Happiness may come naturally to some, and a little less so to others, however, there are certain habits that can contribute to our unhappiness. In life, our habits often are what make our way.
With that said, yes, there will be circumstances beyond your control that will make you unhappy at times. But, if you find you are unhappy much of the time, then it is likely that your unhappiness may be caused by your mindset and habits. Of course, this article isn’t meant to cause any harm or to criticize. Instead, it is a chance to observe and even highlight some of the habits in your life that may be contributing to your unhappiness.
1. They are control freaks.
In life, there are some things we can control and some that are beyond our control. If you do not understand or refuse to see the things that are beyond your control, you are going to have a tough time.
2. They expect perfection.
Perfection is a pipe dream that does not exist. Nothing in this world is perfect and if your expectations are perfection, then you are setting yourself up for failure. Not only that but trying to be perfect will set you up to constantly fight yourself and life in general.
3. They compare.
It is far too easy to play the comparison game these days. Social media has made it SO easy for us to see every highlight of everyone’s lives and then, we compare ourselves and our lives to that. The thing is- people only show you what they want you to see, so you are comparing yourself to a work of fiction.
4. They have destination sickness.
Destination sickness is a nice way of saying you are always waiting for the future. “One day I will be happy when I can ______,” or “One day I’ll be happy when I have ______.” The thing is- you have to choose happiness now, if you want it.
5. They isolate.
It’s tempting to isolate when you are feeling down. However, this habit will only ensure you stay unhappy. People are social creatures and we need other people. Without them, we end up stuck in our heads and if you are already unhappy, chances are, this is NOT a good idea.
6. They have a victim mentality.
There are certain people who are always a victim. No matter what the circumstance, they choose to be the victim. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes, we truly are the victim. However, at some point, you have to say it is what it is and do what you can with what you’ve got.
7. They complain.
Complainers only focus on what is wrong or bad. In turn, this changes their mindset and shifts it to a place of negativity. If you want a happy mindset, you have to be able to practice gratitude.
8. They are hypercritical.
We’ve all met that person, the one who observes everyone and always finds a fault. No matter what someone does, it’s not enough, and there is always a reason to point out someone’s flaws. This, much like complaining, will only frame your mindset towards negativity.
9. They have addiction issues.
Addiction changes your brain. While we all have tendencies towards addictive behaviors, when you begin drinking multiple drinks a day or frequenting the casino on the daily, you are rewiring your brain to only find pleasure in that activity. In turn, you will rob your brain of the necessary chemicals to enjoy life.
10. They refuse to accept responsibility for anything.
While we are all a victim of fate at one point or another, we are responsible for our lives, even still. The thing is, you may not be able to control what happens to you, but you can control how you react to it.