The hottest Self-help Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Health & Wellness Topics

Liminal Thinking

QUALITY BOSS • 2 HN points • 16 Jul 24
📖 Philosophy Self-help
  1. Changing your beliefs can change your life. By shifting how you think, you can create a new reality for yourself.
  2. Liminal thinking encourages you to look at the patterns in your life. Identify negative cycles and imagine ways to turn them into positive experiences.
  3. Understanding that beliefs shape our identity is key. If we challenge and reshape our beliefs, we can change how we see ourselves and improve our lives.

Proof is in the doing

Sunday Letters • 139 implied HN points • 10 Jan 22
🎭️ Culture Self-help
  1. It's easy to feel like you know something when you only understand it on the surface. True understanding comes from actually doing and applying what you've learned.
  2. Impostor syndrome can affect even the most capable people. It's important to recognize when familiarity is not the same as true competence.
  3. Being familiar with complex subjects is okay for making decisions. However, you should always be cautious not to overestimate your understanding of them.

Rage as a friend

Square Circle • 11 implied HN points • 15 Jul 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. Rage can be seen as a friend rather than a problem. By acknowledging your anger, you can learn to deal with it better.
  2. Giving your anger away to others won't help in the long run. It's important to own your feelings instead of projecting them onto someone else.
  3. Experiencing anger can actually protect against feelings of depression. Embracing your emotions, including anger, can lead to a more balanced mental state.

*Self-Help Is Like a Vaccine*: Audiobook and Podcasts

Bet On It • 30 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
🎙 Podcasts Self-help
  1. The audiobook version of 'Self-Help Is Like a Vaccine' is now available, which could be a great gift for others.
  2. A podcast discussing topics from the book includes tips on parenting and living without stress.
  3. There are interesting discussions comparing Stoic and Epicurean views included in the material related to the book.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

How to Reduce Stress, Anxiety, and Negative Thoughts with Declutter Your Mind

Growth Digest • 19 implied HN points • 28 Apr 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. Decluttering your mind involves clearing mental clutter like worries, negative self-talk, distractions, and overload.
  2. To declutter your mind, practice accepting thoughts, addressing root causes, simplifying life, and being mindful regularly.
  3. Reading 'Declutter Your Mind' can help manage stress, overcome negativity, handle emotions, stay focused, and set realistic goals.

The Limits of Strategy

What Is Called Thinking? • 136 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
📖 Philosophy Self-help
  1. Strategy has its limits because achieving goals can lead to an infinite regress.
  2. Avoid placing too much focus on short-term wins and instead consider long-term, noble aims.
  3. Inner peace and self-knowledge are essential to navigate the uncertainties of life strategies.

My beef with the über-productivity culture

Midnight Musings • 99 implied HN points • 28 Feb 22
🎭️ Culture Self-help
  1. The push for constant productivity can make us forget to ask why we're doing what we do. Understanding our true motivations is key to finding fulfillment.
  2. We often desire things because we see others wanting them, not because we truly want them ourselves. It's important to identify if our goals are genuinely ours or influenced by others.
  3. Instead of letting fear drive our actions, we should focus on loving the process and the work we do. This change in mindset can help create lasting motivation and happiness.

Abundance vs Scarcity Mindset

Perspectives • 8 implied HN points • 10 Jul 25
📖 Philosophy Self-help
  1. An abundance mindset looks for opportunities instead of focusing on what's lacking. It helps you see possibilities where others see limitations.
  2. Creating win-win situations benefits everyone involved. Sharing resources and support can lead to greater success for all, not just for one individual.
  3. Seeing potential in others and believing in their capabilities can transform relationships. By lifting each other up, we all can thrive together.

Am I Attached to an Outcome?

