You only have to look at the number of shelves devoted to self-help in bookstores, the quantity of wellness apps in the App Store, or the frequency of self-care posts on Instagram to see that self-help and self-care are popular topics. This is actually a very good sign. Self-help and self-care reflect a fundamental optimism that we can make changes in our lives and that through directed effort, whether it's targeting how we think or what we do, that we can increase the likelihood of positive outcomes. This optimism, what psychologists would call self-efficacy, says that we believe that we can take action and make things happen.