Success is the ultimate self-help trap. Here’s how to actually be happy.

Success has become the new self help God in the modern age and continue to fall for this trap knowing that success does not equal happiness. In this video, I explain why capitalism’s root core ideas of shame and sin are inherited rom the Christian days that continue to haunt us psychologically. I also explain why manifestation and hustle are two sides of the same coin, and how we can ACTUALLY be happy by moving on from this shame through facing both our external and internal realities. I draw heavily on Buddhist principles in the second half of the video.
Sources:
On enlightenment: plato.stanford.edu/entries/en...
Straw Dogs, John Grey: bit.ly/3YAcgJJ
Max Weber on "Protestant work ethic": saisreview.sais.jhu.edu/retur...
Capitalism definition: www.investopedia.com/ask/answ...
#selfhelp #videoessay #selfimprovement
____________________________________________________
T I M E S T A M P S
00:00 when god died, came success
01:24 why capitalism is christianity in disguise: a history
05:58 modern self help losing to capitalism
08:22 external fix (on being happy)
10:30 internal fix (on being happy)
____________________________________________________
S T A Y C O N N E C T E D
Instagram | / mindfulwithmatt
Former fashion Instagram | / mattchuupicchu
Tiktok | www.tiktok.com/@mindfulwithmatt
____________________________________________________
I N Q U I R I E S
[e-mail]
____________________________________________________
M U S I C + F O O T A G E S
Epidemic Sounds + Pexels

[@blisstogo]

I find the self help industry has become predatory as it preys off people's insecurities. very important video and well said

[@mindfulnesswithmatt]

yes agreed. it's well intentioned, but questioning the root of it is crucial!

[@ShimmerBodyCream]

So true.

[@aaronleondearmani-wl1df]

you can not always be happy, happiness is a state of mind. Fulfillment and purpose is a goal that these guys are looking for. Success is a purpose that a lot of men seek, so there’s no reason to to think it’s some sort of trap. It’s to light a fire that is inside a lot of us, people can get there by themselves but someone to mentor and guide us along the path that they have walked will save them not only time, but can give them a purpose to pass it on and help others. There’s also another thing that i would want to mention and that is the fact that when people who are successful have reached a certain point where they do not seek the need to become successful anymore they lend a hand to the next guy walking that path.

[@mindfulnesswithmatt]

Thank you for the thoughtful comment! I agree success can be an ignition of sorts to propel some forward, but I do also think the merits of success tends to over emphasize material and capitalistic success that we end up in a cycle of attainment and discontentment. Happiness comes and goes but the more we understand the root reason of why (in this case shame from Christian influences) the more it becomes a consistent state that can come into our lives.

[@ieatnoapples]

Although your analysis of the negative impact of "christo-capitalism" and modern self-help culture is very sobering, I felt hopeful towards the end of the video. Thank you for that refreshing perspective on such a somber topic.