AIBU to think majority of people want to feel empowered

[Salrose123]

So thinking of writing a books on increasing self confidence, self reliance power of positivity, promoting resilience, creating contentment, maintaining compassion and kindness without becoming a doormat etc just few ideas.... Does anything think there's a demand.....

Sure, there’s demand; self-help books on this kind of schtick make it into the top ten best sellers lists frequently. And there are loads and loads of them out there. Whether anyone will want to buy your book will depend on whether you’re in any position of experience / qualification / talent to be giving this advice and whether you’re actually saying anything new or just regurgitating the same old platitudes and motivational phrases under a different cover. Bluntly, nothing about your post indicates you are. What makes you think otherwise?

Yes, there is demand. You’d need to draw on up to date studies though to add interest.

There is demand, but there’s also a huge amount of material already available in that market so it would have to be something particularly ground breaking or interesting to stand out.

Yes, agree, drawing on recent research helps.

For example, there is a lot of evidence that in terms of rehabilitation around physical and psychological pain there is value in group work and living in the 'here and now', rather than banging on about perceived slights from the past and who was left what in the will.

Thank you for your responses I am an aspiring creative writer, but have been teaching A Level English Language for over a decade so using words in powerful ways but also to bring elements of faith as I have studied theology courses x

Honestly there's no way I'd buy a book on this topic, im not remotely interested but there's loads of books like these on shelves so there is demand,

Yes but be aware that the self help market is very saturated so you need a new angle.

Most books like this will only be picked up by publishers if you have relevant qualifications and a bit of a name for yourself eg you have a PhD in psychology, have contributed to research papers and are a successful blogger.

Do you have any self help qualifications? Psychology? Counselling? If not you'll be looked upon by publishers as a 'life coach' (aka a wanky title for someone who has no qualifications but wants to tell you how to make your life so wonderfully better). I know, I should incredibly harsh but I genuinely think you'll be doing yourself a favour by not bothering. Incredibly saturated market full of incredibly qualified contributors.

The self help market is pretty big and crowded. What sets you apart?

Also, a lot of people don't want empowerment and success. They may think they do but they don't. They may not really think they deserve good stuff. Or they want familiarity far more than real health and wellbeing. Or they like having a shit time or poor health because they can leverage it for a lot of pity or attention. Who would they be without that identity and that attention? They'd hardly exist at all.

These things are way more interesting and difficult than you think.

Thank you for your helpful responses... I do think my angle would be unique....

There’s millions out there as it is. And I think people are ‘empowered’ enough to be honest. We’ve turned into a society of individuals who vastly overestimate what everyone else owes them while simultaneously calling everyone in their lives a ‘toxic narc’. There’s too much introspection and it’s made people a bunch of navel gazing wankers in my opinion. Sorry!

@Cuppasoupmonster lol I definitely agree with you. I think all the "empowering" isn't actually making our lives better. Generally we are more selfish, more materialistic and can't look past our own noses. May be seen as a bit twee but my passion is to inspire genuine kindness and care and consideration for others, help yourself, help others, help communities etc alot of my inspiration does stem from believing in a higher power.... Society seemed to be alot happier generally in the past compared to the post modern society we live in now.... Will get alot flack for this but I do believe in God and believe sincerely whether you are religious or not if you call on God or even a higher spiritual power your call will almost immediately be answered xx

The sort of people that we’re discussing won’t have the self awareness to realise they’re the problem so I doubt a book would get through to them!

Bit culty

There's alot of traditional values that we as a society are losing or have lost
Stoicism
Patience
Gratitude
Contentment
Compassion
And genuinely am passionate about really trying help people see their life is not as bad as they think and they have a lot more power than they think they do over their lives.....

Great thank you for all your responses they are all much appreciated xx

There's a limited market for theistic self help books these days, and there's very little of novel value in your posts thus far - and I appreciate that might sound harsh, but if you're considering self-publishing, it's better you think it through before spending that money, and if you try to find a publisher, you'll likely hear worse on your path to publication.

That said, there's nothing to stop you writing anything you feel like and seeing how it turns out. Just don't expect to necessarily make any money out of it.

Yes definitely more of a hobby, passion not doing for money as I have a job and am comfortable but do feel inspired to show people there are alot my choices in life than they think xx

More choices*

Society seemed to be alot happier generally in the past compared to the post modern society we live in now

🤣🤣 This is a myth. Many serious tragedies were far more commonplace and suicide rates were magnitudes higher. Infant/child death, death in childbed, death from anything that requires antibiotics, murder was much more common, poverty/starving to death, war & roving bands bandits, etc.

No matter how far back you go in history, people were less happy. Mental health wasn’t the pressing issue then because it was physical survival that mattered most.

And genuinely am passionate about really trying help people see their life is not as bad as they think and they have a lot more power than they think they do over their lives.....

A true history lesson would be a good way to do that instead of espousing the myth that our ancestors were happier.

I really don't think any of us are in a position to judge our ancestors' happiness on the basis of our modern perspectives on their lifestyles or opportunities. You can reasonably say that commonplace events like childbirth were far riskier, and people had fewer legal rights or, by some standards, opportunities in life, but none of those things equate necessarily to happiness.

Interesting viewpoints thank you, I guess my question is if things are much better than in the past why are the majority of people not happy or content, surely it should follow as we have progressed tremendously we should be happier than ever... It doesn't seem to be the case. Big questions like how do we tangibly improve our lives and create inner comfort and perpetual happiness I would argue comes from building your own relationship with God.

I guess my question is if things are much better than in the past why are the majority of people not happy or content, surely it should follow as we have progressed tremendously we should be happier than ever... It doesn't seem to be the case.

This is the question of our times. The fact that physical comfort (food, shelter, basic healthcare) doesn’t make many people happy with their lot. The saying “comparison is the thief of joy” I think has a role to play because no matter how much the average life has improved over the centuries, there is always an elite class that is doing sooo much better than you. And today, thanks to SM they can rub it in your face 24/7 if you get addicted to scrolling. SM is linked to poor mental health as well…studies have shown for example women looking at photos of gorgeous models will have a huge decrease in self-esteem and contentment.