Do you want to know how to be unhappy? Well, I’m surprised you read on, because most of us perfectly know how to be miserable. But hey, in case you forgot (or you’re one of these annoying people radiating positive energy!), here’s a reminder:
- Compare yourself to others (remember: you’re unique – just like everyone else)
- Want the things you cannot possibly have (even though this longing seems to make at least the beauty industry happy…)
- Focus on climbing the ladder, the goal – not on the joyful things happening on the journey (just to realise that after all your ladder was leaning against the wrong wall, ahem)
- Complain about your situation to everyone who cares to listen (which, eventually, will be fewer and fewer people, until you realise that you’re the only one who can change the things you complain about – even if it’s just changing your view on them)
- Constantly think of the past and the things that happened, or rather: shouldn’t have happened (until time travel is invented, that’s a waste of the very precious present moment, leaves you unable to act in the NOW and consequently gives you more sad stuff to dwell on in the future, namely the things you should have done NOW – and haven’t…)
- Have unreasonable expectations
The last one is my favourite which I’d like to illustrate (bear with me) using a very common example.
What does this dish look like? Mouth-watering? Yummy? Now imagine you tuck in, the fork travels to your mouth, you start chewing – what’s the taste like? Well, no, it’s not what you were expecting.
The dish on the picture is actually mock meat, and it’s always interesting to see how people react when trying it for the first time. Of course you know it’s not going to be meat, so it cannot taste like it. But because of the way it looks, we subconsciously expect the taste to resemble “the real thing”.
Now most people’s reaction when taking the first bite will be one of disgust or at least bewilderment. You’d think they’ve bitten in a slice of lemon. Why? It’s not because these dishes aren’t tasty.
It’s because we’re so used to thinking in familiar patterns, categorising things and therefore expecting certain other things, that we end up being disappointed. Now I’m not trying to say we should always expect less in order to avoid disappointment. What I’m saying is that sometimes, it’s better not to have any expectations and just let life surprise you with its beauty, variety and unexpected twists and turns.
Now go and try that mock meat stuff, it’s delicious (if you’re not expecting meat, that is), and let me know what’s your recipe for unhappiness! 😉
~ Andrea
P.S.: Of course the recipe for happiness is yoooooga, but we all know that, don’t we?
Image credit here.
Categories: Inspiration, Nourish Body & Mind
Yoga & Joyful Living 
Well, the title was so good that I started chuckling before I even got near the post. Thankyou for “Liking” my post as well
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That was a great way of illustrating unreasonable expectations 🙂 very good thanks.
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Oh, after yesterday’s disappointing day I thought that there is no point in living if I can’t help others, or worse, if other’s don’t want to be helped!
Very refreshing to have this put right in front of my nose with your blog! 🙂
So my personal recipe for unhappiness would have to be trying to be perfect, forgetting again that everything is perfect just the way it is.
And after forcing myself to my yoga routine this morning I already feel a little bit better – yoga definately rocks! 🙂
Love
Anna
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Hey, Andrea…. thanks for leaving a ‘like’ at my thanksgiving sunset post. Judging by this first post of yours that I stumbled into, I think I may like it here, too! Yoga rocks!
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Thanks for checking out my Saucha post- Namaste!
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I smiled when I read your post. Thank you for sharing. Here were my thoughts as I read:
• Compare yourself to others – I don’t have to do this, my mother still does it for me.
• Want the things you cannot possibly have I seek to take care of my needs, my wants take care of themselves.
• Focus on climbing the ladder, the goal – This made me think of Steven Covey’s 7 Habits for Highly Effective People. Balance is what I seek in this life.
• Complain about your situation – the perfect prescription for feeling bad.
• Constantly think of the past – the recipe for staying stuck, that an what you resist will persist.
• Have unreasonable expectations – This is the hardest one for me. I seek to be an observer, however, I want to live in a world where people are kind to each other, have integrity, and seek to live authentically. I work at being the change in the world that I want for me.
Smiles,
Linda Joyce
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I’m glad my post made you laugh 🙂
I definitely connect with what you saying here. Your list of unhappiness are the exact things I have been working on lately.
I think that remaining in the past and not focusing on the moment, and having not just unreasonable expectations but expectations at all are what make me the most unhappy.
And of course, yogaaaa definitely has been a key to my happiness lately. I have some wonderful revelations and feelings of immense peace and happiness during savasana! The topic will probably be a future blog post 🙂
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And I would add to the list of ways to be miserable:continue to blame others for your current situation.
Thanks for this great reminder about ways to be happy!
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This is fab Andrea. Thanks!
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I think it’s perfectly fine (and normal) to feel unhappy sometimes. It has it’s own way of ‘cleaning things out.’ Great piece. Thanks for sharing.
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Great post Andrea!
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