Calling a post 20 of the greatest self development posts ever written is ambitious to say the least and probably a bit silly.
Especially as I just did a recount and realized there are 21!
I know I’ll have missed out dozens of classic posts that deserved recognition, so please don’t take this list as anything more than a bit of fun and as an introduction to some great self development writers.
As a heads up, I read every link that was left in the comments (I think). A couple of posts I just didn’t think quite fit what I was looking for, but the majority were great.
I then contacted each author (where I could find contact details) and asked them for either a short intro or permission to pull the first paragraph from the post as the introduction.
If you think I missed out a brilliant post that you nominated and can’t understand why, it’s probably because the person who wrote it either didn’t respond to my e-mail or I couldn’t find any contact details.
If somebody can’t be arsed to respond to an e-mail request with a simple “Yes that’s fine Tim of course you can link to me”, then I can’t be arsed to send them some new readers.
The order is completely random and I have made no attempt to rank them or declare a winner.
I hope you have fun exploring this stuff and I’d love to hear what you think in the comments.
Bodhipaksa – Learning To Love The Flaws
This one’s about how we can quickly move beyond annoyance, irritation, or even hatred toward someone just by learning to appreciate the person as a work in progress, rather than as a static “being.” It was something that came to me spontaneously in my meditation practice, and sometimes when techniques come to me that way they’re particularly effective.
Liz Strauss – The Top 10 Ways To Start Living
We don’t measure life in hours and minutes. We measure life in memories and moments. What do you think of when you read this sentence? It was the time of my life. We don’t say that often enough.
Alex Blackwell – How To Love Consciously
With more than 27 years of marriage under our belts, my wife and I have found what works best is to love intentionally; to love authentically and to love consciously. Yes, we argue over the temperature in the car or who really forgot to feed the dog, but when it really matters; when it really counts, we make the conscious choice to give each other the love that is requested and needed.
Brooke Castillo – That Was Meant To Happen
This is my mantra. I think I picked it up when I started studying Byron Katie’s work.One day, I just noticed how often I say this in my head. How brilliantly it sets me free. Every time. It releases me from my argument with the past. That argument I have never (not once) won.
Read on…
Tony Teegarden – How To Improve The Quality of Your Life In 15 Minutes
Over the past few months I’ve been tracking how many 20 min segments daily of exercise and writing I do. The key for me is the small time chunk–makes it manageable in my mind. So I consciously set boundaries, set my timer to work/exercise/be with kids for 15-20 minute helped manage the overwhelm, and reacquainted myself with my juicer.
Tim Brownson – A Walk On The Beach
My ego refused to allow me to write this post unless I included one of my own musings. This is a story of a vacation I took a few years ago. So many people asked me if it was true and each time I answered, it may be.
Sabrina Ali – On The Matter of Death + The Possibility of Birth (like now)
Treating life as ‘suspiciously deathly’ inhibits the possibility of living it meaningfully and purposefully. So, let’s get on with it shall we? Following your bliss in life will indeed cause the death of many things, but only for the purpose of living truly free.
Charlie Gilkey – So Much More Than Damaged Goods
“So Much More Than Damaged Goods” is about seeing that we are more than just damaged goods. It’s an encouragement to use our experience and write a different story of transcendence and compassion. Whether our story is of damage or transcendence is largely up to us.
Sandi Amorim – 5 Steps To Managing Your Lizard Brain
Death is the most abrupt wake-up call there is, displacing everything with its trail of regrets. What if you could give up your deathbed regrets now, and live a life you love? You can by taking small actions over time; actions that fly under the radar of your lizard brain and get you moving on what’s important. Crushing your someday thinking isn’t as dramatic as it sounds.
Read on…
Jonathan Fields – Everything Else Is Icing
Do you get nervous giving presentations? Well this post may help remind you that there are more important things in life.
Vidya Sury – Time To Smell The Flowers
This is a three part post about – yes – you guessed it – taking time to smell the flowers in today’s hectic lifestyle and finding the time to do things that matter to us. It is also about the importance of slowing down, prioritizing and getting our acts together. Unless we practice being present in what we do, how can life be meaningful?
Arvind Devalla – How To Live Your Life As Though Everything Is A Miracle
“What would it be like to imagine living your life as if everything was a miracle? Well, no matter what’s going on for you in your life right now, everything is a miracle. This article will show you how you can notice and fully appreciate the miracles happening all around you.
Jonathan Mead – Meaningless Dreams
I actually had a different post nominated for Jonathan, but then he tweeted this older post and when I read it I loved it. It’s very simple, but sometimes it’s ok to have meaningless and selfish dreams.
Paige Burkes – Eliminate Fear and Negative Emotions
Learn the simple steps that are always available to you to eliminate fears and negative emotions as they arise.
