A lot of us chase self-improvement by following whoever sounds most sure. A guru, a trend, a morning routine that went viral. The trouble is that a path built for someone else may not take you anywhere useful. This post looks at why, using meditation as the example, and at a simple way to find the habits that work for you.
Meditation: great for some, rough for others
Meditation can change a life, but it has downsides. A 1992 study found that 62% of meditators reported adverse effects, and 7.4% had severe ones. These included emotional stress, confusion, disorientation, and anxiety, together called "falling into the pit of the void."
You'd never guess that from the market. Meditation apps, books, and gurus are everywhere, and the hype is hard to ignore. There is a lot of research backing meditation, but that doesn't mean it works for everyone.
We are all different
Something that works for a Silicon Valley executive who meditates for hours may not suit you. People differ, and what helps one person can do nothing for another, or make things worse.
How to find what works for you
The manual way is to track your daily activities and how each one makes you feel. Over time you'll see which habits leave you feeling good, happy, clear, creative, and confident, and which ones don't.
Then choose by that evidence, not by what a guru or trend says you should do. It comes down to personalizing your habits and learning about yourself as you go.
Conclusion
Self-improvement is individual. Following a guru without checking whether it fits you may never get you where you want to go. Track your habits, pay attention to how you feel, and keep the ones that serve your well-being.
Meditation: great for some, rough for others
Meditation can change a life, but it has downsides. A 1992 study found that 62% of meditators reported adverse effects, and 7.4% had severe ones. These included emotional stress, confusion, disorientation, and anxiety, together called "falling into the pit of the void."
You'd never guess that from the market. Meditation apps, books, and gurus are everywhere, and the hype is hard to ignore. There is a lot of research backing meditation, but that doesn't mean it works for everyone.
We are all different
Something that works for a Silicon Valley executive who meditates for hours may not suit you. People differ, and what helps one person can do nothing for another, or make things worse.
How to find what works for you
The manual way is to track your daily activities and how each one makes you feel. Over time you'll see which habits leave you feeling good, happy, clear, creative, and confident, and which ones don't.
Then choose by that evidence, not by what a guru or trend says you should do. It comes down to personalizing your habits and learning about yourself as you go.
Conclusion
Self-improvement is individual. Following a guru without checking whether it fits you may never get you where you want to go. Track your habits, pay attention to how you feel, and keep the ones that serve your well-being.
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