The Five Treasures of Enriching Content

Evaluating the Content You Consume

Photo by Europeana on Unsplash

In my last post, I distinguished the Triad of Engagement: Entertainment, Enjoyment, and Enrichment.

I’ve been contemplating how to find enrichment. What truly nourishes my hungry soul?

I search. I consume what looks good. But how do I evaluate or experience enrichment?

I am searching for valuable information, understanding, and knowledge all the time. It’s been a life long hunger for enriching my soul and my life by seeking out vast resources that seem promising.

Here’s what I have come to understand. My soul’s eyes are a lot bigger than my soul’s stomach. I devour but I don’t always digest.

I am so overwhelmed with all the posts, blogs, videos, podcasts, and books that look soul-appetizing and I have so little time to feast because I need to spend time writing up my own delicious content.

How do I choose? What am I hungry for?

An Enrichment Epiphany

The other day I watched a 3-minute video and had an “Enrichment Epiphany”!

It was a video from Josh Spector, who coaches content creators on how to reach and engage an audience. As a content creator, I think Josh provides a lot of insight, but I don’t read every post or watch every video he offers.

Why did I watch this one? Who knows? Destiny!

In the video, Josh shares five ways an audience resonates with content. It was great wisdom for the content creator.

But I realized that it was also great wisdom for the content consumer.

Becoming a Wise Content Consumer

I don’t want to waste any more of my precious time, attention, and money on content that doesn’t fill me up or that I don’t treasure. I don’t care who created it, and that includes many great teachers.

Just because you respect and love a content creator doesn’t mean everything they wrote on spoke is a treasure for your soul. I have found precious treasures from Rudolf Steiner, one of my most valued teachers, since I realized I needed to set limits to how much of his content I consumed. Consuming is not digesting.

It’s Always Work

Becoming wise is always work and often requires practice. Over the next couple of weeks or months, I encourage you to evaluate the content you are consuming.

You are giving the content your time, your attention, and, often, your money. Are you resonating with the content? Has it been worth your time, attention, and money? Does it enrich your soul and your life?

If you spend time not just searching, but consciously evaluating, you will develop the art of discernment and enrichment. It’s the talent for knowing what will nourish your soul, be worthy of digesting.

In my posts, I offer a feast of imaginations to feed your experience of selfhood, guide you to direct experiences of spirit, and support your achievement of incarnational success. But it is up to you to decide what you are going to digest and make your own.

Below are the five criteria for discerning if my content or any content is worthy of your soul’s digestion. Does it resonate? Does it offer personal meaning?

The 5 Criteria for Content Treasures That Resonate & Nourish

When content truly means something, it's often because it taps into one or more of these aspects of your experience:

1. "I can relate to this." (Relatability)

This is the foundation of connection. When content is relatable, it feels like the creator truly understands you.

• What it feels like: "Yes! That's exactly how I feel." "I've been through that struggle." "I identify with that goal or point of view."

• What you get: Validation. A sense of not being alone. Understanding that your experiences, thoughts, or feelings are shared by others.

• How to spot it: The content uses examples you recognize, describes emotions you've felt, or articulates a problem or desire you personally have.

2. "I can do something with this." (Actionability)

This is about utility. Resonant content often provides clear, practical steps or insights that empower you to take action.

• What it feels like: "Okay, I know what to do now." "This gives me a clear next step." "I can apply this immediately."

• What you get: Solutions. Practical advice. A roadmap for moving forward. Tangible ways to improve a situation or achieve a goal.

• How to spot it: The content offers specific tips, exercises, templates, or clear instructions. It moves beyond just ideas to "here's how."

3. "This reflects something I believe or something that I want." (Reinforcement)

This criterion speaks to alignment. Content that resonates often confirms, validates, or strengthens your existing beliefs, values, or desires.

• What it feels like: "Exactly what I've always thought!" "This is what I hoped was true." "It makes me feel good about my existing viewpoint."

• What you get: Affirmation. Confidence in your convictions. Permission to hold a particular view or pursue a certain desire.

• How to spot it: The content makes a strong case for something you already suspected, or presents a concept that perfectly aligns with your aspirations (e.g., "work less, earn more" if you dream of freedom).

4. "This gives me a new perspective on something I believe or want." (New Perspective)

This is about fresh insight. Content that resonates can take something you already understand or desire and show it to you in a completely new light.

• What it feels like: "Aha! I never thought about it that way." "That totally reframes the problem." "This opens up new possibilities."

• What you get: Breakthroughs. Expanded thinking. Creative solutions. A broader understanding of a familiar topic.

• How to spot it: The content introduces an unexpected angle, connects seemingly unrelated ideas, or presents a counter-intuitive but logical argument that changes your viewpoint.

5. "This will change me in some way." (Transformation)

This is the deepest level of resonance, pointing toward personal growth and evolution. The content holds the promise of becoming a better, different, or more capable version of yourself.

• What it feels like: "This is what I needed to hear." "This could help me make a big change." "I feel like a different person just from reading/watching/listening to this."

• What you get: Inspiration for growth. A path toward a desired personal transformation. Hope for a better future self.

• How to spot it: The content addresses a pain point where you're seeking change, or it illuminates a potential you didn't fully realize you had. It touches something deep, making you feel motivated to evolve.

How to Use This Treasure List

The next time you consume any content—whether it's one of my Substack posts, a viral video, a news article, or a self-help book—ask yourself:

Which of these 5 treasures do I find in this content? You can also reflect on what treasure you were hunting for.

• Does it relate to my soul?

• Does it give me something actionable that enriches my life?

• Does it reinforce something I already believe or want?

• Does it offer a rich new perspective?

• Does it guide an enriching transformation?

You'll quickly notice that the content that truly sticks with you, the stuff you share or come back to, often holds multiple treasures.

By actively evaluating content this way, you'll become a more discerning consumer, choosing thoughts, processes, and insights that truly enrich your life and support your inner development.

Did you find value and something to treasure in this post?

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Here’s a list of the treasures I will be sending to my paid subscribers over the next few weeks.

More Guidance Based on the Five Treasures of Content:

• The Five Warnings: How to Discern the Threats Living in the Treasures.

• A Template Worksheet for Working with the Five Treasures of Content: It can help to have a designed worksheet.

• Applying the Five Treasures to Profound Spiritual Teachings: A Guide to Reading Rudolf Steiner.