Are you someone who seems to always be down in the dumps or fear happiness is always being ripped from you just as you get something great? Do you, like many others, feel that life is just against you being happy?
Could there be another perspective? Let me ask you this: Are you, perhaps unknowingly, sabotaging your own happiness? If you are, be aware that it IS impossible for you to see, accept, and be truly happy in life if you are willing to identify this negative habit and stop the sabotaging behavior in its tracks.
Negative Self-Talk
The number one sign that you are sabotaging your own happiness is constantly thinking negative and untrue thoughts about yourself; telling yourself that you don’t deserve that (insert your dream, goal, desire here) or that if you did receive it then it would just be taken from you in the end. You speak your own truth in your life.
Steven Furtick, in his video series “Crash the Chatterbox” describes your mind as a manufacturing plant. Its product is your thoughts, and you are in charge of quality control. Take captive your negative thoughts, face down and defeat the lies. Replace them with positive truths and allow yourself to embrace happiness and inner peace, keeping your mind open for what is to come.
Fear of The Unknown
Something else to consider when thinking about being truly happy in your life, would be to do somewhere new and unfamiliar. New surroundings often help to create a different frame of mind. Constantly telling yourself to stay in the same place, do the same thing, and not make any changes can be a way of sabotaging your happiness.
Consider embracing the unknown and know that it could bring you happiness like you’ve never experienced before. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try something new, it might just lead you somewhere great. And if it doesn’t, you have stretched your comfort zone and learned that, yes, you can do something different. Learn from it! Expand on it!
Procrastination
Procrastination can often stop you from achieving happiness. Think about this. When you procrastinate, you are prolonging your unhappiness and dread of the task.
It is time to stop procrastinating and start getting things done so you can be happy. And once you finish something you’ve been dreading, you will feel absolutely amazing.
Unforgiveness of Past Mistakes
While I myself have struggled with the various barriers to personal inner peace and happiness, my biggest hindrance is not forgiving myself for past mistakes. I would hold onto them and beat myself up over everything. Do you do the same?
Everyone makes mistakes in life, it’s part of being human and it is totally normal. When you hold on to transgressions – big or small – they weigh heavy on you – like a rain cloud over your head—and it will sabotage your chance at experiencing happiness. Take a deep breath, do some self-work, and start to forgive yourself for past mistakes—you won’t regret it.
If you cannot do this on your own, speak with a counselor, pastor, or trusted friend. Find someone who will help face down the lies the past mistakes tell you, keeping you from moving forward.
Keeping Control of Everything
And finally, a biggie for me as well, is trying to control everything around you. It’s time to remember that you have control of your own thoughts and actions, but nothing else. This means you can’t control other people, or your boss, or anything else in your life. It’s time to let go of trying to control the people and things around you. Quite simply, it just puts undue stress on you, and will eventually alienate you from the people you are trying to control. This doesn’t mean you need to feel out of control either, because when you are in control of your thoughts and emotions you will be able to deal with anything that comes your way, allowing you to accept the feeling of inner peace.
Are you ready?
Do you relate to the comments I made? If so, it is highly likely that you are sabotaging your own happiness. Although it may not always be obvious, you need to know you are in control of your own happiness and inner peace. It is your responsibility to stop sabotaging it.
It’s time to Defeat those LIES holding you back by changing your PERSPECTIVE, exploring new POSSIBILITIES, and seeing new PATHWAYS revealed onto which you can choose to PROCEED in truth.