5 Things Chronically Unhappy People Do

Rebecca Lewis September 17, 2015

All of us feel sad from time to time. All of us experience negative thoughts from time to time as well. Human emotions are indeed complex in nature. One day we may find ourselves overjoyed, and the next day - emotionally tormented. But if unhappiness tends to rule our life, then there is emotional imbalance.

We are who we think we are. Our personalities are a reflection of our thoughts and habits. Today, let us talk about what chronically unhappy people usually do that makes them chronically unhappy.

They keep on comparing themselves with others.

Comparing ourselves unfavourable to others is one of the easiest ways to feel bad about ourselves. When you find yourself wishing that you have what somebody else’s has, you feel inferior, and it takes a huge toll on your emotional health and well-being. Many studies have shown that negative comparison makes people feel depressed, anxious and stressed, and lead them to self-defeating choices.

They engage in negative self-talk.

Chronically unhappy people tend to engage in self-defeating talks. They are those who you’d normally here saying “I can’t…”, “I’m going to fail…”, or “I’m not good enough…” Saying all these things to yourself is like having a friend who wants nothing but to see you fall down. For sure, you want to do away from a friend like that. Be your own best friend, not your worst enemy or detractor. By believing in yourself and in your capabilities, you will feel so much better and confident.

They keep on worrying.

Unhappy people have the habit of worrying about things like their pending bills, health, travel, and so on. They would often consider small nuisances like traffic or rain as highly negative experiences. It is normal to feel worried at times. But if worrying becomes more of a usual thing, it leads to serious mental health problems such as anxiety disorder, worse, depression.

They blame themselves.

If you look back to the past, you may probably recall a few experiences you wish you never had. You may think of yourself as a ‘flawed’ individual. But the thing is that everyone makes mistakes in life. Like what the famous song goes - ‘Even the best fall down sometimes’. Humans as we are, we all commit errors, miss opportunities, and make bad decisions. And during times like this, it is very important to be more compassionate about ourselves. Mistakes are not reflections of yourself. What is important is that we recognise these things, move on, and do something to prevent them from happening in the future.

They are afraid to fail.

While setting high standards can be an effective motivational tool, we should make allowances for failure and shouldn’t be afraid to face it. Take note that the most amazing inventions and discoveries were caused by failed attempts and mistakes. Think about brownies. Think about chocolate cookies. In life you don’t lose or win. You win or learn. So don’t be afraid to try and try. There are so many things to learn.

What we do on a daily basis has a huge impact on our emotional health. Doing away from these habits is a great way to guard yourself from chronic unhappiness.