{"id":57652,"date":"2022-01-08T19:12:15","date_gmt":"2022-01-08T23:12:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=57652"},"modified":"2022-01-11T19:19:37","modified_gmt":"2022-01-11T23:19:37","slug":"best-self-help-authors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/best-self-help-authors\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Self-Help Authors, According to Dan Harris"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Who does self-help author Dan Harris list as the best self-help authors? What made these authors stand apart from the rest?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite finding a few pieces of helpful advice from Tolle, Chopra, and Brach, Harris still had many questions about mindfulness. He eventually found mentors who introduced him to meditation<\/a> and Buddhism and who helped shape his appreciation of mindfulness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three of these gurus were Mark Epstein, Joseph Goldstein, and Spring Washam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Mark Epstein<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first person who Dan Harris lists as one of the best self-help authors is Mark Epstein. After Harris spent months wrestling with ideas from the previously mentioned self-help gurus, his wife Bianca recommended that he read Mark Epstein<\/a>\u2019s books. Harris describes feeling skeptical until he saw that Epstein is a trained psychiatrist. As he read Epstein\u2019s work, some ideas reminded him of Tolle\u2019s points. He realized that the ideas from Tolle that most resonated with him were actually rooted in Buddhism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Harris describes it, Epstein takes a laid-back, practical approach to Buddhism. Epstein practices meditation and aims to be mindful. He admits that 1) he\u2019s human, 2) he has flaws, and 3) he\u2019s prone to failure, anger, and self-doubt<\/a>. Harris found Epstein\u2019s approach both encouraging and refreshing<\/strong>, since other gurus exude perfection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Epstein explains that you should observe your mind and the parts you don\u2019t like about yourself, without trying to change them or accept them\u2014just understand them. If you ignore these negative parts of yourself<\/a> and your mind, you just give them more power and liberty over your actions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After reading Epstein\u2019s books, Harris called Epstein to ask if he\u2019d be willing to meet and discuss his ideas. Epstein became a mentor to Harris, and they eventually developed a friendship, meeting regularly. During these meetings, Epstein answered Harris\u2019s questions and helped him through new situations that required mindfulness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harris explains that Epstein helped him relax his perfectionist approach to mindfulness. Whenever Harris had a realization, Epstein encouraged his small insights. He also learned that you\u2019re not a failure if you don\u2019t reach enlightenment<\/a> or don\u2019t always stay in the present moment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most importantly, Epstein introduced Harris to meditation.<\/strong> Epstein believes that meditation is the key to developing mindfulness, and he recommended that Harris try it. Harris initially resisted this advice, because he thought meditation was for yogis and spiritualists, not successful journalists. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But eventually, Harris decided to try meditation. He quickly discovered that it was more difficult than he expected\u2014he describes it as mental exercise. Harris stuck with it, though, practicing just a few minutes every day.  He started seeing benefits, such as feeling calmer and taking time to appreciate moments as they happened. He kept practicing for several months, gradually increasing his practice to 30 minutes a day. Seeing this progress, Epstein suggested that Harris attend Joseph Goldstein\u2019s meditation retreat to deepen his understanding of meditation, Buddhism, and mindfulness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Importance of a Mentor<\/a><\/strong>

Epstein mentored Harris on meditation and mindfulness<\/a>, becoming a resource for Harris to ask for help. With Epstein\u2019s guidance, Harris was able to find answers that worked for his own life. Many experts agree on the importance of having a mentor<\/a>, because there are numerous benefits of having one. Mentors guide your improvement, share knowledge, and expand your network. They also give advice and encouragement. Mentors don\u2019t cost anything, instead focusing on the value of the relationship, not on a transactional exchange of money. 

