By: Adrian Smith
As you get older, you begin to realize the problems that make you unhappy are a product of the habits you’ve formed over the years. These habits hold you back from having what you want, thinking the way you’d like to, and it affects your mood and your life if you don’t learn to correct them. Here are some unhappy habits I notice most people carry along, with suggestions for how to fix them.
1. Waiting for inspiration, a sign or the right time to do something
There’s no right time or perfect moment that will lead you into the right direction…so there’s no sense in waiting for clarity. Get going on the things you want now instead of waiting and feeling unhappy when nothing happens.
2. Taking your thoughts too seriously
You have too many fleeting thoughts throughout the day to become focused on any one in specific. Notice each thought, and move on. Don’t dwell on or condemn yourself for any of them. They’re just thoughts, and for the most part you can’t control them.
3. Living in the past/future
If you take a second to look at what’s happening around you, right now, you’ll see that nothing terrible is going on. Worrying about the future or lamenting on the past is a great source of unhappiness that we can drop if we just tried to stay more present.
4. Living with expectations
This isn’t to say expectations are a bad thing, but it’s easy to become disappointed if you decide to harp on your ideas of things and base every action and decision on that. Have expectations for yourself, but don’t live your day-to-day life based on them.
5. Doing what’s comfortable instead of what’s best
If you settle for what’s easy, you’ll never feel the reward of something that was genuinely good for you but required a bit of effort and maybe a risk to get. Do what’s best for you, instead of what’s safe.
6. Looking to others for validation
You know what’s good for you and how to accomplish it. You have your own moral compass and sources of motivation. Stop looking to others to validate your actions or decisions and continue to do what you know without hesitation.
7. Making what’s not there and focus instead of what is
In other words, be conscious of what you have and be grateful. Appreciate the people and things that are actually present instead of harping on something you find missing in your life.
8. Resisting adverse tasks and situations
Chances are if you’re resisting, it’s something that will benefit you in the end. As soon as you complete whatever that is—it’s over with, and there’s usually a great, rewarding feeling. Get what needs to be done out of the way instead of putting it off because it’s difficult or time consuming.