Brandon Allen – I’m Writing This Post While Watching TV
Switch tasking and trying to be all things to all people, all of the time are killing our ability to focus on our careers as well as killing precious time with our families. Being present in the moment is a key to living a longer, less stressful life.
Nea Joy Justice – 20 Ego Defense Mechanisms That Can Screw Up Your Life
Nea describes the way we unconsciously use defense mechanisms like deflection, rationalization and denial to deal; albeit ineffectively, with aspects of life that are less than ideal. Once you understand these defense mechanisms, it’s easy to see the importance of increasing self-awareness and learning positive coping skills.
Barrie Davenport – 50 Things To Stop Doing Forever
This post evolved from pinpointing some of the most common areas when people get stuck and hopefully reach the “ah ha” awareness. These are the places that are bound to keep us stifled if we don’t address them.
Ken Wert – What’s On The Dashboard of Your Life
If you’re a blogger, you know a dashboard is more than the place you instinctively glance to check your speed when you pass a police car. It’s where much of the behind-the-scenes work of a blog happens. But many of the same characteristics you can find on a site’s dashboard can also be found in our own lives as well.
Tess Marshall – A Gift In Goodbye: A Legacy of Love
During one of our last phone conversations mom told me, “I’m dying. I’m ready to go.” The pain of living had become unbearable. As if driven by an invisible force, I was determined to be there for her, as she had always been for me. I packed my suitcase, hopped on a plane and arrived within 24 hours.
Danielle LaPorte – The Grand Pep Talk
I’m all for mental health days. And gentleness. And I think the world should take the month of December off. And for the love of God, a 4 day work week would revolutionize the collective human spirit and thusly, healthcare. But this pep talk isn’t about taking it easy, this is about another form of self care: doing whatever it takes.
Zeenat – How To Lovingly Support Someone Who Is Experiencing Hopelessness and Depression
If you have a friend or loved one who is experiencing hopelessness or depression, it can be difficult to know exactly what to say or do. While there isn’t any one magic thing to say that will alleviate their pain, there are many ways to offer support.
So come on then, what do you think? Let me know in the comments.
Aligning With Your Core Values
I recently announced that my latest book was going up in price as I was introducing an affiliate scheme. I screwed up basically and thought I had more time before the first interview went out.
In other words, I’ve already put the price up without the promised final announcement.
I apologize about this and if you do buy through this link before Friday 16th, I’ll not only refund you $10 but send you a copy of all of my ebooks!
Tim,
Thanks so much for compiling the best of the best! I humbled to be included!
I appreciate all you do to improve the lives of others.
Alex
You’re welcome Alex, much deserved.
Stu-pen-dous! Thank you Tim! This must have taken hours and hours to put together. Much appreciated! And honored!
It actually did take much longer than I anticipated, but I got to read some great posts, so it wasn’t as if it was like real work ;-)
Tim, this is such an amazing compilation – and thanks for including my post in such esteemed company.
Though I was aware of half the bloggers whose posts you have chosen, I am looking forward learning more about the others.
Your hard work in collating and preparing this post will be rewarded with so many lives around the world being transformed. Thank you!
Actually I was in the same situation, asking for nominations meant I too was exposed to writers for the first time, so that was a real win/win/win!
Dear Tim,
You always do such amazing things for people — including your fellow bloggers. Thank you so much for creating this list and for including me in it. There are so many amazing writers and thinkers in the blogosphere. I’m thrilled to be included among these other amazing people.
You’re welcome Barrie!
Can’t wait to check these out… I actually hang out more at health & fitness blogs than personal development ones, so these will all be new for me. In fact, you and your slavishly devoted readers may have saved me years of mucking around on my own in the sometimes loony land of self-improvement. Appreciate the shortcut!
Self development land can be loony sometimes too. Everything in moderation ;-)
Tim,
Thanks for including my post on your wonderful blog. Of everything I’ve ever written this one post about my mom’s transition is my best. I’m honored and grateful to be here.
I like that. talking about her transition, cool!
[...] article I wrote on my mom's transition has been voted for one of the top 20 of The Greatest Self Development Posts Ever Written check it [...]
Tim,
Thanks again for the inclusion to the list. I always love to see and hear about new content and viewpoints. I am enjoying the list.
You’re welcome Brandon and yeh, there’s a lot to enjoy.
Tim,
This is fabulous! You included all the best – including yourself. Congratulations to all the talented self-development writers.
LOL – I know, I really wrestled with whether to put one of my own posts in, but then my ego overcame my humility and demanded inclusion. it wasn’t messing around either ;-)
Tim,
Thanks for including me. I find that post so simple, yet it’s one that I go back to myself time after time, as a reminder that I always have a choice in life.
