UNHAPPY
"The greatest happiness is to know the source of unhappiness."
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Feeling unhappy is often connected to feeling powerless. It's not about our physical or mental strength; it's that something is missing. Like we might be successful at work but empty in our personal life. The worst part is how painful it is. Its like a dagger digging into those areas of life where we feel the weakest.
I'm "fine"
I'm unlucky
Everything is just "fine". You're not sad or stressed. In fact, you're not really feeling anything, so you must be "fine". But you feel empty, like the world is passing you by as you sit and watch it all happen from behind a glass wall - no one notices, but what's to notice? You're "fine". It's a lonely place to be.
I shouldn't feel this way
Whether it's at work or in your personal life, it feels like you're on a road with unexpected turns. You get frustrated when things don't go as planned. But, when you really think about it, you're more upset than frustrated. Why me? Why does nothing go my way? It begins to feel like a cruel joke, and you're the butt of it.
I am in limbo
You have built a life for yourself. You did everything you were told you was important in life - yet, something's missing. You want something more out of life, but it sounds selfish. You built this great life. Why would you throw that all away for something else? But there has to be more out there, something that sparks the passion you once had for life.
You're in limbo. You and your partner are stuck in the same patterns. Nothing is getting better because you don't want to share how you feel. Why? What if you share how you really feel - that unhappiness you have - and your partner doesn't understand, validate, or accept it? You'll be worse off then before, because now you know they don't care.
HERE'S THE THING
Unhappiness, powerlessness, and loneliness all come from the same problem - avoiding the parts of yourself that need to be listened to. We tend to combat unhappiness by doing what we do best while ignoring what's stopping us from feeling fulfilled, happy, and strong.
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Maybe there's this numbness or emptiness that leaves you feeling like your disconnected from everyone and everything. Perhaps you avoid true happiness because facing it might disrupt your so-called "happy life." When things don't go you way, the real cruel joke is you are making yourself feel worse by only focusing on what you can't have. Or maybe you avoid actively participating in your relationship because it reminds you that maybe you're not what your partner wants.
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Steering clear of the areas where you feel unhappy or lost won't help. To truly be happy, you need to focus on those areas and tackle the issues head-on.
