by Scott Hayden

Created on: September 08, 2008   Last Updated: April 30, 2012

Misery loves company. Therefore, it's easy for miserable people to make life difficult for others even if they don't mean to. There's also the long list of stressors that life doles out at one time or another, such as sickness, long periods of unemployment, a failed relationship, the state of the economy and war. 

A large percentage of those who are miserable do not have any concrete goals or objectives. As a result, their lives don't come into focus and they'll spend all of their time moaning and groaning about the inadequacies of life. Living off the efforts and hard work of others doesn't do much to boost self-esteem, and this leads to depression, which in turn fosters misery.

Laziness isn't the only cause. Constantly wishing for things you don't have, like more money and/or material possessions, always comparing yourself to others, and succumbing to envy, jealousy and greed will make you miserable. This is natural for many of us, but it's counterproductive! We set impossibly high standards for ourselves, and what we fail to realize is that there will always be somebody who is better and more successful than us.

Misery is also caused by external factors. Negative individuals who are consistently draining your energy and enthusiasm, and the growing problem of rudeness and social graces that seem to be disappearing are creating a bleak atmosphere. What are the causes of this phenomenon? We are living in a Wal-Mart society, which above all extols the benefits of convenience. People want instant service, instant access to information and instant gratification. When it takes some time to deliver what's required, tempers reach the boiling point. Why do we have so little patience? How did we get here in the first place?

Misery can find a home anywhere. In your home, your place of employment, in the car on the way to the office or on the way back to the house, or in the supermarket. It's an illness but it can't be cured by medication, at least not entirely. Your doctor can prescribe pills to lift your mood but the effect is temporary. Some might attribute the increasing effects of misery to the toxic chemicals present in our food, water and air. The weird additives and preservatives written on most food packages are not likely designed for our health. Is that why otherwise healthy people are suddenly finding out they've got cancer?

There's always alcohol and tobacco. Those substances may take the edge off but they will do more harm than good. I used to work in a bar and the most frequent customers were not a happy group. Alcohol leeches vitamins and minerals out of your body, and if you're nutritional requirements aren't being met, your physical and mental state will suffer. Misery will love to keep heavy drinkers happy.

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