And I loved the post about Flo & Alice! So glad you included it because I’d never seen that one!
Wow, I thought I was the only person to read their own posts. Glad to know I’m not alone!
Oh see see, Sandi is here! OMG, wonderful blog btw! And should I say Tim should write these posts more often. “We ought to know what makes him so knowledgeable!”
Thanks for including this post in the roll-up, Tim. I’m honored!
Honored, scmhmonored, you totally deserved it.
gorgeous — and useful — collection. totally jazzed to be here. xo
Totally jazzed to have you here!
Tim,
Thanks for compiling this list. I got great validation and loved the hard facts found in Brandon Allen’s post.
I’ve always believed that (for me) multi-tasking is really ‘neither-tasking’ – so I gave it up after originally reading this post and my production (and stress levels) are exponentially better!
Keep up the good work!
I have to confess to not knowing Brandon before, but I’m glad I do now.
Derick, Hi. I don’t really know if this is true but when we were kids multitasking was one of the most common and easy things we did and yet we scored better grades at school, call off mom waiting to pick you up after you soccer match and yet be good enough to kick the ball in the nest!
I think multitasking is not the real trouble. The real trouble is our mind prioritizing things in an all new way. When you have focused priorities, multitasking simply vanishes. At least, that’s how I stopped procrastinating. A marketing guru told this in one of his rare lecture and I was changing slides for him. An important lesson, I’d say.
Jay, you may want to check latest research mate. Multi-tasking is nigh on impossible for all but about 2% of the population.
Check this out http://www.adaringadventure.com/life-coaching/cannabis-is-better-for-you-than-multi-tasking/
LOL, I see you already check that post and even commented saying you hated multi-tasking. Had a change of heart?
No. Check this post I did after reading your blog. Multitasking happens. I don’t hate or love it. It’s a flow. You’ve to accept it.
If you try do it on purpose. It will let you down. Definitely, multitasking is like sprinting. You exhaust fast. And if you are not doing it for the right purposes, you’re wasting your energy. But it’s compulsory sometimes.
Other than that, we don’t even realize how good our brain is at it! The new post, all yours Tim! Take Pilots for example. Check their cockpit dashboards ;) (and mind you, they do it on priority!)
I’m honored to be included in such a marvelous list.
I found some very talented bloggers here who I didn’t even know existed. Thank you so much for that gift. You rock!
Me too, I gained a lot from reading the posts.
Tim,
Thanks for compiling this amazing list. A few of my favorite people are on here. Brandon Allen is one of my favorites. His content is connected, logical and easy to use. Thanks for the list!
You’re welcome Andrea and it seems Brandon has some loyal readers!
Just spent the last 40 minutes reading through these instead of my early morning ritual of writing. Totally worth it though -Thanks Tim!
Absolutely, every now and then it’s great to check out new stuff. Back to your writing tomorrow ;-)
Hi Tim,
What an awesome list of posts and bloggers!
Thank you for adding my post here and for compiling such a valuable resource….I’m so honored!
I look forward to reading and learning from each of these awesome writers.
Much Love,
Z~
I included it because it was good, so no worries you deserved it!
Thanks Tim, some great minds producing some great work here. I’m humbled to be among them. I’ll be coming back regularly to read through these posts until I’ve read them all.
That was a nice post you put together Ken, especially as you were scrambling when a guest post fell though. Good work fella!
Discerning and distilling isn’t a skill that comes easily to everyone, so in addition to “a thank you” for the honour of being on the list, I also look forward to some good reading. I love getting recommendations. :)
And you were the only person that had 2 different post nominated. Cool eh?
Great stuff as always Tim, thankyou.
be good to yourself
David
Cheers mate.
Sweet! I see someone totally got the bribe I paid them to get me on the list LOL.
Seriously, awesome collection my friend! Killer collection!
Yeh but dude come on, a cabbage patch doll and pet rock really didn’t cut it, your post made it on its own merits, amazingly ;-)
So psyched Brandon made the list- though as the one who submitted the nomination I’m a little partial.
I think Brandon might be the new black Angie. I need to keep an eye on him ;-)
Tim, you missed me again. kidding. you’re a sweetheart. Anyway, here is one of the tiny little gems I’ve posted on my blog which, might not be list-worthy, is pure love..
http://jakyastikblogs.blogspot.in/2012/03/benefits-of-being-blunt-honest.html
It’s good to know I’m a sweetheart ;-)
BTW, I didn’t really miss any, as I asked for nomination from my readers. I did add 3 myself that I rated highly and to take it up to 20, but the rest were all reader driven
Ow, I am late than. My mistake. Apologies. But am still firm on that multitasking opinion. We simply shouldn’t kill a conversation just because you’re a sweetheart. kidding. :)
You’re fighting the latest neuroscience Jaky which proves it’s not an option for 98% of the worls population. Maybe you are one of the 2%?
