The only strategy that works

If you want to be happy, is love.

We often try to replace love with another strategy that doesn’t feel as powerful or vulnerable. Some examples of poor substitute strategies are:

• Controlling others

• Focusing on agreement or disagreement

• Avoiding discomfort or failure

• Pretense to look good

• Being “right”

• Maintaining a victim mentality

• Worrying

• Judging others and being superior or inferior

• Concentrate on what’s wrong

• Etc.

These strategies may feel instantly rewarding as they help us feel safe in the short term, yet they cut us off from genuine human connection in the long run. If you want to be happy, practice noticing when you are implementing one of the able strategies and disciplining yourself to shift into love instead.