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.  Ironically, many people are more skilled at creating unhappiness.  The following are ten ways you can bring gradual unhappiness upon yourself.  None of these behaviors by themselves will guarantee unhappiness, but an accumulation of them can. 


Spend a considerable amount of time helping people who are capable of helping themselves instead of helping those who genuinely need help beyond their own capabilities.

Stay disorganized.  Be a free spirit.  Don’t get “boxed in”.  Resist planning ahead or establishing routines.  Drift through life without much planning or forethought.  Instead, always live in the moment, even if the moment is unpredictable and chaotic.

Avoid looking people in the eye when communicating with them.  Poor eye contact is frequently seen as lack of confidence, making it easier for others to dismiss or disrespect you

Smile as little as possible.  Maintain a serious expression, even when life offers reasons to smile.  Consistently maintain a serious face.  The “world” favors people with a smile and snarls at the stoic face.

Complain about problems you could actually do something about, that you have the power to solve, but never take action.

Don’t bother keeping your car clean.

Let your workspace become cluttered and disorganized.

Say “thank you” infrequently.  

Even when you have the money, occasionally pay a bill late.

Watch the news and political commentary every day, and allow yourself to get “worked up” on the state of the world.

 

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