David Spinks' Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 14 Jan 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. Feeling anxious often comes from being too attached to certain outcomes. When we focus on what might go wrong, it can make us feel really stressed.
  2. Not being attached to how things turn out can help us feel more relaxed and open to new experiences. It allows us to enjoy the moment without worrying too much about the results.
  3. A useful process to handle this is to notice your feelings, find out what outcome you're attached to, and then try to let go of that attachment. This can help you feel more at ease.

Being a problem is better than Xanax

Sex and the State • 21 implied HN points • 20 Nov 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. Feeling like a problem can actually help connect you with others. Sharing your struggles might inspire others to do the same, creating bonds.
  2. Anxiety often stems from the fear of what might happen, while depression may leave you feeling stuck and without hope. Both feelings can be challenging but are important to recognize.
  3. Choosing to lean on friends and ask for help can be better than trying to avoid being a burden. Relationships thrive when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable.

Resilience

We're Gonna Get Those Bastards • 5 implied HN points • 06 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Self-help
  1. Resilience means getting back up after being knocked down. Everyone faces tough times, but most people choose to keep going because there’s often no other option.
  2. Public humiliation can be one of the hardest things to recover from. It’s important to have self-esteem and not let others' words define you.
  3. What doesn’t kill you can make you stronger. People who have faced challenges often end up happier because they learn to choose happiness despite their struggles.

Random Thoughts #11: Nothing Lasts Forever!

Spyderdoc Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 26 Oct 24
📖 Philosophy Self-help
  1. Life has its ups and downs, but tough times always pass. It's important to stay calm and keep pushing forward.
  2. Hard work usually pays off, and positive thinking can help you overcome challenges. Focus on yourself and what you can control.
  3. Nothing lasts forever, so enjoy the good moments and keep a positive attitude, even when times are tough.

Where Anxiety Comes From

Kartick’s Blog • 17 implied HN points • 12 Oct 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. Anxiety often stems from past experiences that left a mark on us. For instance, if you were in an accident, you might feel anxious in similar situations.
  2. We tend to feel anxious about things that could happen again in the future. If something bad happened before, knowing it could happen again makes us worried.
  3. Finally, anxiety can come from feeling unprepared to handle those situations if they arise again. When we believe we can't manage a problem, it adds to our anxiety.

A Whole New World

What's Important? • 11 implied HN points • 19 Jan 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. Being present means feeling the moment within you, not just thinking about it. It's important to connect with your senses and surroundings to truly experience life.
  2. The focus should be on the body's wisdom, which can guide our choices and actions better than just relying on the mind. This means paying attention to how you feel physically and emotionally.
  3. Practices like the 'Embodied Present Process' help us connect deeper with ourselves. Simple exercises can lead to a better sense of overall balance and wholeness.

Resentment

We're Gonna Get Those Bastards • 10 implied HN points • 24 Jan 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. Resentment is a drain on your energy. While you might be stuck thinking about someone who wronged you, they are likely not thinking about you at all.
  2. You have limited control over others, and trying to control them can lead to mental distress. Focus on your own actions instead.
  3. Letting go of resentment and wishing good things for others can free you up to live a happier, more productive life. It's not about them; it's about your own peace of mind.

What to do with your feelings

Austin Kleon • 59 implied HN points • 13 Aug 21
🎭️ Culture Self-help
  1. Feelings are a normal part of being human, and it's important to acknowledge them. You can channel your emotions into your creative work for a productive outlet.
  2. Surprise can help you see things from a new perspective. Being open to unexpected moments can enrich your understanding of life.
  3. Reading can greatly influence your thoughts about life and creativity. Exploring different ideas through books can inspire new ways of thinking.

The Dangers of "Repressed Special"- Part One

What's Important? • 15 implied HN points • 22 Oct 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Self-help
  1. Intelligent and successful people can face unique challenges when they pursue a spiritual life. This can lead to mistakes if they're not careful.
  2. Having spiritual awareness can make someone more powerful, but it can also amplify their ego, which can cause problems.
  3. It's important to create safe and loving environments for personal growth, to help reduce unnecessary suffering during the journey.

