Last updated on April 25th, 2025 at 11:29 am
Exploring the Dark Side of Happiness:
Take a deep dive into the concept of happiness in this inspiring article. Discover the eighteen happiness poisons and, more importantly, learn how to eliminate them once and for all.
We have all, at one point or another poisoned our own happiness, whether it be through worry, fear, or just poor decision making. Life can certainly throw a person into a tailspin but the real culprit isn’t the adversity, it’s how we perceive and respond to the adversity that determines the outcome. Sometimes it is simply a matter of wrong motives in life that can lead us down the venomous path, rather than the path that leads to the antidote.
1. Your jealousy can ruin any relationship.
You are better off dealing with jealousy head on when it rears its ugly head. Most people don’t want to admit when they have been bitten by the green-eyed monster but it can happen from time to time.
There are people who exude jealousy to the point that it ruins relationships. It usually stems from feelings of inadequacy, and those are the things that a person must take a hard look at in order to salvage their relationships. A happy person is one who is free from jealousy and it shows in healthy relationships.
2. Your grudge-holding will destroy your happiness.
I once knew a man who held a grudge against his father for leaving the family. His grudge festered within him like a cancer and destroyed any hope of his living life to the fullest.
The Stoic philosophers believed that some things are out of our control, so in short, they aren’t worth worrying over or trying to fix. Happiness comes from moving forward in your life and letting go of grudges that would hold you back. You do not have go back to befriend the person you’ve begrudged; you only need to move on. Find a path that leads you to your own life. You’ll be glad you did.
3. Your regrets in life will destroy your peace.
Your life most certainly will be filled with regrets from time to time; I call them mistakes. Mistakes are only there to teach you that a certain path has ended and so it is time to try another. There’s no use in looking back in regret, because you cannot change the past. Simply move forward and try another road. You will most certainly be happier for it.
However; I wish to point out that sometimes we commit ‘deliberate mistakes’ or ‘repeated mistakes’ due to not taking the time to reflect on previous words or deeds. Oftentimes it is required that we think long and hard about what we have said or done in order to avoid committing the same mistake twice – or more.
4. Your need to fix other people will ruin your happiness.
This ties into co-dependence as well. If you feel the need to “fix” others, or focus on “solving their problems”, then you will never be focused on your own well-being and happiness. When your focus shifts away from the self, you will always find something that needs to be fixed in others in order to make you feel happy.
The only person you can control is you; so why not focus on self-actualization for long-term happiness. Looking within is the only way to true joy.
5. Your fear can hold you back from experiencing true happiness.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world.” It can stem from many places, but you will only experience true happiness when you release your fears and simply do the thing you are afraid of doing.
We are discussing reasons why some relationships might not be working for you – what poisons your relationships. If you do not possess these poisons, then you might be of help to someone close to you. But always remember that gentleness and empathy are the best tools when conveying your feelings to someone else – or even to yourself.
6. Your selfishness is a poison to your happiness.
If you are a selfish person only interested in your own feelings, it means you always want things your way and others’ needs and opinions are often discarded in the process. Most people do not want to be in a relationship with a selfish person and if this describes you, you may just find yourself alone and unhappy if it is not changed. Take a good look at yourself and examine areas of your life that have fallen prey to selfishness and make the necessary changes. You may find happiness was waiting for you all along.
7. Your happiness will wane when you set unreasonably high or low expectations of others.
Your need for everyone to meet your standards in life is an unreasonable expectation that most people will never be able to attain; therefore, you will almost always be disappointed in people and thus unhappy and / or bitter in life.
Whatever your standards, avoid expecting others to be who you are. It is by choice that you have attained your personal standards whether they are exceptionally high or miserably low. If you do not accept others’ standards or way of life – keep away.
Remember that all people have their own personality type, which will prevent them from ever being able to live up or down to what you expect of them. They cannot do it. When you let go of the expectation of others to perform to your standards, you will find that they, as well as yourself, will be much more elated. A free person is a happy person.
8. Your self-righteous attitude will halt your happiness.
If you are a self-righteous person, it means that you feel you can do no wrong, and that other people are always in the wrong.
I used to attend church and always felt this type of attitude amongst the people, which in turn made for a lot of unhappiness in many of the their relationships. It is impossible to be perfect all of the time, so why not drop your self-righteousness and experience true happiness.
A cure to consider is a good dose of silence and humility. Not only will your relationships flourish but you will be a much more relaxed individual.
