Unhappy people do certain things that happy people avoid like the plague. If youโre doing these things, youโre not as happy as you could be. Achieving anything involves avoiding certain behaviors and adopting other behaviors. The same holds true for your happiness.
Some people have a natural skill for being happy. Even if this skill isnโt natural for you, you can learn.
Avoid engaging in these behaviors if you want to be happy:
1. Dwelling on the past. Feeling bad about something thatโs already happened doesnโt make a lot of sense. Without a time machine, thereโs nothing you can do. Late for your job interview yesterday? How will feeling bad about it help now? Mad at yourself for not asking out Landon Watson in 11th grade? Itโs too late now.
- Leave the past alone and focus on today. Life only happens in the present. Youโre wasting your life by being focused on the past or the future.
2. Worrying about the future. Worrying about the future isnโt much better than being bitter about the past. Both perspectives sacrifice your present and ruin your mood. Prepare for the future, but avoid worrying about it. Most of your concerns will never happen anyway.
3. Holding a grudge. Refusing to forgive others only punishes you. Half of the people youโre mad at donโt even know it. Theyโre going about their lives without any concern for you. Who are you actually punishing? Only yourself. I love the saying “Un-forgiveness is like drinking acid, hoping for the other person to die” it only effects you!
4. Comparing themselves to others. With over 8 million people roaming the Earth, thereโs always going to be someone whoโs wealthier, better looking, smarter, or a better disco dancer. Comparing yourself to others is a losing game, especially when you compare your weaknesses to otherโs strengths.
5. Ignoring the positive. Humans are programmed to look for danger and focus on the negative. That makes it easy to ignore all the positive things going on in your life.
- You can counteract this tendency by making a list of all the good things in your life and reading it each day. Make a habit out of this. Keep the list by your bed and read it every morning and night.
6. Focusing on the negative. When you look at everything that isnโt the way youโd like it, itโs easy to feel depressed and hopeless. Again, give fair time to the positive things in your life. You have plenty of them.
7. Worrying about the opinions of others. You might think you outgrew this mindset after high school, but youโd be one of the very rare few. Kicking this habit can take a lifetime, but itโs also incredibly satisfying. Youโre never free if youโre worried about what others are thinking. It taints every decision you make.
8. Working at a job you dislike. Itโs called โworkโ for a reason, but it doesnโt make sense to spend 8+ hours each day in a way you despise. Find work that you find agreeable and youโll remove one of the primary causes of unhappiness.
Are you as happy as youโd like to be? If not, there are certain things you must avoid doing if you want to maximize your happiness. Happiness is a choice you must make each day. Failing to choose happiness is choosing unhappiness. You have to make the effort if you want to experience happiness on a regular basis.
Consider your perspective of the world.
Is it making you happier or less happy?
How do you spend your time?
What do you think about?
What changes can you make that will shift your life toward happiness?
Spend some time thinking about it.
These ideas can change your life.
