldlandia, where they talk about what they should do but don't actually do it.
  2. It's important to pay attention to what you actually do rather than what you think you should be doing.
  3. To escape Shouldlandia, focus on taking bold actions, experimenting, and testing your 'shoulds' in reality.

Do you need advice on a difficult person?

Disaffected Newsletter • 179 implied HN points • 04 Aug 22
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. Some people in your life may have difficult personalities, like Cluster B disorders. These people can act hurtful or confusing, even if they seem friendly at times.
  2. It's important to recognize these behaviors and understand that they require a different way to handle them than usual.
  3. There are strategies available to protect yourself from these difficult individuals, and seeking advice can be helpful.

Book Review: “Smart Choices” 4/5

Poczwardowski Notes • 19 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24
📚 Literature Self-help
  1. Decision making is a skill that we learn through experience and not something we are born with.
  2. The book 'Smart Choices' provides a comprehensive guide to decision-making using the 'PrOACT' framework, covering problem, objectives, alternatives, consequences, and tradeoffs.
  3. The book emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between decisions and their outcomes, as a bad outcome does not always mean a bad decision was made.

Self-Help Podcasts

Bet On It • 45 implied HN points • 02 Jan 25
🎙 Podcasts Self-help
  1. Self-help podcasts can provide deep insights and personal stories that inspire growth. They often feature interviews with interesting guests who share valuable experiences.
  2. Books like 'Self-Help is Like a Vaccine' offer unique perspectives on personal development. They can be a great addition to your self-help journey.
  3. Sometimes, e-books may face delays due to administrative issues, so staying updated on their availability is important. Physical copies might still be an option while you wait.