No. Not if you get what I mean. Multitasking isn’t an option to some people. They have to compulsorily do and stay productive in it. And people learn and get good at efficient multitasking too!
It is stressful and exhausting when you do it without reason. If people stop multitasking there won’t be people like house-wives, pilots, share traders or bankers to name a few.
Now definitely, I’m not in favor of multitasking done by someone like a student doing homework, watching TV along side, transferring data on the PC an simultaneously eating pizza. That’s wrong!
But when urgency demands, It is good and should be practiced as much as possible. Am I making my point clear?
Jaky,
This thread has been too good to not jump in with my 2 cents. I appreciate where you are coming from and I definitely agree with you that focused priorities is a great way to end multi-tasking. However, if people think that they are good at multi-tasking why worry about focus? In all of the businesses that I have worked with, and studies confirm this, it comes down to a focus issue. People in our generation literally don’t know how to do it. They can’t unplug from e-mail, Tweetdeck, text messaging, etc.
It’s a problem because we aren’t a task oriented society anymore, we are a thought based society that gets paid more and more for thinking. It’s hard to think when are trying to do other things as well.
True. I “must” readily agree with this point of view. Society has been changing. Mindfulness has become one of the most important part of our daily workings.
All this conversation is largely academic unless you are one of the 2% of the population of ‘multitaskers’ Jaky. In which case your brain is literally wired up differently to most peoples
The reality is multitasking is a figment of our imagination, an illusion. We just appear to be doing two conscious things at once when we are really just moving backward and forward rapidly.
For all intents and purposes, multitasking doesn’t exist it’s just a tool to sell us devices that make us think we’re saving time.
You’re making is clear Jaky, but it is fundamentally flawed. I could describe a Unicorn clearly, but that doesn’t mean they exist.
Oh Great! I found that article you’ve been talking about since the beginning at “Mail Online”. Being and Doing differences here again, Tim. Unconvinced. but PEACE.
I loved Brandon Allens blog about multitasking, something we should all pay attention to….It’s made me think more about what I can do to find more balance in my day. Thanks Brandon!
We’re starting the Brandon Allen appreciation society here!
Any relation btw?
That’s my better half!
What a treasure trove! Some of these blogs I already know well, but many are new to me. Better put a pot of tea on and settle in to be amazed!
Yeh me too. Of the posts I linked to I think I had only actually read 4 beforehand.
Tim,
What can I say…you ROCK!! Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to put this amazing list together. It’s always great to find new friends in the blogosphere and learn more about life.
I love how you and others talk about reading their own posts. Whenever I do that, I seem to get a message that I need to be reminded of. Funny that tonight, I actually had to follow my own advice about 20 minutes after hitting Publish on my latest post. The best way to learn is to teach.
Thanks again for including my post!!!
You’re welcome Paige, it wouldn’t be in there if it didn’t deserve to be!
I’ll digest them slowly while still going through laws of success by Napoleon Hill. Thanks!
You’re welcome
Zinedine. Nap Hill has been my favorite! I grew up studying Dale Carnegie and Nap Hill. Both are too fabulous to resist. Do tell us your views, thoughts and things you learn.
Nice sharing of list Brandon..Hope many people will like this also..
Me too.
Thanks Kathleen. Too much good stuff not to share.
This is truly an epic post! Thank you for compiling this list. You’ve introduced me to some new brilliance … now I have to fight the urge to sit down and read it all in one sitting.
Don’t fight it, come and join us on the dark side ;-)
Add me to the list of people who thank you for the introduction to some new self-development bloggers! I’ve read lots of people on the list, but plenty more are new to me. This one’s getting bookmarked so I can peruse all these different blogs over the next few weeks!
Many are new to me too Lynn, so I had fun checking them all out.
What a great gift. I’ve read some of these posts like the one from Zeenat Syal on how to support someone who is experiencing depression. It IS excellent. So I look forward to reading the others.
Yeh that was definitely an interesting post well put together and a little bit different from the same ole same ole.
I read many of these blogs and LOVE THEM! Looking forward to reading the other ones as well.
Thanks for the inspiration, Tim.
You’re very welcome Betsy.
[...] Adventure, who like Crabby is also a Life Coach and GoogleWhore, has just compiled a list of the 20 of the Greatest Self-Improvement Posts Ever Written. A great resource, and if you’re still avoiding actual work, go check ‘em [...]
[...] This post has been added to Tim Brownson’s 20 of the Greatest Self Development Posts Ever Written at his popular blog, A Daring [...]
Thank You, Tim for sharing the list