We have all heard phrases at one point or another about self help. An example would be "The Lord helps those who help themselves". There is also" You are going to have to pull yourself up by your bootstraps". There are numerous examples of these sayings that suggest we should be able to help ourselves. The question is what does that really mean? Is it actually possible to solve your own problems?

There are different leaders as well as techniques, beliefs and even movements associated with what is tagged as self help or self improvement. With each one of these movements the focus and perspective is typically unique. You will still find some similar characteristics where approach is concerned in spite of the uniqueness. The standard thought is that each person is capable of not only making decisions but taking action for themselves. Self help is a never ending road. Actions should be examined constantly. Reading and study to improve your knowledge is a very important piece of this puzzle.

Self help concepts have been included in writings for centuries. Samuel Smiles would be a good modern day example of this type of writer. His book titled "Self Help" was published in 1859. Even prior to that, Benjamin Franklin was offering to readers many self help quotes in his Poor Richard's Almanac (1733-1758). Another book was published in 1902 by James Allen called "As A Man Thinketh". According to this piece of literature a man's character was the complete sum of his thoughts. Two of the most well known authors of this century are Dale Carnegie and Napoleon Hill. Tens of millions of copies of these books combined have been sold. The books are listed a must reads in all of the self help circles.

The concept gained ground when Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in 1935. This group was the first organized attempt to help someone without the direct help of professionals. They were successful in their efforts but other groups didn't form until after World War II. Groups like this became a source of information for people with specific issues that seemed to be common to others. They are something that usually can be defined and then others that have had the same issue can relate and help the person work through and correct.

The concept evolved over time when groups began to work together to obtain particular goals in the 1960's. Inefficient government bureaucracies were replaced with Self advocacy by the 1970's. A time of growth spread throughout the United States, Western Europe and Japan within the self help groups. After circulating through the United States it branched out again to other countries. An explosion in the number and variety of self help groups was experienced in the 1980's. These groups formed international networks which shared ideas and concepts. The language barrier was no longer a factor as it had once been.

The growth of the internet that began in the 1990's and continues today has allowed huge increases in the access of information provided on the internet. There are millions of websites that are dedicated to promoting the topics of self help and advocacy. There are some frauds of course, but there are those with valid and useful information. It might be somewhat of a chore for some to wade through this mountain of information for what is pertinent to them. If one is interested in self help there will be some self effort involved. It takes some time and effort.

There are naturally some positive as well as negative aspects to discuss when it comes to the self help industry. A person who has experience in the same issue that you are currently going through can be very helpful. The one size fits all doesn't always work when buying clothes and it doesn't work in this instance either. What works for one person does not always work for another. When you reach this place you might want to seek out a professional to help out. Only you can evaluate the situation and decide where you are.

A definite advantage to any problem is having the information readily available to you. Going to a bookstore or library to look up information may be out of the question when time constraints like family and work come into play. 7 days a week, 24 hours a day the internet is only a click away. You also have the added bonus of anonymity. You can research to your hearts content and no one has to know what you are doing. That can also be a negative. Being alone is not always the best thing. Interaction and sharing may be what is needed to solve your current issues or problem. This option may not be a viable solution if you don't have a computer or have access to the internet.

There is a huge amount of information out there. You can decide what resources will work for you and which ones will not. There is merit to self help and it can be useful to a point is a common concurrence. Problems that are medical in nature will be hard to solve on your own. Sometimes there is just no solving a problem even with all the help of an advocacy group aid and support. The Self help movement has been successful in many instances and can be of value to you.

If you want to find out about Self Help Topics , then visit The Self Help University. The Self Help University is there to help with your Personal Development questions.