By: Robyn Reisch
From: http://unisoultheory.com/index.php/2016/08/09/unhappy/
I CAN CHANGE MY HUSBAND/DAUGHTER/MOTHER/CO-WORKER.
You can’t. You can only change yourself.
You cannot change any of the people in your life, any more than they could change you. You can only change the way you respond to their actions.
I’LL BE HAPPY WHEN…
Many people choose to put their happiness on hold. They decline to work on it in the present, thinking that doing so is too difficult, too frivolous, or altogether futile.
They attach it to a future event, accomplishment, or life change. For example,
“I’ll be happy when I graduate from law school.”
“I’ll be happy once I get married and have children.”
“I’ll be happy when we can afford to buy our own home.”
This strategy breeds disappointment, since once you reach your goal there will just be another one to go after. Strive for an internal sense of happiness that accompanies you during the journey rather than waiting for you at the destination.
PEOPLE SHOULD UNDERSTAND ME.
You are not entitled to be easily understood, and expecting others to read your mind will breed frustration and dissatisfaction.
Good communication is difficult, and it requires hard work.
To be understood, you must first understand the person you are speaking with. This will help you to communicate your ideas in a way that speaks to them. This requires patience and good listening skills. No matter how clear you are, however, some people will simply not be receptive to your point of view. This brings us to our next dangerous belief…
EVERYONE SHOULD AGREE WITH ME.
Most people realize this sounds silly, but unconsciously buy into it every day. It is natural to feel irritated when someone disagrees with an idea that you feel passionately about – especially when it comes to politics, religion, and parenting. However, your ideas come from a very unique place.
Someone who does not share your experiences and education might not understand why you feel the way that you do. In fact, they have likely lived a life filled with an entirely different set of experiences and educational theories that might conflict with your perspective.
Open your mind. An honest opinion should not be offensive to you, even when it is at odds with your own. Lose the idea that your answer is the only correct one.
I’M GOING TO FAIL.
Your expectations shape your reality.
If you expect to fail, you are much more likely to do so. You are also much less likely to challenge yourself and try new things. This is a shame, since trying something new often opens the door to a new set of experiences and possibilities for happiness. Give yourself some credit, and believe you can do great things. You just might surprise yourself.
LIFE SHOULD BE FAIR.
If you are an adult, you know very well by now that life is tremendously unfair – but have you accepted this? Many people subconsciously expect fairness, and become bitter and enraged when they do not find it in everyday life. It would be wonderful if life were fair. It would also be wonderful if dogs could talk and chocolate had no calories. Fairness is a beautiful thing to strive for, but expecting it from the world will leave you disappointed. You will not get every advantage your neighbor does. She will not get to enjoy every advantage that you do, either. Feeling angry at this will accomplish nothing. You each just need to do the best with what you have.
