#141 – How to ruin your life in three simple steps

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Step one – Complain

Complain about things you can't control and whose behavior has nothing to do with you. Feel attacked by them and believe that life's not fair. For example:

• The weather
• Traffic
• Public transportation (and its drivers)
• The new policy your company put in place
• Prices

Step two – Gossip

• Talk about people who aren't present and never tell them what you really think about them. You'll notice you'll start suspecting they do the same about you, which will make you feel awkward.
• Fake every time you bump into them because you truly can't stand them but telling them the truth would hurt their feelings and you don't want to do that.
• Take joy in seeing how others struggle with something, and feel superior because you don't struggle with that thing.

Step three – Argue

• Insist on wanting another to change their mind while refusing to change yours one iota.
• Dismiss behaviors, opinions, and beliefs you don't understand, categorizing them as "stupid," "simplistic," "naive," "unacceptable."
• Assume people who don't share your worldview are less smart than you and thus try to "educate" them.

Following these three simple steps will bring you daily unhappiness. You'll expend copious amounts of energy, time and mental bandwidth, and achieve nothing but bitterness.

Now, if what you want is happiness, mental energy, and daily inspiration, simply ignore everything above.

How much time and mental space did you gain when you stopped complaining, gossiping, and arguing?

Love,

Carolina