There is a lot of self improvement information out there.  It's a multibillion dollar industry.  It's easy for us to learn a great idea from a book, audio program or seminar and then simply not implement it.  We get excited about it. We genuinely believe that it will improve our lives.  And a month later we haven't done anything with the information.  We had good intentions but nothing came about.

 So we go read another book, listen to another audio program or attend another seminar.  It provides valuable content.  This new idea is life-changing.  But now we have another idea that hasn't been implemented.

The cycle continues as you devour resource after resource and collect an array of life-changing ideas.  It feels good to have this information but to an external observer, your life hasn't improved objectively.  This is the fate of the self-help junkie.

How to Stop Being a Self-Help Junkie

Great ideas are commonplace.  Knowledge is only potential power.  The gold is in the implementation of the ideas you have learned.  But how do you move from information to behaviour change when you have so many ideas?

If you've read any number of self-help books, your mind is already overwhelmed with the number of ideas it has acquired.  You may have a mental list that reads something like:

• Start meditating
• Exercise 3 times a week
• Pay off debt
• Save 10% of your income
• Learn to speak another language
• Become a more generous person
• Be present
• Be authentic in relating to others
• Let go of limiting beliefs
• . . .

You can handle the problem of idea overwhelm by applying the 80/20 rule to create an implementation hierarchy.  Here's the process:

1. Collect all the great self-improvement ideas that you have. Empty your head and put everything in a list. I like to organize the ideas by the different contexts in my life: relationships, work, finances, health & fitness, productivity, and personal growth. Each time you get a new idea, simply add it to the master list.
2. 2. Group the ideas on your list. You are going to create three categories: A, B, C. A includes all the idea that would add massive value to your life and you can implement quickly and easily. You have all the resources required to implement the idea: you just have to put in some time and effort. B includes all the ideas that would provide some value or would be very difficult to implement right now. You might not be completely certain about how your life would improve or you may be lacking some resources such as money or time. C ideas potentially have value and they are something you would like to do someday. Your desire to implement these ideas may not be very high or you may require more information.
3. From category A, choose the one idea that would have the most profound positive impact on your life. For example, this may be beginning an exercise program or starting to save 10% of every pay check. This idea will be your A1 project.In a similar fashion, choose the second highest value idea third highest value ideas (A2 and A3).  I find that I can successful implement 3 ideas at a time.  Anymore and my self-discipline is spread too thin to be consistent in my action.
4. Create a plan and put the 3 ideas into action. Typically, implementation will fall into one of two categories: goal achievement and habit change. I'll detail approaches to each category in future articles. You are successful with a goal when your specific outcome has been achieved and you are successful with a habit change once the new behavior has become automatic. As you are successful with an idea, begin applying the next highest priority item in your A category. Repeat this process indefinitely and your life will move from intellectual knowledge to genuine improvement.  This is a very systematic approach to the application of self-help knowledge that I have found to be quite useful.
5. Periodically review your master list. Sometimes the priority of ideas needs to be restructured as you learn new things or your desires change. Some B items may become A items. For example, you may have wanted to start a business and you know have an idea that inspires you. You also should make sure that you are still applying the principles that you have successfully implemented previously.

Apply the process outlined above and avoid the trap of becoming a self-help junkie who goes to all the seminars, and reads all the books but still hasn't seen tangible progress.  It's a simple, common-sense approach that will pay dividends over the long term.