How To Do Everything Wrong

How To Do Everything Wrong

By Steve Pavlina

While I normally write for people who are interested in improving their lives, I’m aware that many are committed to the opposite(ˈäpəzit) path. These people deliberately(diˈlibəritlē) decline(diˈklīn) steps that would lead to measurable(ˈmeZH(ə)rəbəl) improvements. They prefer that everything goes wrong — for as long as possible.

Sometimes they screw(skro͞o) up and accidentally(ˌaksiˈdentl) do something right. They’re usually able to sabotage(ˈsabəˌtäZH) these unwanted successes in short order, but they like it best when they can prevent(priˈvent) these positive(ˈpäztiv,ˈpäzətiv) experiences from ever happening in the first place.

If you count yourself among this under-acknowledged and under-appreciated(appreciated) group, here are some suggestions for how you can do a better job of staving(stāv) off success and ensuring(enˈSHo͝or) absolute failure(ˈfālyər) till you die.

Wrong Road

Notice the paths(paTH) that happy and successful people take, and avoid those paths. Favor(ˈfāvər) the popular paths since those will help you achieve average results at best, and average results should safely prevent undesirable(ˌəndiˈzīrəbəl) feelings of fulfillment. The best roads are those that leave you feeling like you’re walking in circles(ˈsərkəl) till you’re too tired to walk anymore and must retire(riˈtīr). Roads that are flat(flat) or which slope(slōp) downhill are often good choices, and they tend to satisfy(ˈsatisˌfī) the popularity(ˌpäpyəˈlaritē) requirement as well. Avoid any paths that lead over hills or near mountains; the elevated(ˈeləˌvātid) views are disturbing(disˈtərbiNG). Head towards terrain(təˈrān) you dislike since it’s easier to hate(hāt) your life when you hate your surroundings. If you can manage to get lost as well, that’s wonderful.

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https://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2011/07/how-to-do-everything-wrong/