Summary

The article reflects on the societal obsession with self-help and the pressure to conform to a productivity-driven lifestyle, suggesting that the culture of early rising and constant hustle is not a one-size-fits-all solution to success and happiness.

Abstract

The author critiques the prevalent self-help culture and the unrealistic expectations set by influencers like Gary V, questioning the necessity of waking up at 5 am and hustling non-stop to achieve success. The piece highlights the negative impact of comparison and the societal tendency to criticize and envy those who appear happier or more successful. It calls for a shift towards creating uplifting content and acknowledging that happiness and joy are as important as productivity, advocating for a more balanced and accepting approach to personal achievement and well-being.

Opinions

The self-help industry's growth is likened to a faulty exhaust pipe, implying it's a reaction to underlying issues rather than a genuine solution.
The author expresses skepticism about the universal applicability of success strategies like early rising, citing a book that debunks the idea that everyone can be successful by waking up at 5 am.
There is a concern that society promotes mental health improvement while simultaneously tearing down those who achieve a level of success or happiness, often due to jealousy.
The article suggests that the current trend of criticizing and reacting negatively to others' success is counterproductive and harmful.
It is proposed that happiness and joy deserve more attention and that creating positive content can contribute to a more joyful society.
The author admits to personal frustration with online content but maintains a commitment to spreading joy and not engaging in negativity.
An experiment is mentioned, questioning whether controversy and hate generate more attention than love and happiness, hinting at a critique of the current state of content creation and consumption.

Are we all miserable? If someone is happy, do we secretly loathe them?

Or at least we only want to surround ourselves with those like us; we enjoy being in the deep pits of despair.

We all want advice or someone to tell us what to do. Isn’t that why the self-help world has blown up like an exhaust pipe with a hole in it?

One day it was all smooth sailing. You thought mentally you were fine, and then, just like a hole in your muffler, it slowly got louder and louder until the muffler fell off. Or was that just my car in college?

Something is wrong with us; if we don’t get up at 5 am, we will never succeed. I am not hustling 24/7 like Gary V says I will never be successful. I will never be 5 foot 8 and have legs that go on for days; I will never be successful.

You get the picture; first of all, the comparison will kill any motivation that most of us have. Let’s be honest. Some are not starting with very much these days anyway. There are good and bad days, but it seems that most of the world has more bad than good lately.

I see hate being talked about; suddenly, everyone is an expert in what? Criticizing everyone? Everyone is doing a reaction channel on Youtube. Can we no longer be free to create content without it being torn apart?

We have become a society of telling you to grind and fix your mental health, but once you become what I conceive as better than me, I will rip you apart and make you feel like a worthless worm as soon as I have more clout than you; why?

Because you are jealous? You did not wake up at 5 am and listen to Gary V 24/7.

That is what it takes, isn’t it?

Can we admit that hustle culture is dead?

I hope it is at least, and can we acknowledge that waking up at 5 am does not work for everyone? There is even a book with science-based facts that not everyone can get up at 5 am and be successful.

If I wake up at 5 am, I can guarantee that I am taking a nap around nine and will not get up until 1. Why? Because I am not a morning person, I never will be and never have been.

It is not in my DNA, and I like my sleep. Does that mean that I am not a success? No, of course not, and it doesn’t make you any less successful, either.

Yet happiness, or joy. Does that get any attention? It’s not fun to see Bob or Joe over there succeeding; how can we tear them down?

The gossip mill, we need to figure out what they did because we are jealous of them, but for now, let’s make them think we dislike them.

Instead, people are jealous, envious, and even hateful.

The world appears so sad and depressed already. Shouldn’t our job instead be to create worthy and uplifting content?

We can’t always be happy and joyful, but sometimes writing our way happy is possible. I will not lie; I get frustrated with many things online.

My life is good, I find myself smiling on a hike, and I want to spread joy in the world; I do not want to create content that does not reflect my state.

Yes, sometimes, like now, I get frustrated. However, I am also doing a science experiment.

Does hate and controversy sell more than love and happiness?

XOXO