Self-Help Books or Audios?

Jules

Jules

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Bookstores have a large selection of self-help books. Many of the Best Sellers books are self-help.

Podcasts are really popular too. You-tube also?

Do you use them? It seems like there’s something for everybody.
 

Definitely books, I'm an avid reader. Not really a self help type, like my soul, emotions or making more money. More of a hands on fixing things type. I wouldn't buy anything from one of those 'Improve My Inner Peace Chakra' gurus.
 
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I stopped paying attention to these many, many years ago once I learned that these people who are trying to make a buck telling me how to live my life don't actually know much at all (other than some having good marketing skills). :rolleyes:
 

Tommy said:
I stopped paying attention to these many, many years ago once I learned that these people who are trying to make a buck telling me how to live my life don't actually know much at all (other than some having good marketing skills). :rolleyes:
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Exactly!
They are (in most cases) peddling the "gimmick of the year" to vulnerable people.
All as THEIR life improves as the $$ roll in!
 
I used to read them years ago. They all start out stating clearly what your issues are. But then they go off on some weird solution.

The best you can hope for is to better understand yourself and what's motivating you. Sometimes that's all you need. Your mind is capable of solving your own problems once it knows exactly what the problem is.

I have to be away from situations in life to be better able to see myself and others who were around me at the time to better understand what was going on.

I was depressed at one time and I picked up a book called Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by Burns. Burns was a practicing therapist and had experience helping patients better understand the traps they put themselves in unwittingly and how to unravel and understand the thinking patterns that keep us there.

That's the only book that ever significantly helped me.
 
Years ago I know I had some of the bestsellers on my bedside table. Not sure I even finished them.

Lately I’ve been listening to motivational speaker, Mel Robbins. She interviews well-known specialists who are board certified in their specialties. Many interesting folks, including Gabor Mate who was in a thread here last week. My listening is more about the need to have a background entertainment on continually, though I do appreciate some of the topics that are discussed.

Once I downloaded a podcast by a supposedly renowned physiatrist who had written several bestsellers. What a flake. I think she must have penned her own doctorate.
 
Im 75. Im pretty much stuck this way. I dont think a book is going to make much difference now.
The only self help books and you tube videos I look at are ones to help me figure out how to do stuff.

Latest one I looked at because my wall oven quit heating. If I replace it I will need to redo the cabinets cause you know a new one isnt going to slide right in. Looked on youtube found out its the element. Ordered an element. Found a video on how to replace it.
Element cost $26. I dont even want to know what a new oven costs plus the disruption and cost of remodeling.
 
Veronica said:
my wall oven quit heating. If I replace it I will need to redo the cabinets cause you know a new one isnt going to slide right in. Looked on youtube found out its the element. Ordered an element. Found a video on how to replace it.
Element cost $26. I dont even want to know what a new oven costs plus the disruption and cost of remodeling.
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Good for you!

That happened to me 2-3 years ago. There was a bright flash of light when the broiler was on and then it went out. I rarely order anything, but found a replacement for that part and it worked. Actually there are 2 elements, so there is another part just like it for the "bake" setting, which I haven't replaced.

Anyway, there is no oven made today that will fit into the old space without some framing, and it was going to cost me in the $4000 range to get a complete new unit.
 
@Veronica and @MACKTEXAS, your posts have made me rethink trying to replace my passenger-side rear-vew mirror on my car, which I smashed while carelessly pulling out of the garage a few months ago. (I'm still berating myself.)

A replacement—a genuine Toyota part for my specific make, model, and year—is available on Amazon for $47. The dealership quoted me a price that was north of $500! No way. The guy even said that it would be better to pull up a YouTube video and try to do it myself, or to see if I know someone (perhaps one of my friend's sons) who could do it.

After reading your two posts, maybe I'll give it a try.
 
KSav said:
@Veronica and @MACKTEXAS, your posts have made me rethink trying to replace my passenger-side rear-vew mirror on my car, which I smashed while carelessly pulling out of the garage a few months ago. (I'm still berating myself.)

A replacement—a genuine Toyota part for my specific make, model, and year—is available on Amazon for $47. The dealership quoted me a price that was north of $500! No way. The guy even said that it would be better to pull up a YouTube video and try to do it myself, or to see if I know someone (perhaps one of my friend's sons) who could do it.

