Want to be Happy? Avoid These Nine Behaviors

Recently I cam across an interesting article in INC. Magazine.  It focuses on things to avoid if you want to be happy.  You can see it here.

I like all nine, but I particularly like number 3…

Never let the fear of disapproval or criticism hold you back.

I would edit this statement as follows.  Never let the fear of failure, disapproval or criticism hold you back.

Fear is the great saboteur of success.  It can kill your career success.  Worry too much about failing or about what others think, and you’ll never take the risks you need to take to become truly successful.

Here’s an example.  I was pretty excited when I was accepted to graduate school at Harvard.  I called my parents to give them the good news.  My mother — who wasn’t the most positive person in the world — said, “Oh no.  There’s a lot of smart people there.  I don’t think you’re going to do too good.”

Thanks a lot Ma.  I’m excited about this opportunity, and you’ve just told me that you think I’ll flunk out.

I could have let her criticism and disapproval scare me into not enrolling.  Instead, I thought to myself, “I don’t care what you think.  I’m pretty smart too.  I’ll do well there.”

I enrolled and did well.  My Harvard degree opened a lot of doors for me.  However, had I fear failure, or listened to the disapproval of my mother, those doors would have remained closed.

Take it from me — fear is a success killer.  Stomp on it every time it rears its ugly head.