them. It would, however, be much better for us to learn how to use reason to actively problem-solve and evaluate different strategies rather than depend on other people for stock advice. Before we can even begin to help ourselves, we need, moreover, to figure out what our goal is. Self-help is no help unless we know what it is we’re trying to achieve. First, we need to learn how to focus on the bigger picture and, as Socrates insisted, ask ourselves some difficult questions concerning our values. For instance, should our “self-improvement” be measured in terms of achieving external goals, such
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