To find a mentor<\/a>, try looking on social media (like LinkedIn), in professional networks, school clubs, or your HR department. In Never Eat Alone<\/em><\/a>, Keith Ferrazzi offers a few other solutions<\/a>: Ask your parents or older relatives for connections, or approach a local business owner or professional you admire.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Joseph Goldstein<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Joseph Goldstein<\/a> is a meditation teacher, author, and a co-founder of the Insight Meditation<\/a> Society, a meditation retreat center. He was one of Epstein\u2019s Buddhist teachers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because of Epstein\u2019s recommendation to go on the retreat, Harris read Goldstein\u2019s books on mindfulness to get a sense of his philosophy. Harris explains that Goldstein believes mindfulness allows you to put space between a stimulant and your emotional reaction.<\/strong> Goldstein\u2019s ideas resonated with Harris, so he took Epstein\u2019s advice to attend the meditation retreat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 10-day retreat pushed Harris out of his comfort zone\u2014cell phones and talking were prohibited (except in emergencies), eye contact was discouraged (to avoid interrupting others\u2019 meditative concentration), and snacks weren\u2019t allowed in bedrooms. Harris explains that there were two reasons for these rules: 1) They were intended to strip participants from all of the distractions of daily life, forcing them to truly examine their minds, and 2) they taught attendees that you don\u2019t need cell phones, snacks, or stimulants to feel good\u2014you should create your own inner sense of happiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: The renunciation of material items is a common idea in self-help. Minimalism<\/em><\/a> and The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up<\/em><\/a> explore this theme, and they led to the mainstream popularity of minimalism as both a philosophy and an aesthetic. Minimalism is the idea of reducing the number of items around you in order to gain mental clarity and simplicity.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harris considers the retreat to be one of the most important experiences of his life. <\/strong>During it, he learned about different kinds of meditation<\/a> and elements of Buddhism. Participants spent almost 10 hours a day meditating. Harris found that challenging at first, but after a few days and some one-on-one meetings with teachers (including Goldstein), Harris noticed improvements in his ability to meditate. The retreat introduced him to new meditation techniques and showed him that meditation in the extreme could enable him to experience euphoria, feel sympathy, and improve his ability to notice his thoughts. Harris says the experience reaffirmed his belief that he was on the right path<\/a> and that he had found a viable solution to tame his ego: meditation.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eat, Pray, Love<\/em> and the Glamorization of Meditation Retreats<\/strong>

Meditation retreats are often associated with insight and personal growth<\/a>. In Eat, Pray, Love<\/em><\/a>, Elizabeth Gilbert illustrates her transcendental experience learning how to meditate at an Ashram in India<\/a>. Like Harris, Gilbert describes experiencing discomfort as she changed her relationship with her mind. By persevering through this discomfort, both Harris and Gilbert ultimately benefited from the experience.

However, experts warn that accounts of these retreats can lead to glamorization of them, so that people focus on the profound insight a retreat can lead to but ignore the intense process required to get there. They caution that meditation retreats are often uncomfortable for a few reasons<\/a>:

-You\u2019re alone. While there will be other people with you on the retreat, the retreat is designed to isolate you from everything and every one so you can focus on your thoughts. Meditators sometimes feel lonely on retreat.
-A meditation retreat may be the first time you sit with your thoughts, free from distractions of day-to-day life. The retreat is designed for you to confront the chaos of your mind so that you can tame it. This can make you feel crazy.
-Sitting all day can quickly get uncomfortable, particularly for those who are older, are less flexible, or have chronic pain. By mid-day, meditators report feeling stiffness and sometimes pain.\u00a0
-Mealtime can be uncomfortable. Meditators note that there\u2019s a tendency to obsess over mealtime as a reprieve from sitting or walking. But mealtime, which is typically a social event for people, can be awkward, as you sit silently, avoid eye contact, and listen to the sounds of other people eating.
-Leaving the retreat can be overwhelming. After spending so much time away from noise, distraction, and human interaction, meditators caution that being thrust back into a busy, loud world is a jarring experience.\u00a0

The intense deprivation and isolation have led some experts to note that meditation retreats have the potential to do more harm than good<\/a>. Meditators have reported negative side-effects of retreats, such as perceptual changes, increased anxiety, paranoia, and impaired social skills. Additionally, when participants express concerns about problems they\u2019re experiencing, retreat leaders often dismiss these concerns, instead telling them to push through pain to reach insight.\u00a0

