Quit Trying

"You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life." - Albert Camus

Simply put - Quit Trying.

The key to being happier is to stop trying to be "positive" all the time and instead become better at handling adversity. OMG...I told you to stop being positive...

Our culture is disgustingly obsessed and focused on unrealistic expectations. We constantly see plastered over social media, 'be happier, be healthier, be sexier, be better than the rest, be smarter, be faster, be richer...' the list goes on. (I'm getting sick just thinking about it) Oh wait! Don't forget to have the perfect life...those flawless selfies in the morning to the expensive, 'keeping up with the Jones car' (that you honestly can't afford).

Stop. Right now and let's think about this. That 'positive life advice' you once received from some motivational speaker is actually fixating on what you lack. You're focusing on what you perceive are your own shortcomings or failures you 'think' you have. So in reality, the 'be positive lifestyle' is really reinforcing your subconscious of these imperfections. What exactly do I mean? You stand in front of the mirror telling yourself that you're beautiful because you feel as if you're not. Or you look for ways to make extra money because you aren't being honest with yourself about that damn car. Or start following the ridiculous dating advice that's in the latest Cosmo, because you think that you can't be loved...(but if you loved yourself for who you are, you wouldn't be in this situation) Is that the goal? Reassuring your subconscious and continuing these negative thought patterns?

The fixation on being superior is selfishly demanding your constant attention of what you aren't. Accept and love yourself for who you are. Grow your strengths and work on the improvements. That's a healthy behavior. That's positive. A genuinely confident person doesn't have the need to prove themselves. Either you are or you're not. You either have it or you don't.

So standing in front of the mirror telling yourself these "positive" thoughts is literally a waste of time and creating a creating a person who isn't you. If you're chasing fake dreams to live the 'positive lifestyle,' you might want to rethink what you value. The key to a good life is caring about less and spending time on what is true and important.