Notes from a Psychologist
Dr. Mel Whitehurst

HOW TO MAKE YOURSELF UNHAPPY

Dr. Mel Whitehurst 
Email:  drmelwhitehurst@gmail.com

Most of the time, people spend their lives pursuing happiness, yet ironically, most people are more effective creating unhappiness for themselves.  The following are “small” tangible things you can do to bring about gradual unhappiness upon yourself.  None of these things alone will create complete unhappiness, but an accumulation of them can. 

                           SECRETELY DISTRUST MOST PEOPLE

​Silently look for hidden motives.  Believe that people “blameworthy” before they have a chance to prove their good intentions. This will likely lead you to becoming hypervigilant, fearful and excessively self-protective. Instead, choose the opposite outlook.  Cautiously deem that most people are trying to do the right thing, while remaining aware and discerning.

                            LET RUDENESS CONTROL YOU

Treat people who serve you rudely, as though they are second-class citizens—store clerks, service workers, call center employees, especially if they speak with an accent, etc.  These small acts of negativity will gradually chip away at your own happiness

                        IRRESPONSIBILY TAKE RISKS

Drive aggressively with a bellicose attitude.  Speed down the freeway, constantly changing lanes, and occasionally take unnecessary risks simply to get one car length ahead.  Make liberal use of horn honking.  Instead, slow down and chill out…you will feel better. 

CARE LESS ABOUT PEOPLE IN NEED.  IT’S THEIR OWN FAULT.

Avoid those who cannot help themselves.  Blame them for their hardships. The world needs “helping” people, and when we ignore or miss realistic opportunities to support others we add to our own unhappiness.  

                 WHY NOT CHEAT?  EVERYBODY DOES

Cheat a little on your income taxes.  No one will notice the small stuff.  But whether the gain is one penny or a thousand dollars, you secretly know that you are a cheat.  Carrying that around, even quietly, has a way of chiseling away at your happiness.

                                    STAY DISORGANIZED 

Be a freewheeler.  Don’t get “boxed in”.  Move through life without much planning or forethought.  Instead, live in the moment, even if the moment is unpredictable and chaotic.

                                 EMBRACE SLOPPINESS

Don’t keep your work space clean and orderly.

                            BE A SOCIAL WORKER FOR FRIENDS

Spend a considerable amount of time helping those who can and should be helping themselves.

                                        AVOID EYE CONTACT

Rarely look people in the eye when communicating with them.  Lack of eye contact is frequently seen as uncertainty and weakness.

                                    BE A BAA HUMBUG

Say “thank you” infrequently.  

                                         KEEP YOUR CAR DUSTY

Don’t keep your car clean.

                                                 SLACK OFF

Refrain from doing your fair share of the work.

                                     SUPER SCAPEGOAT

Blame others for your setbacks.

                           SNEAR AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

Smile as little as possible.  Consistently maintain a serious face. 

                            GAME PLAY WITH BILLS

Sporadically pay bills late.

 

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