Fear

We're Gonna Get Those Bastards • 10 implied HN points • 16 Jan 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. Catastrophic thinking can trap you in a cycle of fear. It feels real, but often the worst outcomes don't happen.
  2. To overcome anxiety, it's important to make a decision to get better and take action. Change is hard but can lead to a much happier life.
  3. Fear holds you back from fully enjoying life. It’s mostly in our heads, and learning to trust that things will be okay can open up many possibilities.

Description vs Prescription

Christopher’s Newsletter • 6 implied HN points • 17 Apr 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. Self-help advice often focuses too much on what worked for someone else without explaining how or why it worked. Just telling someone to 'roll out of bed' doesn't help if they don’t have the same mindset or habits.
  2. Sometimes, advice needs time to sink in before it truly resonates. You might hear the same thing repeatedly, but then one day it clicks and you finally understand it in a new way.
  3. It's okay if certain techniques don't work for you right away. Just because something doesn't help today doesn’t mean it won't be useful in the future.

Mental Obsessions and Letting Go

We're Gonna Get Those Bastards • 10 implied HN points • 17 Nov 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. Letting go is important when helping friends or family. You can support someone without needing a response; it's their choice how to handle their problems.
  2. Mental obsessions can drain your happiness. Instead of getting caught up in worries about others, focus on things you can control and help others when possible.
  3. Most people aren't thinking about you as much as you think they are. Everyone has their own issues, so try not to take things personally and remember, it’s okay to let go.

The Dangers of "Repressed Special"- Part Two

What's Important? • 11 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. Transformational growth can be scary, but it's important to embrace your fears. Noticing when your fear speaks up can help guide your decisions.
  2. Making friends with your fears involves connecting with them, understanding their feelings, accepting their role, and finding a way to work together. This approach can lead to positive change.
  3. Using tools like Brian's decision-making framework can help you navigate choices better. Listening to your intuition and understanding your fear can lead to smarter and more fulfilling decisions.

I Love Pain

We're Gonna Get Those Bastards • 7 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. Getting out of your comfort zone is important. If you only stick to what's easy, you won't achieve much and might end up feeling regret.
  2. Embracing pain can lead to growth. Instead of avoiding difficult situations, running headfirst into them can open up new opportunities and experiences.
  3. Success is about perspective. Even if things don't work out as planned, you'll still learn something valuable from the experience.

Hardcore Meditation

What's Important? • 8 implied HN points • 31 Dec 24
⛪ Faith & Spirituality Self-help
  1. Meditation can be a personal and unique journey. It's important to find a practice that suits you, whether that's focusing on breath, visualization, or something else.
  2. Community and connection with others who understand meditation can make a big difference. Sharing experiences and learning from others helps everyone grow in their practice.
  3. It's natural to have ups and downs in meditation. Being flexible and open to different methods can lead to better understanding and deeper insights over time.

Getting Out of Your Own Way

Perspectives • 6 implied HN points • 09 Jan 25
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. Your past experiences, especially from childhood, can shape how you see yourself and your abilities. Understanding this can help you unlock your true potential.
  2. Instead of giving direct advice, it's important to help people discover their own solutions. This can lead to powerful realizations about how to move forward.
  3. We often hold ourselves back by repeating negative thought patterns. Changing how we think can open up new possibilities and help us achieve success.

Don't Break the Chain

Path Nine • 12 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. Don't Break the Chain method promotes consistency in achieving goals.
  2. Productivity strategy involving commitment to daily goals and small achievable steps.
  3. Embracing perseverance and consistency over lofty goals leads to success.

TWH#S7: What I Read This Week

The Hagakure • 17 implied HN points • 19 Mar 23
📚 Literature Self-help
  1. Thoughtful engineering leaders focus on improving the overall system with systems thinking.
  2. Creating an environment where introverts can thrive is crucial, especially in tech fields.
  3. In complex software development, embracing uncertainty and trying things out can lead to better outcomes.

