10 Things You Need To Let Go Of To Be Happy!!

What brings you happiness? Is it more money? A fancy car? It’s easy to think that things - like a better job, a bigger home, or someone - can make you happier. A lot of people believe that if they fulfilled their desires, they would be satisfied. Having goals and working toward them is great, but when your happiness depends solely on achievement, you’ll end up doing more harm than good. Instead of just focusing on getting your wants, it’s much easier to find happiness by ridding yourself of the things that don’t serve a beneficial purpose. Here are ten things you should let go of if you want to lead a happy life. 

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1. Excessive Pride: Pride isn’t necessarily a terrible thing. It can bring you confidence and self-assurance which are two great qualities that can help you lead a happy life. However, pride can also cause destruction through over-confidence and resistance to learning. If your pride is extreme, it can ruin your personal and professional relationships. It’s not uncommon for people to let their pride prevent them from acknowledging their mistakes and learn from them whether it’s a project at the office, or an argument with a friend. It’s essential to keep your pride in check and get rid of any excess that is no longer serving you. 

2. Insecurity: Insecurity has no benefits. It often arises from judgment or criticism of yourself and other people. It causes chronic unhappiness and becomes a burden on your life. As long as you are the most honest and authentic version of yourself, no one has the right to judge you for it and that goes for you, too. There is nothing wrong with living your life the way you want to live it. Self-doubt is something you picked up along the way and it’s something you can drop whenever you choose. Your friends and family love you for you. When you doubt their respect, affection, or acceptance, you are doing a disservice not only to yourself, but to your loved ones as well. 

3. Toxic People: There will always be toxic people, but they don’t need to be in your life. Although it may be easy to become stuck in a pattern where you pour your emotional energy and attention into a person you despise, letting go of this malicious attachment will reduce stress and increase happiness. Imagine if you transformed all the negative energy you give an enemy into positive energy that you give to yourself and your loved ones. Your life would become even more full of experiences and emotions surrounding the people who truly matter in your life. Getting rid of toxic people will make more room for happiness. 

4. A Terrible Job: Settling for a job that isn’t ideal is incredibly common especially when the job market isn’t at its best. When changing careers is a huge obstacle, sometimes you’ll have to accept what you can get but that doesn’t mean you have to settle forever. If you hate your job and there are open positions to do something else to earn money, there are no good reasons not to apply. Whether the job you do is tedious and soul-sucking or you can’t stand the company you work for, you can consider changing your line of work to increase your happiness. Your time is valuable. Even if you’re getting paid a good salary, you’ll never get back the time you give to a job that you despise. If you’re in this situation, you’ll be much happier if you drop your current employment and replace it with a new one. 

5. Addiction: When you think about addiction, you might think of alcohol or drug addiction. But there are countless other forms of addiction, too. You could be addicted to work, sugar, videogames, drama, or even a toxic relationship. No matter what your compulsion is, it will always be a barrier to your happiness. Addiction creates an insatiable appetite. The void can never be full since your desire for the object of your affection is limitless. You’ll never feel that sweet satisfaction. Addiction only leads to a cycle of relentless hunger and dissatisfaction. To make things worse, while you’re stuck in this never-ending sequence of discontent, your addiction saps the energy from all other areas of your life - like hobbies, passions, relationships, or self-care. Recovery is a long, hard road. It may be one of the most challenging experiences of your life, but it can be also the most rewarding. If you want to be happier, think about dropping your addictions. 

6. Believing That Your Best Days Are Behind: You When we’re young, it’s common to hear older people tell us that we’re living “the best days of our lives.” Although that may be true for them, it doesn’t have to be true for you. When great things happen in our lives, it’s normal to feel bored or to be underwhelmed by the events that come after. Maybe you spend a year abroad, or experience the best day of your life, and once you return to reality, everything pales in comparison. This remarkable memory might be in your past, but surely, there are more great things still to come. If you want to be happier, drop the belief that your past will always be better than the future. Looking forward to what’s to come will permit those things to arrive. 

7. Believing Others Are Better Off: The common saying “the grass is greener on the other side” can feel painfully true, especially in our modern world of influencers, social media, and the fear of missing out. It’s common for people to present their lives online in a way that depicts only the best and most glamourous parts – exotic trips, luxury purchases, or wild successes. But sometimes, the glamour is entirely false. Studies show that people are more likely to lie online than in person. Although some may lie to protect their privacy, many invent stories to convince their followers that they’re living a spectacular life when they’re entirely ordinary. This delusion often convinces others that they are somehow failing at the game of life. Even worse, it causes self-blame and feelings of isolation. Know that most people don’t have it as good as they make it seem on social media. Everyone experiences struggle and imperfection. If they say otherwise, they’re lying. Let go of the belief that you’re worse off than other people. Having what you think other people possess is not the solution - that desire is often a source of unhappiness. 

8. Lies: Some people lie to manipulate, but you might be lying in an entirely different way. Lies of omission could be keeping you up at night. Maybe you’re unhappy with your relationship or your career you could be lying to yourself or lying to others that you’re satisfied when you aren’t. Are you hiding in the closet, preventing others from knowing your true identity? Or maybe you told an outright lie and you’ve been carrying it with you for a long time. Whatever secrets you’re protecting, you can let the lie go by telling a trusted friend. Once you share the truth, the falsity fades away. Even when you believe that lying is the best or most moral decision, it can still take a toll on your conscience. You can move on from the regrets and untruths that are holding you back. Let go of the lies and live your life with honesty for a happier existence. 

9. Self-Loathing: Self-loathing is very similar to insecurity, and if you experience it, know that you’re not alone. Almost everyone experiences some form of self-hate at one time or another. It’s the feeling you are not enough, unworthy, or undeserving of the good things in life like love and happiness. The truth is that everyone deserves love and happiness. But we’re often taught the opposite. It may arise from a history of abuse, cultural or social messages, or being excluded. Bad relationships, failures, and many other different experiences can lead you to believe that there is something inherently wrong with you. Well, there isn’t. And self-loathing will only bring you down. Even if you’ve made decisions that you’re not proud of, you can learn from your mistakes. Hating yourself over them will not do you any good. Let go of your self-loathing. It is a barrier to your happiness, and you do deserve to be happy. 

10. Your Comfort Zone: Knowing your boundaries and sticking to routines that bring you stability are healthy habits you should practice. It’s also important to recognize when leaving your comfort zone is a good although often unwanted idea. If you never leave your comfort zone, you’ll never grow. Discomfort and unfamiliarity are the best catalysts for growth and personal development. Even though something can make you feel uncomfortable at first, it will benefit you in the long run. You’ll end up expanding your comfort zone, and ultimately, expand your horizons on who you can be and what you can achieve. Whether that means experiencing a new place, person, or role, you’ll enable yourself to feel comfortable in new and unfamiliar situations. A comfort zone is meant to serve as a home- not an entire world. When it encompasses everything you do, it becomes a prison. Release yourself from the things that are no longer serving you, and you’ll lead a happier life. Letting go isn’t always easy. Sometimes the process is a lengthy and challenging one that requires repeated attempts and constant awareness. When you fail, trying again could be even more difficult. But you can do it. And you should. Your happiness and well-being are worth the efforts.