Srishti Sangwan

Because “change your mindset” doesn’t pay the bills.

Walk into any bookstore or scroll through Instagram, and you’ll be told the same thing:

“You are the creator of your destiny.”

It’s comforting. It’s marketable.

But for someone juggling college, housework, social stigma, and a broken education system, it’s not just unhelpful—it’s insulting.

The Problem With Self-Help Advice? It’s Made for the Privileged. The global self-help industry sells the idea that success is only a mindset away.

But let’s be real—what does “wake up at 5 AM and read 50 books a year” mean to someone who’s still figuring out how to afford the next semester?

Most self-help content ignores:

Language and class barriers Unequal access to resources Everyday mental and emotional exhaustion Structural injustice—caste, gender, poverty

Motivation ≠ Magic

Telling someone to “think positive” or “manifest success” without addressing their reality isn’t motivational—it’s manipulative.

Worse, when the advice doesn’t work, the blame falls on the person:

“You’re still stuck? Must be your mindset.”

No. Maybe it’s the system that’s stuck.

What Real Help Looks Like

Safe, supportive learning spaces Guidance in local languages Access to affordable mental health support Mentorship rooted in real struggles, not Instagram quotes.

Success shouldn’t be gatekept by privilege, and growth shouldn’t come with guilt.

Reality Check

Self-help isn’t evil. But when it pretends your only enemy is your own attitude, it stops being helpful.

So before you tell someone to fix their mindset—Ask what they’re up against.