One Buddhist monk also noted another reason these dangers aren\u2019t widely discussed: Retreats are profitable. Meditation retreats can cost thousands of dollars to attend, and on a smaller scale, subscription-based meditation apps have grown in popularity. In April 2020 alone, the top three meditation apps had 6.8 million downloads<\/a>. As more companies profit off meditation, there\u2019s less incentive<\/a> to discuss the potential negative effects and more financial incentive to present meditation as a no-risk benefit.\u00a0<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Spring Washam<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Spring Washam<\/a> was an apprentice teacher at Goldstein\u2019s mindfulness retreat. She led the group through metta<\/em>, or loving-kindness meditation (we\u2019ll talk more about this later). At first, Harris didn\u2019t like Spring or the meditation she led. He saw her as a stereotypical meditator who hugged trees and ate granola. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But soon, he came to appreciate her messages. While meeting with her, he expressed frustration: He was trying hard to be mindful throughout the meditation sessions, but it wasn\u2019t working. She told him that he was trying too hard and encouraged him to let go of his need for control and perfection in his practice. He realized that it was difficult to be present if you were worrying about being present.<\/strong> Harris explains how after taking Washam\u2019s advice to relax his approach, he reached \u201cchoiceless awareness.\u201d This happens when you can release your focus from your breath and simply notice stimuli around you without attaching to it. When he experienced this, he felt like he finally understood that living in the moment is about accepting that each moment is fleeting and coming to terms with impermanence. He felt it was an eye-opening experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Later, during another meditation led by Washam, Harris became emotional due to the strong feelings of compassion he felt. Harris describes feeling elated (and also slightly embarrassed), and this feeling continued for the next few days. Harris discovered that he was capable of deep feelings of compassion, finding intense feelings of joy and sympathy for small moments and people he\u2019d never met. This experience made him realize that the benefits of meditation<\/a> extended beyond managing his ego and easing his stress at work\u2014meditation could also be a tool for personal improvement.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harris also acknowledges that he was too judgmental of Washam, and he notes at the end of the book that they\u2019re now friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone<\/a><\/strong>

Harris initially resisted Washam\u2019s compassion meditation because of his assumptions about her and his discomfort about seeming emotional or compassionate. However, growth often occurs when we can work through our discomfort and get out of our comfort zone. We benefit when we are challenged, by either an idea, person, or situation. 

Researchers note that by leaving your comfort zone<\/a>, you can reach your growth zone<\/a>. You enter your growth zone after overcoming discomfort, fear, and the obstacles of learning new things. Once you reach your growth zone, you\u2019ll be able to meet challenges and problems with confidence and find new goals and purpose. 

In Can\u2019t Hurt Me<\/em><\/a>, David Goggins echoes this idea that you must get out of your comfort zone<\/a> to achieve your goals<\/a>. To do this, try writing down things that you think would make you uncomfortable. Then pick one and try it. If you can do this every day, you\u2019ll build your resilience against discomfort. Another great way to get out of your comfort zone is to challenge your beliefs<\/a>. Try reading something in a new genre or diversifying who you talk to.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Who does self-help author Dan Harris list as the best self-help authors? What made these authors stand apart from the rest? Despite finding a few pieces of helpful advice from Tolle, Chopra, and Brach, Harris still had many questions about mindfulness. He eventually found mentors who introduced him to meditation and Buddhism and who helped shape his appreciation of mindfulness. Three of these gurus were Mark Epstein, Joseph Goldstein, and Spring Washam.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":57689,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[40,43],"tags":[561],"class_list":["post-57652","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-books","category-self-improvement","tag-10-happier","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Best Self-Help Authors, According to Dan Harris - Shortform Books<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In his book 10% Happier, Dan Harris lists three people who he believes are the best self-help authors. 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