Ask HN: Self-Improvement for the Pseudo-Religious?

What resources do you find helpful for self improvement that aren't focused on a specific religious dogma? When I was more religious there were things like sermons and scripture to ponder which focused on moral quandaries and proclaimed personal qualities worth developing.

Since becoming less religious this is something I find lacking and miss.

Improvement towards what? To what end?

There are a million "self improvement" cults out there all of which are dangerous rabbit holes to fall down. If it's got a website, a newsletter, a charismatic leader, and a few million outspoken supporters that's probably a sign to steer clear.

In my opinion there's some practices that help:

Seek out and talk to people you respect. Better if you can do this face to face, in real life. Having respected mentors should not stop where parents and school teachers leave off. If you're really stuck socially at this (as so many young people are today), try paying someone like a therapist of coach to get you unstuck.

Read old books. Actual paper books from before 2000 at least. Build up a good knowledge of human psychology, philosophy, politics, the arts and classic literature. Philosophy of human values is a good place to start.

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You might want to read philosophers in general, such as Seneca or Epictetus. I personally like the stoics like Marcus Aurelius and his book Meditations.

It’s kind of amazing to think people were writing 2,000 years ago and that their work was preserved and we actually have access to to their ideas.

Especially when you consider that 21st century writing is pretty much text messages and AI..

Do we just not stuff to write about anymore? Have all the good theories been taken?