Don't Sweat the Small Stuff ... and it's all small stuff: Simple Ways to Keep the Little Things from Taking Over Your Life

by Richard Carlson

criticize another person, it says nothing about that person; it merely says something about our own need to be critical.

We deny the parts of ourselves that we deem unacceptable rather than accepting the fact that we’re all less than perfect.

When you act or feel insecure, rather than pretending to be “together,” you can open to the truth and say to yourself, “I’m feeling frightened and that’s okay.” If you’re feeling a little jealous, greedy, or angry, rather than deny or bury your feelings, you can open to them, which helps you move through them quickly and grow beyond them.

When you no longer think of your negative feelings as a big deal, or as something to fear, you will no longer be as frightened by them.

Opening to the totality of your being is like saying to yourself, “I may not be perfect, but I’m okay just the way I am.”

yourself that only you can make yourself happy.

When you stop blaming others, you will regain your sense of personal power. You will see yourself as a choice maker. You will know that when you are upset, you are playing a key role in the creation of your own feelings. This means that you can also play a key role in creating new, more positive feelings. Life is a great deal more fun and much easier to manage when you stop blaming others.

Another way of looking at your fatigue is to consider that a lack of fulfillment and a sense of being overwhelmed both contribute to your tiredness.