Only self-help I follow.
The self is formed by three things: the mind, the soul and the body. Now before some anti-religion, atheists open their fangs, if you have any problem with the word "soul", I mean the creative part of the brain.
I (yes, literally, my perception of myself) is made up by these three things only a the most fundamental level. So all you and I have to do for a better life is enrich each part of it to the ideal state. This ideal state can vary from person to person. For example, to enrich your body you can exercise. Now for some it might be being able to run a marathon while for some it might be weightlifting. It's completely in your hand to set the ideal state (basically, what you expect from yourself).
The body is enriched by acquiring physical skills like running, doing gym or sports. However, sometimes sports can also require strategic skills which supports the mind too. The soul is enriched by creative skills like writing, singing, dancing and reading literature (especially fiction). The mind is enriched by acquiring technical skills like programming, mathematics, science and playing chess.