This is what baffles me about the dumpster of checklists, how-tos, and hacks that infest the personal development genre. None of them encourages us to think for ourselves.

To add my grain of sand, I think the problem is that we don't think of personal development as a skill, but as a sort of "degree" that we pass when we wake up at 4:00 am and take cold showers. But with a skill, you have no way other than involving your own thinking. I can tell you all I know about playing the piano but you won't be able to play the happy birthday unless you involve, well, *yourself*.

That's what we lack, hands-on experience. Coincidentally, stories are just about that. Great piece Jordan.