For a lot of us, there are seasons when we start to feel stuck and unsure how to move forward. Maybe your work routine becomes monotonous or your job search looks bleak. Maybe your relationship doesn’t feel fulfilling or your family keeps reopening old wounds. Whatever the case, many of us can become victims of our own negativity, trapped in a mind loop that keeps us in a state of stress and despair.
So we turn to TikTok and YouTube videos to see what can help us out of this rut. Or we’d read advice columns and self-help and self-improvement books like How to Be Less Miserable by Lybi Ma. This book reaffirms much of what we’ve learned so far on our path to becoming the best versions of ourselves.
We’re stepping out of our comfort zone today, and we hope you’ll come along on this journey with us. Here are some of our main takeaways from Lybi Ma’s How to Be Less Miserable!
Book Overview: How To Be Less Miserable
Summary: As human beings, we are all predisposed to a negative mindset. This tendency is a byproduct of the evolution of our species. Our hunter-gatherer ancestors had to stay vigilant at all times—what if a man-eating predator was lurking in their midst? It was more important to be aware of potential danger than to find food. It’s part of our genetic code, and we’ve carried this innate predisposition that something bad is about to happen to us into the twenty-first century. Even the most optimistic among us aren’t immune.
How to Be Less Miserable offers current research on the human brain’s tendency toward negative thinking, why we do it, why it’s so hard to stop doing it, and how we can use evidence-based methods to overcome the patterns that lead to anxiety, depression, and more. The author covers a wide range of topics, including:
- healthy ways to pursue happiness
- how to overcome stress and anxiety
- tools for dealing with emotions
- building resiliency and mental flexibility
- the importance of social groups
- the perils of social media
- personal growth and the pursuit of passions
- being kind and true to yourself
The strategies found in this book are based in large part on wisdom from the experts and researchers Lybi Ma has worked with throughout her career. They provide helpful and meaningful ways to manage and overcome negative thinking. Ultimately, How to Be Less Miserable is for anyone searching for a different way to think about emotional and mental health.
Understand That Failures & Mistakes Will Pass
You know when you go to bed and start replaying every single embarrassing moment or negative interaction that has ever happened to you? (Don’t @ us; we’ve been in the same boat.) This cycle will only continue as long as you let it happen. Instead, try to interrupt these thoughts as soon as you notice them. Accept that these failures and mistakes are bound to happen and that they’re meant to help you grow, not to make you cringe or beat yourself up about them daily.
Give Yourself Permission To Feel Good
We know; this seems like a no-brainer. But How to Be Less Miserable reminds us to allow ourselves to be happy. Rather than worrying about how long a happy moment or good feeling will last, let yourself enjoy it just because you can. It doesn’t have to be something earth-shattering like a picturesque proposal in the Swiss Alps. It can be feeling joy from reading one book or clearing out a junk drawer. Celebrate the small wins whenever you can. We promise it’s not a trap.
Stop Trying To Be In Control 24/7
We’re going to hold your hands when we say this. You can’t control every aspect of your life. Sorry! Life will not hesitate to throw your carefully planned schedule into disarray. What matters most is your ability to adapt to these unknown factors and manage your emotions. It will seem very scary to let go of your control at first. But once you accept that not everything will go the way you wanted or planned, then you can feel at peace. It may not be pleasant, but it will ultimately turn out okay.
Lybi Ma’s How to Be Less Miserable serves as a much-needed reminder for us to stop dwelling on the negativity and despairing over every mishap. Instead, we should allow ourselves to feel good and let go of things we can’t control.
How to Be Less Miserable by Lybi Ma goes on sale October 14th, and you can order a copy of it here!
What do you think of this new self-help book? Are you interested in reading How to Be Less Miserable? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
Want to hear some of our audiobook recommendations? Here’s the latest!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LYBI MA:
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Julie Dam
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