9. Your living in the past will hinder happiness.
If you are living in the past, it means that you are unhappy with the present. Your happiness is a current state of mind and if your life is not making you happy, then maybe it is time to examine your situation and make some changes for the better.
Maybe you need new life goals? Maybe it’s time to finish a project you’ve been putting off? Whatever the case, moving forward in life will help you feel that you are living in the “now.”
10. Your dishonesty can dampen happiness.
If you are a dishonest person, chances are you have alienated yourself from others. Often at times, people who are dishonest gain the reputation as someone who cannot be trusted; therefore, they are seen as an unfaithful friend and partner.
Alienating yourself through dishonesty will surely lead to unhappiness and isolation.
11. Your substance use alters states of happiness.
Some may disagree, but even if you use substances for temporary states of “happiness”, it will be short-lived and once the high wears off, your feelings of unhappiness will be there, staring you in the face. Even for those who use chocolate and caffeine as means of escape, must admit that the euphoria is short-lived.
12. Your pessimism leads to perpetual moods of unhappiness.
It is thought that if you are the type of person that always has the pessimistic attitude; it can lead to a life of unhappiness. In a sense, your words and thoughts have power to them and if you constantly use “negative talk” it’s like sending negative vibes out into the world. Thus, unhappiness appears to follow you around like a virus that won’t go away.
The medicine for pessimism is to become aware of your negativity and work to change your thoughts and words for the better. Start by avoiding people who attempt to talk you into thinking that you are unhappy. People who are unhappy in their own lives will try to influence you into finding the “negative” in your own life. Don’t forget that misery loves company. Opt to read, exercise, take up a hobby, whatever you need to feel better about yourself is worth a try.
13. Your prejudice of other people can make you unhappy with yourself.
You would think that if someone is prejudiced against a group of people or person, it means they are unhappy with that group / person but quite the opposite is true.
A prejudiced person is often an unhappy person, spewing their unhappiness onto a “scapegoat” group of people or person, and literally creating trouble wherever they go. Prejudiced people look for instances in which to unleash their fury onto others. They think it will somehow make them feel better, but it won’t.
If you find that you are prejudiced (and we do all have certain prejudices), it may be time to sit down and really take stock in yourself and confront these issues head on; you will be glad you did.
14. Your self-doubt can lead to feelings of unhappiness.
If you doubt yourself consistently, it would stand to reason that it will lead you to feelings of unhappiness. A self-doubter may engage in negative self-talk which leads to deeper and deeper feelings of unhappiness. It’s a vicious cycle that needs to be addressed with a close friend or counselor who may be able to help you through these feelings.
Maybe finding a positive outlet in which to volunteer your time can boost your self-worth as well, and take your mind off yourself for a change.
15. Your unhappiness can stem from unchecked mental health.
If you suffer from anxiety or depression, it isn’t hard to figure that unhappiness follows. What causes these mental imbalances? Often the society or environment we engage in daily is enough to send anyone into states of unhappiness by way of anxiety and other mental illnesses.
Nowadays, communal living where abuse, violence and other unbecoming social practices exist is a mitigating factor. Sometimes there are more serious issues at hand but happiness is robbed all the same. Take time and talk with someone in whom you trust to tell you the truth in a gentle and caring manner, which can help you sort through life’s mishaps. When in doubt seek professional help.
16. Your pet can help ward off happiness poisons.
Pets are a wonderful way to boost your happiness. If you are someone who doesn’t like or doesn’t want a pet, think about volunteering at a place with animals or some other outlet in order to introduce yourself to the appropriate ways to interact with pets. It has been found that when petting an animal, a person’s mood automatically lifts.
17. Your ability to volunteer your time to the needy can help you become happier.
Giving your time to those in need will help cure the unhappiness in your life. Sometimes seeing those less fortunate than yourself helps put things in perspective.
18. Your stress can prevent happiness in your life.
Stress is not only unhealthy for your physical well-being but emotional as well. If you are the type of person who has constant stress in your life, it may be time to make drastic changes. Take inventory of your life and get rid of the unnecessary. Living a life of simplicity can sometimes be just the thing you need to prevent stress and improve your happiness.
I hope you find these insights to be of use in your life. If you find that your happiness is being poisoned, maybe one of these tips is the culprit. In any case, seek happiness from within. Meditate, read, pray, exercise, be friends with positive people, be honest – whatever you need to improve yourself – and happiness is sure to follow. TMLM
© Triumphant Mind Lifestyle Magazine – triumphantmind.com – All rights reserved.
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