7 Things You Should Eliminate from Your Life as Soon as Possible
Most things in life are beyond your control — so what matters is that you do what you can in order to eliminate the bad and work toward the good.
1: FOMO
FOMO is the fear of missing out on aspects of life.
It is what causes people to chase the endless thrill of social events and media updates. It is also what causes people to lose track of themselves: their fear of missing out on all the interesting experiences and pieces of information that the world has to offer, becomes so overpowering that they forget to ask whether these things truly matter to them at all. Because when you become so adamant on never missing out on what is going on around you, you end up missing out on your own life.
Instead of FOMO: Use the time you have to pursue things that matter to you
2: Distraction
In this sense of the word, distraction is the deliberate choice to remove your focus from something important to something that feels more urgent.
You can find distractions everywhere: the outside world is packed with sights and smells and sounds, not to mention notifications, updates, and work mails. But most of all, distraction is something that comes from within. If you cannot learn to selectively move your attention back to the task at hand, you will have a hard time getting anything of value done.
Instead of distraction: Focus and keep committed to your goals and tasks
3: Dependence
Dependence relates to a strong urge to use or consume a specific thing in order to feel a certain way, as well as the constant seeking out of this thing.
Most people seem to be addicted to something, though most might be unaware of this. Phone addiction is skyrocketing, but dependences on unhealthy foods and relationships are common too (in this article, I am referring only to non-clinical cases; I lack the credentials necessary to cover more severe examples). Though these niceties offer a pleasurable reward in the moment, their compounded effect is only harmful in the long run.
Instead of dependence: Postpone gratification to create a healthier balance
4: Insecurity
Insecurity is the state of regarding some part of yourself with dislike.
It is impossible not to be insecure about something. The important thing is to not let these insecurities guide your decisions and actions in life. In most cases, your insecurities are harmless and objectively inconsequential, and if you let yourself be limited by these perceived shortcomings, you might end up creating a less fulfilling life for yourself.
Instead of insecurity: Be courageous and live life on your own premises
5: Fakeness
Fakeness means to pretend to be someone that you are not.
(I am not referring to identity and belongingness in the context of broader social/cultural themes, like nationality and sexuality.) It means trying to fit into a social group or environment when your heart is screaming at you not to. Acting in ways that are inconsistent with your true, underlying identity is damaging to your mental health — not least because you will miss out on the meaningful experiences and relationships that you could have had as a truer version of yourself.
Instead of fakeness: Embrace your identity and own your authentic self
6: Dishonesty
Dishonesty refers not only to lies and manipulation, but also to unhealthy communication tactics in general.
There are several reasons why you should not be dishonest. First of all, things like lies and passive-aggression are harmful to the people involved, and it can lead to confusion, resentment, and unprocessed issues. Second of all, it makes for an unhelpful approach to life, where instead of simply saying things as it is, you spend weeks or months or even years getting to the same point you could have ended up at with a single sentence, but with a myriad of pointless misunderstandings and conflicts along the way.
Instead of dishonesty: Be honest and direct with yourself and others
7: Unsensitivity
Unsensitivity stems from a lack of responsiveness and emotion regulation.
You have likely been brought up with the notion that emotions are signs of weakness, and that you must push your feelings down to be tough instead. But what this does, is that it allows all your difficult thoughts and emotions to fester and build up over time. These reactions that you have suppressed for so long may come out in ugly and unhealthy ways, like through passive-aggression, pettiness, or temper tantrums — and therefore, it is unwise not to let yourself acknowledge, listen to, and properly feel your emotions.
Instead of unsensitivity: Process your emotions in a healthy way
Eliminate these hinders, and you will create a better, healthier life.
