We all know what we should do to create lives of wellbeing. But actually making it happen can often seem like an overwhelming challenge. Eating more broccoli, for instance, seems simple enough. But when you come to it, it’s never as easy as you imagine. You have to buy it, chop it, cook it and then serve it as part of a meal. You also have to be in the mood for it, and not hankering after a cheesecake or steak pie.
The roots of wellbeing run deep. It’s challenging to achieve. And even people who appear to be doing it right superficially still feel as though they’re losing the fight.
Here are some of the things that you’ll want to avoid if you want lasting wellbeing.
Always Wanting More
Always wanting more is a great way to wreck your life and wellbeing. Striving is good. But perpetually chasing after things that only a small minority of people will ever have is a recipe for self-destruction. You can’t have a massive mansion in Barbados or a supercar from Bugatti. Only the tiniest fraction of people ever manage to get these things. Likewise, you can never have a perfect relationship or kids. It’s a pipedream. Continuously trying to get these things is a form of perfectionism and a great way to make yourself feel endlessly depressed. Try attaching your happiness to the joys that you can extract from the world, instead of those you never will.
Going Into Debt
Going into debt is a massive burden on your wellbeing. It’s not a pleasant experience knowing that you owe other people a mountain of money. It eats into your pride – and prosperity.
The problem with debt is its relationship with freedom. Once you owe somebody money, you have an obligation towards them. You consumed resources before you earned the capacity to pay for them. And now you must pay other people for the privilege. What’s more, compound interest can make the amount of money you owe spiral out of control – and that’s where the real pain starts.
For many people, the only option is to take the financial hit. However, things like fast track debt relief can sometimes help. Whatever the case, avoiding going into debt in the first place is usually the best strategy.
The Belief That Life Is Fundamentally Romantic
If you’ve ever changed a nappy, you’ll know that family life certainly isn’t “romantic.” But the damage romance does to our souls goes deeper than that.
The romantic worldview teaches us that everyone can experience lasting success in their careers, a life mostly free from pain, and incredible sexual encounters. What’s more, we can apparently have it all. Romance sees everyone as winners.
A quick glance at the real world, however, soon teaches you that this isn’t true. And yet, many of us refuse to even look at it, believing that one day the proverbial knight in shining armour will come riding to the rescue.
Things don’t usually work out like this. And it would be better if we simply accepted it.
No Comments