After reading your two posts, maybe I'll give it a try.
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I don't mean to discourage you, but I have a Toyota Corolla, and in my case, it appears that replacing that mirror would involve removing part of the interior door trim and possibly reattaching some wiring, which could be tricky. The dealer quote probably is more for labor than the part. Before ordering the mirror, I think I would stop into a garage that is known for lower prices than the dealer and asking them about it first. At least then you would know whether or not to go ahead with your plan.
 
MACKTEXAS said:
Good for you!

That happened to me 2-3 years ago. There was a bright flash of light when the broiler was on and then it went out. I rarely order anything, but found a replacement for that part and it worked. Actually there are 2 elements, so there is another part just like it for the "bake" setting, which I haven't replaced.

Anyway, there is no oven made today that will fit into the old space without some framing, and it was going to cost me in the $4000 range to get a complete new unit.
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Good for you too. :D
Nothing new ever seems to replace anything old. I think they do it on purpose. I think people forget that stuff can sometimes be repaired. New isnt always better either. My GE is from the early 1980's. Hopefully it will outlast me. :D

Mine has two elements too. Its the bottom one the bake element that went out on me. Ive been using the top broiler to bake.
It doesnt bake as well but it works. I didnt use the broiler before so it wont get replaced.


KSav said:
@Veronica and @MACKTEXAS, your posts have made me rethink trying to replace my passenger-side rear-vew mirror on my car, which I smashed while carelessly pulling out of the garage a few months ago. (I'm still berating myself.)

A replacement—a genuine Toyota part for my specific make, model, and year—is available on Amazon for $47. The dealership quoted me a price that was north of $500! No way. The guy even said that it would be better to pull up a YouTube video and try to do it myself, or to see if I know someone (perhaps one of my friend's sons) who could do it.

After reading your two posts, maybe I'll give it a try.
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I took a quick look. It looks like you might have to take the door apart. I would be iffy about that. What if you cant get it back together. BTDT. :D I agree with Mack check for an independent garage. Dealers always charge more.

I dont mess with anything that will cause permanent harm to me or my stuff. With my oven I figured the worst that can happen is I have to get a new oven
 
Lately I've wondered why it is that we call them "self-help" books/audios
when they're actually somebody else's ideas that we're looking to for help...
it's author/speaker-help... not our "self".

Just one of those "driving on parkways and parking on driveways" type things. 😅
 
MACKTEXAS said:
I don't mean to discourage you, but I have a Toyota Corolla, and in my case, it appears that replacing that mirror would involve removing part of the interior door trim and possibly reattaching some wiring, which could be tricky. The dealer quote probably is more for labor than the part. Before ordering the mirror, I think I would stop into a garage that is known for lower prices than the dealer and asking them about it first. At least then you would know whether or not to go ahead with your plan.
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Oh, yikes; thanks! (Thank you, too, @Veronica.) Yeah, there's no way that I would try to take the door apart. I can't even imagine! :ROFLMAO:

The guy I spoke to broke down the quote. Labor did indeed comprise most of it, but he said the part itself was about $125. I understand that they need to absolutely guarantee they're using official Toyota parts (this is a dealership), but that's still nearly three times the Amazon price.

I'm just going to hold off for now given that it's not illegal to not have a functioning passenger-side mirror. (I was talking about this with friends, and one friend whose son is a state patrolman picked up her phone and called him right then to ask. I was like "Nooo!", waving my arms. "I don't want to know!" [I know ignorance of a law won't get you out of a ticket, but still.])

But if I do get it fixed I will go to an independent dealer. Even the guy at the dealership recommended that, rather than paying an exorbitant price. If it were a newer car I might consider that, but it's a 2006.

Thanks to both of you!
 
I used to search for answers from the lifestyle experts and guru du jours.

Now that I’m retired and live alone, I have plenty of time for introspection and reflection about my personal quirks and foibles.

I haven’t changed much more than my attitude.

For me it all comes down to accepting the things that I’m unable to change and to be kind and patient with myself as I work through some of the things that are within my control.

Save your money, write your own self help manual! 😉🤭😂
 
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