7 Tips on How to Overcome the Habits That Make You Unhappy ...

In my opinion, one of the most important habits that will make you unhappy is the fact that you keep doubting yourself every time you have to face a big challenge in your life. Don’t underestimate your abilities, because you never know what you’re capable of until you try to actually do something to reach your goals. Nothing can hinder your progress like self-doubt because you will inevitably become who you believe yourself to be. So, dream big, work hard and never doubt yourself! You should use your powers to break down those emotional barriers that hold you back and prevent you from reaching your full potential.

Life it’s pretty complicated just the way it is and you shouldn’t make it even harder by focusing all your attention on this aspect of it. Learn to accept things just the way they are and start by doing one thing at a time, so you won’t feel overwhelmed or exhausted. You could also try to embrace a minimalist lifestyle that will make you feel freer and less frustrated. Improve your communication skills and every time something’s not quite clear to you, ask questions. Find out what has been bothering you, instead of trying to read minds or analyze gestures.

Always focusing only on everything that’s negative in your life will surely make you feel unhappy, so try to overcome this bad habit by thinking in a more constructive way. I must admit that it can be quite tricky to overcome this negative way of thinking but it’s not impossible. Learn to accept the fact that every situation has its ups and downs and nothing is perfect. You could try keeping a “happy thoughts” diary where you can write down only those happy things that occur every day and you’ll realize that you have plenty to be grateful for.

What’s done is done and there’s nothing you can do to change the things in your past. So, try not to dwell on it by reliving painful memories or by thinking about missed opportunities. Focus on your future and on the wonderful things that will happen to you. Live in the present and enjoy every moment!

Don Miguel Ruiz said that, “Whatever happens around you, don’t take it personally… Nothing other people do is because of you. It is because of themselves.” And he couldn’t be more right! Try to understand that you cannot control another person’s actions or words but you can control the way you react to them. Separate your emotions from what’s really happening and you’ll see things more clearly. Just like Eleanor Roosevelt said, “What other people think of me is none of my business.” So, don’t complicate your life by taking everything personally because in most cases, it’s not about you, it’s about them.

You should definitely follow the advice of Lao Tzu. who said that, “When you are content to be yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you.” I know it can be pretty hard to overcome this unhealthy habit but you will see that in time, you will manage to remove it from your behavior. Instead of always comparing yourself to others, you could try comparing yourself with an earlier version of you and you’ll realize immediately how much you’ve grown and how much you’ve progressed over the years. Be grateful for what you have and don’t take everything for granted!

Try to avoid setting unrealistic expectations, so you won’t be disappointed if you don’t manage to reach your unrealistic goals in a very short period of time. You can’t lose twenty pounds overnight and maybe your business will not make a huge profit right away. Good things take time because we all make mistakes, but you shouldn’t get discouraged if things didn’t turn out the way you wanted from your first try. Search for new techniques, work hard and don’t ever give up! You will fulfill all your dreams if you are persistent.

I absolutely love this beautiful quote by Marcel Proust, who said, “Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” Happiness is a state of mind. Do you know any other bad habits that can interfere with your happiness? What other ways to overcome those habits that make you feel unhappy do you know? Please tell us about them in the comments section!

Sources: clearthinking.org.au, positivityblog.com, marcandangel.com