Don't Try
Hot take
Hot take: Trying to be happy makes you unhappy
Chasing happiness is the fastest way to feel miserable. Here's why.
Quick check · tap an answer to continue
Lesson notes
Key points
- Manson's backwards law, credited to Alan Watts, says that wanting a positive experience is itself a negative experience.
- Worse, feeling bad about feeling bad creates the Feedback Loop from Hell, and social media keeps feeding it.
Myth: Trying hard to be happy is a waste of your effort
Fact: The harder you chase feeling good, the less satisfied you become
Takeaway: Accepting a negative feeling is itself a positive experience.
Quick check: What does Manson call feeling bad about feeling bad?
- Seeking approval online
- Feeling bad about feeling bad
- Repeating one mistake
The Feedback Loop from Hell is feeling bad about feeling bad, amplified by social media.
Backwards lawFeedback Loop
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