DaMoshe >> scares people away by being way too stringent.
a good point. Another side is – where do you concentrate your efforts of improvements. For example, kids that learn chumros in school, presented as halakha and then criticize their mother’s kitchen- instead of helping her. Try picking up chumros that would require you to make a continuous effort but not immediate validation by outsiders. Wake up early, prepare breakfast for your mom, teach younger siblings, help an old lady with groceries. In this case, you will be sure that you are actually doing a right thing rather than just looking for external approval.