This is the second article in a series of the best ways I’ve found to not sweat the small stuff and being happy with whatever I’ve got.  Here are the others:

The Best Ways To Not Sweat The Small Stuff – Part I

Don’t Be A Victim – Stop Blaming Others

You simply cannot attain peaceful well-being while blaming others for the situations in your life.  It’s not just about being a victim of the big stuff, most of us are victims of the small stuff.  Think about all the small things you blame others for at work or in your home.  The constant whining or griping you do about what others are doing is not helpful.  It’s small stuff and it makes you miserable.  You are draining yourself of your psychic energy.

Lighten Up

Are you wound up tight?  Is everything a crisis?  You wake up late – damn it. Your partner left a dirty dish in the sink – crap.  You’re daughter spilled her milk on her school blouse – @#$$%^&.  Your neighbor’s trash can rolled into your driveway – inconsiderate SOB.  Someone is driving slow in the left-hand lane – idiot.  And on and on it goes all day long.  Geez, lighten up and stop taking yourself so seriously.  What good does any of this do?  The world (nor your family) is going to conform to your wishes of how it should be.

Realize More is Not Better

If more was better the United States would be the happiest place on earth.  It’s not.

“A short cut to riches is to subtract from our desires.” — Francesco Petrarch

Mind Your Own Business

Don’t you have enough of your own alleged issues without needing to worry about other people?  I’m amazed at how much watching, criticizing, and gossiping about other people goes on all the time around me.  We seem intent on worrying as much about other peoples’ business as we do our own.  Cut a lot of negativity out of your life by just minding your own business.

Accept What Is

If the small stuff you fret about wasn’t there you would find something else to replace it.  Something would rush in to fill the void.  It’s not the small stuff, it’s you.  The small stuff will always be there and fighting it is a guaranteed loser.

Stop Being a Perfectionist

Not sweating the small stuff and being a perfectionist are mutually exclusive.  If you detect perfectionist tendencies in yourself, work on that first.  Otherwise you will be hopelessly sweating the small stuff for the rest of your life.

Shrink Your Ego

It’s not all about you.  You don’t need to prove yourself to everyone all the time.  You don’t need to offer an opinion on everything.  You don’t have to brag and show off.  Back off and relax while you observe and listen to others.  Stress will melt away.

Some People Aren’t Going To Like You

The day you stop trying to please others is the day you will take a giant step towards personal freedom.  Stop seeking validation and acceptance in others.  The issues they have in regard to you is their small stuff and you shouldn’t be worried about that.

Stop Being Grouchy

Grumbling and grouchiness is the best way you’ll ever find to sabotage your path to peaceful happiness.

Will This Matter in The Future?

Will it matter in one hour, tomorrow, next week, next month, or next year?  If not then it probably isn’t worth your sweat.

What do you think? Leave a comment below.

Tagged as: Happiness, sweat the small stuff, well-being