Self help is no longer confined to stadium seminars or dog-eared paperbacks from the 1980s. The self-improvement movement is experiencing a resurgence – driven largely by Gen Z and under-25s.
Across Australia, young people are selling out self-help events, tuning to long-form YouTube content, paywalled Patreon communities, and actively engaging with creators like Jordan Shanks Self Help on the weekly.
While the core principles of self help – personal growth, accountability, and contribution – haven’t changed, the way they’re delivered absolutely has.
And for many Zoomers, that shift is exactly the point, and is what led them to join the movement.
Why Self-Help Is Surging Among Gen Z
The building blocks that made Self help an empire and drove names like Wayne Dyer and Tony Robbins into global recognition remain intact. What has changed is tone, format, and accessibility.
We joined a few sessions of Jordan Shanks Self Help’s seminar, hosted at ComedyiD in Sydney over a few weeks.
The dimly lit comedy club was packed on a Monday night. Hundreds of Sydney-siders bring along their skeptical friends and notebooks, holding their diaries close to their face to scribble reflections in the dark.
This shift mirrors a broader cultural change, one that Gen Z has proudly led. Young adults are gravitating towards self-improvement spaces that feel informal, human, and approachable rather than alienating polished performance.
And it’s resonating. With over 120,000 subscribers on Youtube and over2,000 paid Patreon followers, Jordan Shanks Self Help is giving Zoomers something they aren’t getting elsewhere.
We’ve spoken to two Gen Z attendees who have shared their thoughts about their shift towards self help below.
Under-25s On Self Help In Their Own Words
Tell us About Yourself! How Did You First Get Into Jordan Shanks Self Help?
Tash – My name is Tash, I’m 24 and I am a freelancer. My work can go from working on house projects as an interior designer to social media management and content creation for other creators. I’ve been listening to Jordan’s Self Help since 2020.
(You can find Tash @TashSikkes on Instagram and Youtube)
James – I’m James, 24, and I work as a radio producer. I’ve been listening to Jordan from around late 2019.
Did You Have Any Experience With Self Help Before This?
Tash – I originally started my self-help journey at the beginning of 2020. I was in a really rough spot and going through a lot of change.
I was at the bookstore and saw Tony Robbins; Awaken the Giant Within. I had heard a lot of mixed reviews on him, so I started reading the book in-store and was hooked so quickly that I bought it and read it religiously until I finished it.
James – Prior to watching the channel, I had barely any prior experience with self-help. Watching Jordan got me into reading Tony Robbins, and ever since then it has been lots of reading, watching videos, and listening to podcasts.
Why Do You Think Jordan’s Self Help Resonates With Young People?
Tash – I honestly think that Jordan’s efforts in self-help stuck with me so well because I had always wanted an older brother to bestow their wisdom onto me with a no-bullshit approach.
Jordan does this for me on a really deep level because he’s so good at having a casual yet engaging discussion that I feel like I’m there having a D&M with him. We also have similar backgrounds, so I really felt he got me a lot more than a lot of the other self-help creators out there.
James – I found that Jordan was a familiar face (from watching FriendlyJordies), and it related to me more.
A lot of the self-help books I read were from people who were running teams, and I feel like it didn’t focus on what you can do at an individual level. Jordan makes it interesting by throwing in jokes and actually holds you accountable.
What Have You Gained From Self Help So Far?
Tash – There have been so many valuable pieces of wisdom I’ve learned through self-help, but I think the most pivotal piece of information that made the most change for me is that I am the writer of my own story.
There may have been some truly low and rock-bottom moments in my life, but I am the one who can decide how I react to it and whether or not I get back up and push on.
Learning to change the narrative in my head from the victim to the hero of the story has completely changed the direction of my life.
James – I think one of the biggest things for me is thinking about change in a different way. I used to always think that in order to change, I had to completely overhaul my life and start from scratch.
After being immersed in self-help, I’ve come to realise that it’s small and consistent progress that ends up making the biggest difference.
Also, opening my eyes to how much social media has affected my life has really made me pull back on my social media use. Although it’s hard to completely disconnect with my job, using it less has helped me be more productive and less off with the fairies.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Self Help For Under-25s?
Tash – One of the biggest pros is the feeling of understanding in yourself that you get. You become self-aware towards things you’ve been doing, and it taught me to be grateful for even the small things in my life.
I suppose one of the biggest cons around self-help is that you want to tell everyone about it. People will say you’ve joined a cult or that you’ve been suckered in by a “snake oil salesman”.
It can be pretty disheartening because all you want is for others to experience the transformation you have experienced, but you need to let people come to it on their own terms.
James – I mean, there are so many pros!
Read: How to Get Over Perfectionism: 5 Questions to Ask Yourself From Reese Hopper
Would You Recommend Self Help To Other Young People?
Tash – I’m always recommending people to read even the slightest bit of psychology to better understand themselves or the people around them.
I think you need to find the right person or media to take it all in. Some people prefer reading, others prefer watching videos.
I personally like a mix of both. I’ll usually watch Jordan’s videos as quick reminders throughout my week, but for deeper understanding, I prefer reading.
James – I would, and I have. I introduced one of my friends to self-help around mid last year.
When I went to his place recently, he had laminated motivational quotes and daily reminders in his room. I felt kinda proud of that one.
Any Final Thoughts On Self Help And Personal Growth?
Tash – I wish I could condense down what self-help has truly done for me, but at this point I’m getting close to writing a novel.
Regardless of whether you’re the hero, the villain, or even the damsel in distress in your story, you have the power to change that and create an extraordinary life.
James – I think the channel is the perfect gateway into a movement that a lot of men in their early 20s need.
The world feels full of information about everything, and learning about self-help has helped me understand what actually matters and what is a waste of time.
It also helps someone like me who is optimistic about their career and hoping to create their own definition of success.
Is This the Future of Self Improvement?
We are all for creators that can make their niche engaging and interesting, and self help has long needed a facelift.
What’s emerging now is a version shaped by young people who value honesty, humour, and relevance over grandeur.
This new wave of self-improvement is grounded in two enduring principles – growth and contribution – but expressed in a way that feels contemporary and easy to apply.
Thoughts about Self Help? Any Self Improvement tips you swear by and you’d like to share? Let us know below!
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