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Hey Pandas, Why Do We Often Feel Unhappy?

Everyone has their own desires, and when they are not fulfilled, it's easy to feel resentment. Instead of lamenting what we lack, we should consider what we already have.

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#1

I believe many people are unhappy simply because they choose to focus on the things going wrong in their lives instead of the things that are going right. Yes, I know everyone has problems, but it's a rare individual who can't find good things to balance them out.

One of my favorite quotes is a line in the Ray Wylie Hubbard song, "Mother Blues": "On the days when I keep my gratitude higher than my expectations, well, I have really good days."

Final score:

8points

Ms. Mack 3 weeks ago

Nice!

2points

#2

Expectations, always too high.

Final score:

8points

Ines Olabarria-Smith

#3

The amount of blatant and ignorant hate pointed towards people for things they can't control, such as the color of their skin, or whether they love a man or a woman. I wish these things were as natural and accepted as breathing air.
As someone who is bi, I'm terrified of coming out to my parents and friends in case they harbor some sort of dislike.

Final score:

8points

#4

Right now so much if life seems focused on survival. Working too many hours just to get by, rushing all the time, none stop hustle, meaning there isn't much time or energy for the things that make us happy like social connections, con ectoons and nature, exercise etc.

Final score:

7points

Amy S (Submission author) 3 weeks ago

This was meant to say connections to nature! Not con ecroons and nature.

0points

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#5

We seem to spend our lives being controlled by factors beyond our grasp.

Final score:

6points

Papa 3 weeks ago

Be careful. This attitude can lead to not taking action to improve your life, since it's easier to just sit back and blame your problems on external factors instead of working on fixing them.

2points

#6

Because being happy 100% of the time is not realistic. We have to go through periods of difficulty. We have to have periods of boredom. We need the gravity of responsibility. We need missions and challenges. To be happy all the time, we would have to remove ourselves from the world, stop growing as human beings, and dedicate ourselves to self-indulgence. I consider myself a happy person, but I don't feel 100% happy all of the time. I've accepted that life is more complicated and nuanced than that.

Final score:

6points

#7

Cause Boredpanda hasn’t posted enough animal content this week! ;)

Final score:

4points

#8

I get unhappy when I have to deal with fools.

Final score:

3points

notlikeyou1971 2 weeks ago

Agreed. Makes me limit my time among people. I only go out when I choose to or absolutely HAVE to. I have grocery delivery and haven't had social media in more than 4 years.

0points

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#9

Brain chemistry.

Final score:

3points

#10

Late stage capitalism

Final score:

3points

#11

Happy and unhappy are two sides of the same coin. You can’t have one without the other. Therefore, we feel unhappy so that we can feel happy.

Final score:

2points

Red PANda (she/they/he/ze)

#12

Because society is about ten seconds away from imploding!

Final score:

2points

notlikeyou1971 2 weeks ago

Believable.

0points

#13

Where to begin! Worsening effects of climate change, and politicians ignoring this crisis because they're in the pockets of Big Business. Creeping fascism. Loss of privacy. Working more and harder for less. Wars. Hate.

OK, that felt good getting a lot of negativity out of me.

Final score:

1point

Freya the Wanderer

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#14

Grass is greener syndrome. Before social media, we might have looked over our neighbors fence and been like, ooh they have this and that, but now social media has become that fence, and these impossible standards of lifestyle, beauty, family are no longer just limited to the next door neighbor. We see it every time we open our phones. No wonder we are unhappy when we see the false expectations placed upon us as a society.

Final score:

1point

notlikeyou1971 2 weeks ago

I cut off social media. Not much has changed. It's the people that are awful.

0points

#15

Unfulfilled expectations. Everything you pinned your hopes on is a lie.

Final score:

1point

#16

Because we are constantly being bombarded by messages telling us we’re not good enough and not rich enough and not lovable enough, and that all these problems can be solved if you just BUY MY STUFF!!! It’s not just about late-stage capitalism; it’s about the idea that happiness comes from consumption.

Final score:

1point

Toothless Feline

notlikeyou1971 2 weeks ago

That " you're not good enough" sometimes starts in the home. The parents or peers do it. There was no Internet during the time it happened for certain people.

0points

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#17

You know the grass, and how green it is? Now, if your grass is the colour of straw, ashes or doesn't exist, yes, you get to complain, of course, and then you have to start watering it. And watch it grow. Really, spend some time to watch it grow. Look at the tiny animals crawling up it and listen to the birds sing and find out what it is you want to do, instead of what you think other people think you have to do.

Final score:

0points

#18

Because it's natural, and it's okay. Many people strive for a life that brings them infinite and unconditional happiness. I hate to say it, but that will never happen. It's because we feel upset and unhappy that we're able to see and appreciate the good in our lives. Nevertheless, people still struggle to recognize those happy moments. To those people I say this: appreciate the little things. You don't have to have $1,000,000 donated to your name or the coolest car or the biggest house to feel content. Go through your day thinking "Man, I had a really good sleep", or "Dude, this burger tastes amazing", or even "Boy, that sun feels great". Do that, and I guarantee you, you will feel happier and more content with your life.

Final score:

0points

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Jyhtextile

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Haining Jinyonghe Household Textile Co., Ltd. is an ISO9000 certificated company. We are a specialized manufacturer of various decorative fabrics and ready-made home textile products. Our main products include sofa fabrics, curtain fabrics and coating fabrics,which are the “famous brand product” of Jiaxing City. Under the supports of outstanding management and designing team, we have been working hard to develop new products and improve quality continuously. Up to now, we are one of “top-10 Home Textile Brands” and “Key exporters” of Hainning city. The annual output in internal market are far away ahead of other companies in this industry. https://www.jyhtextile.com/

Diana Lopetaitė

Hey there, Pandas! My name is Diana (though some prefer to refer to me as Diane, Deanna, and even Liana sometimes), and I am a Community Post Moderator Lead for Bored Panda. As my position title states, I am one of the people (employed Pandas for bamboo) over here who work with the community side of things on this website to ensure all is well, and while at that, I also help various creators and artists get recognition for the incredible work they do by connecting them to a large worldwide audience. Other than that, outside of work, you can find me brewing a nice cup of coffee, making a pizza from scratch, or baking brownies. I also love traveling, concerts, and cats (heavy on that, because I am a cat mom).

Hey there, Pandas! My name is Diana (though some prefer to refer to me as Diane, Deanna, and even Liana sometimes), and I am a Community Post Moderator Lead for Bored Panda. As my position title states, I am one of the people (employed Pandas for bamboo) over here who work with the community side of things on this website to ensure all is well, and while at that, I also help various creators and artists get recognition for the incredible work they do by connecting them to a large worldwide audience. Other than that, outside of work, you can find me brewing a nice cup of coffee, making a pizza from scratch, or baking brownies. I also love traveling, concerts, and cats (heavy on that, because I am a cat mom).

What do you think ?

cugel. 3 weeks ago

Typically for me, it's because I'm not happy.

0points

Danish Susanne 3 weeks ago

I think some of the reasons posted are valid, but that most of us fails to remember the things that made us feel glad when they happened. The worry of money can cut into our ability to feel happy, but the multimillionaires I read about don't seem happy either.

0points

cugel. 3 weeks ago

Typically for me, it's because I'm not happy.

0points

Danish Susanne 3 weeks ago

I think some of the reasons posted are valid, but that most of us fails to remember the things that made us feel glad when they happened. The worry of money can cut into our ability to feel happy, but the multimillionaires I read about don't seem happy either.

0points

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