I’ve noticed there are just some people who have mastered the skill of being totally miserable no matter what. It’s funny, in my observations I’ve realized that it takes serious effort to really obtain a high level of consistent misery. So, for those of you who want to live a miserable life, here’s a few tips on how to do so.  But, if you don’t want to live that way, that’s okay too. Perhaps you will choose not to apply any of my suggestions. Go ahead, be happy if you want … it’s your call!

5 Tips on How to Live a Miserable Life

1. Be totally self aware.
Think of yourself first, often and as much as possible. Assume that all eyes are on you at all times and that everything said around you has something to do with you, or is because of you. Compare yourself to others as much as possible. This insures that you’re always on your own mind. You will have no interest in others, since that could deflect some of your attention away from yourself. This way, your problems will always seem bigger than others and you will be guaranteed total unhappiness at all times.

2. Be as negative as possible.
If you choose to have a positive outlook, this could potentially cause you to see life as good, or at least, better than it is. When you are negative, though, and look for the worst in people and situations, you will certainly see them. If you constantly focus on the wrong–how your situation could or should be better–you will surely miss out on any good in any circumstance.

3. Expect everything to go your way all the time.
If you determine that life should be good for you and that your plans will work out as intended with no snafu, prepare to find yourself constantly bang your head into a wall as each encounter brings dead end after dead end. To exist in a continual state of frustration, choose to live with the unrealistic expectation that your plans will never be thwarted. When life hijacks your plans, you can then choose to complain, lament and feel like somehow you got a bad rap in an unfair life. This mentality is a great way to perpetually be in a bad mood.

4. Take everything personally.
If you become really thin-skinned, you will have many reasons to be unhappy. To stay overly sensitive, keep your “hurt me” radar on high alert. If you try, you can always find a reason to be offended or hurt by something. You can take a neutral comment and turn it into a personal criticism, or inappropriately apply an objective statement to yourself, and use it as a reason to get all huffy and offended at someone. It works every time!

5. Assume you are always right.
If you assume you are always right, this puts others in the place of most often being wrong. If others are most often wrong, you’ll have no reason to tolerate their ignorance. This mindset will create a deep level of unhappiness not only for you, but for those you encounter. They will not enjoy being with your know-it-all self; therefore, you will experience the added benefit of loneliness, which contributes greatly to living a miserable life.

Is this really how you want to live? I sure hope not. When I sense myself falling into one of these miserable mindsets, I try and redirect my thoughts to meditate on truth. Here’s one joyful scripture passage that will lift you up today:

Isaiah 55:12 – For you shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Question: Can you think of another miserable mindset you’ve seen acted out in others (or in yourself)? Tell us about it here.