The Ultimate Guide to Reduce Screen Time: CBT (part 1)

Dachi • 8 implied HN points • 22 Oct 23
🏥 Health & Wellness Self-help
  1. The key to reducing screen time is improving self-regulation rather than just making technology 'dumber'.
  2. Understanding triggers like external cues and internal emotional states is crucial for managing screen time effectively.
  3. Screen time overuse is often an emotional management issue rather than a time management problem.

Making some Headway

My Home Office Hacks • 2 implied HN points • 13 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Self-help
  1. The Headway app offers useful book summaries that help you learn key points quickly. It’s a great way to stay informed without having to read full books.
  2. Using tools like TinyWow's FAQ Generator can simplify content creation for websites. It helps you answer common questions easily, even if you're not a professional writer.
  3. Listening to book summaries can be a good alternative to traditional media. It can fill the time you would spend on the news and provide valuable insights instead.

Maybe You're Not Actually Trying to Solve Your Problems?

FutureIQ • 1 implied HN point • 30 May 25
📖 Philosophy Self-help
  1. We often give better advice to others than we take for ourselves. When faced with our own problems, we might ignore good solutions we would recommend to a friend.
  2. People can solve issues at work but struggle with personal challenges. Sometimes, if we applied the same skills from one area of our life to another, we'd find better outcomes.
  3. Our mindset can get stuck in a low point, causing us to miss out on solutions. It's important to remember that our capacity for action can change over time, and we should revisit problems with a fresh perspective.

#27 Books: The Almanack of Naval Ravikant

Atomic Learnings • 4 implied HN points • 10 Mar 23
📚 Literature Self-help
  1. To build wealth, combine specific knowledge with leverage over a long time with smart and trustworthy people.
  2. Focus on physical, mental, and spiritual health for happiness, which cannot be bought.
  3. The Almanack of Naval Ravikant contains valuable wisdom on wealth and happiness, and it's free to read.

Rethinking Authenticity

From the Desk • 2 HN points • 04 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Self-help
  1. Authenticity has evolved over time from simply factual to a character trait that is now widely misunderstood and overused.
  2. Authenticity can be a paradox, as it relies on others to judge our authenticity, leading to a performance or craft in trying to be authentic.
  3. Being authentic is challenging because it requires navigating personal changes while others evaluate our authenticity, but it's essential to stay true to oneself amidst external influences.

Bookreviews.lol issue #001

Bookreviews.lol • 0 implied HN points • 10 Mar 24
📚 Literature Self-help
  1. Tara Westover's memoir 'Educated' showcases the transformative power of education on individual growth and life choices.
  2. James Clear's 'Atomic Habits' provides practical strategies and scientific insights into forming and breaking habits for positive change.
  3. Daniel Kahneman's 'Thinking, Fast and Slow' delves into cognitive biases, enhancing decision-making processes, and encouraging critical evaluation of intuitive judgments.

Book Review: "The Laws of Human Nature" by Robert Greene 5/5

Poczwardowski Notes • 0 implied HN points • 01 Aug 21
📚 Literature Self-help
  1. Robert Greene's 'The Laws of Human Nature' helps in managing expectations towards people and yourself by recognizing behavior patterns.
  2. The book presents each law with captivating stories from history, making the concepts memorable and engaging.
  3. The instructions in the book not only aid in managing expectations of others but also in self-reflection and overcoming negative behaviors.

Book Review: “How to Live on 24 Hours a Day” by Arnold Bennett 4/5

Poczwardowski Notes • 0 implied HN points • 26 Feb 23
📚 Literature Self-help
  1. Despite different time periods and technologies, the challenge of managing time remains consistent - we all have just 24 hours in a day.
  2. The book 'How to Live on 24 Hours a Day' by Arnold Bennett, first published in 1910, still offers relevant and practical advice for modern readers.
  3. The book is available for free on Project Gutenberg, making it a valuable and enduring read that is worth investing some time in.