you serious?

LegacyUser

If someone, in all seriousness, advised you to take life less seriously because it was making you unhappy, what would you take it to mean? And what would to do if you accepted the advice?

claire h

I would take it to mean... not to take life so seriously. I guess it means relaxing, trying not to get worked up about minor things, enjoying yourself, not worrying, laugh more.

lordsippa

Um.. just take life as it comes. Plan less, and worry about reprecussions less. Let things happen. And if something DOES go wrong just accept it and don't care. Live for today and for whatever takes your fancy...

Beruthiel

If someone, in all seriousness, advised you to take life less seriously because it was making you unhappy, what would you take it to mean?

perhaps you are trying to control everything around you and you are failing and so it depresses you? are you monica from friends? trying to be perfect is a full time job and when your expectations of yourself fail to meet your high standards then it depresses you?

And what would to do if you accepted the advice?

this part is probably harder to do, if you are, for example a tidy up freak, it is very hard to sit there and not tidy up - I suggest smoking a few joints, then you wouldn't give a **** if the house falls down around your ears!
ok - it's not for everybody, but there must be something you like to do? so do it, relax and take one day at a time, remember you could be dead tomorrow and suddenly keeping the kitchen 100% perfectly clean doesn't seem so important anymore!

WhiteWashMan

learn to laugh more.

Victor

While you say "life", my experience is in relation to work. I used to have a problem with taking work too seriously (90-100 hours weeks, working at 4am come to mind). Often it is stress related (stress is usually caused by the build up of andrenilin in the blood stream).

Do some simple things. Get some exercise (even if it means taking a short walk instead of the bus). Get some sort of outlet or enjoyment (punch bag, watch the birds in the park, go to cinema, read a book). And also stop to talk to someone (one a day), even if it is just to say hello to the postman / shop assistant / waitress. Taking a break will help your concentration when you go back to your work. Expressing your side of the discussion will often help.

Ultimately, what I am saying is everyone needs to take their work in perspective. You may feel guilty about relaxing, but remember that you are still likely to be paying more attention than most people. I have accepted being "better than average" as a motto.

Talking to a counsellor or psychotherapist or your GP may help.

McGinty

As a serious person, who at times needs to lighten up and see the joy in life I know what you are talking about.

I would agree that its not healthy to be too serious, so do what makes you happy, be more selfish and ask yourself 'do I have to do this' more often.

So for example if you want a quiet night in and some friend wants you to go out, be selfish and please yourself first.

Read a book, go for a walk, watch a funny movie, video or what ever.

Try to see the positive in any situation. Be aware if someone is taking too many liberties , eg: boss, friend, partner, wife, husband, who ever and take small steps to stop their behaviour.

Happy people usually have a plan and a goal that they want to achieve, write down what it is you want from life and then decide the best way to achieve it and don't believe the begrudgers, you can achieve what ever you want, ONLY if you believe in it.

From a fellow serious person who needs to still lighten up, one last thing, if you are serious by nature, realise that you can't always be bouncy and cheerful and accept that is a part of you.

Mercury_Tilt

This post has been deleted.

Oeneus

I usually do take things seriously, and I'm also quite the paranoid type.

But, one night my friends told me to chill out a bit and stop caring about things too much, stop being twitchy and warey etc. Then on that same night, I heard a girl screaming, then thought about investigating what was going on. But then thought "Bah, the guys are right. I worry too much. It's probably a bunch of stupid screamy kids/girls always scream" and so on...

It turned out a friend of mine had just been raped.

I wasn't happy about my choice whatsoever. So I've decided I'd rather worry about things and chill out...stay on the safe side!

Sposs

Originally posted by Oeneus


It turned out a friend of mine had just been raped.

I wasn't happy about my choice whatsoever. So I've decided I'd rather worry about things and chill out...stay on the safe side!

Sorry to hear that Oeneus but that is just one of those things usually it would have been just some girl screaming with laughter with friends,so you shouldnt beat yourself up over it. You should still however follow the advise of your friends.

Oeneus

Thanks mate. but the point of me telling you that, was to show that you should try not to be too relax. You can chill out and have a laugh or whatever. But try and be aware of what's going on around you.

WhiteWashMan

Originally posted by question
If someone, in all seriousness, advised you to take life less seriously because it was making you unhappy, what would you take it to mean? And what would to do if you accepted the advice?

by the way, what do you think you should do?

seamus

Get (another) hobby is about the best suggestion that's come out here. A lot of people will know what it's like to waste time coding stuff that you don't really need, and that other people will probably never use, but feck it, it's enjoyable. Obviously I'm not saying to start programming, but find something that you enjoy so much, that you'll happily spend a few hours a day just doing it, without any other care in the world. Unless you've got an addictive personality (or you take up an addictive substance ), it's unlikely to do any damage to your everyday life if you surrender yourself to your own enjoyment for say an hour or two a day. And people will see you more relaxed and content with life.......