41 Pieces of Very Bad Emotional Advice

Inspired by Morgan Housel’s very bad advice, Charlie Munger’s mantra of “Invert, always invert,” and George Costanza, here are 41 pieces of very bad emotional advice:

Blame your parents more.
Never talk about how you feel.
Maintain very high expectations of other people.
When you’re angry, be sure to let it out by venting—preferably to someone who will nod along sympathetically and commiserate with all of your grievances.
Cultivate a more complicated sleep hygiene routine.
Construct your entire identity around a mental health diagnosis like ADHD, C-PTSD, or BPD. If that’s not available, try a Myers-Briggs type or Enneagram number.
Vulnerability is for hippies.
Amass a large collection of coping skills with which to regulate any and all uncomfortable thoughts, sensations, emotions, desires, or unpleasant feelings of any sort.
Criticize yourself for feeling bad.
If your marriage is rocky, it’s definitely their fault.
Always interpret anxiety as a sign that something is wrong with you.
Move less.
Trust your emotions implicitly and do whatever they tell you, especially when making major life decisions.
Always make sure other people are happy by never asking for what you want or expressing how you feel.
Don’t start working on something important until you feel inspired.
Just think positive.
Spend more time around emotionally immature people.
Keep emotions out of the workplace.
Keep morality out of the therapy office.
Continue to make snide comments about people who attend Tony Robbins seminars as you slide further into the abyss of self-loathing, cynicism, and despair.
When you feel like procrastinating, just apply more willpower.
Build less, complain more.
Never make important decisions in life without consulting extensively with your therapist, coach, guru, somatic healer, mentor, and inner child. Ignore your accountant.
Interpret all emotional struggles as moral failings and/or biological defects.
Never allow yourself to be alone with your thoughts.
Always assume responsibility for other people’s feelings.
Attribute every problem in life to unresolved trauma.
Manage your stress, not your stressors.
If something triggers you, avoid the trigger. If the trigger is a person—especially a close family member—go no-contact immediately.
Imposter syndrome is a liar.
If you can’t fall asleep, try harder.
Ruminate deeply on your low self-esteem.
Don’t do anything scary until you feel confident.
Spend less time around people who disagree with you.
Spend more time consuming the news.
If you have a bad experience in therapy, write off the whole profession as a sham.
If your spouse is a jerk, couples counseling will fix them.
Well-adjusted people should never feel shame or guilt.
Don’t try new things without asking for permission.
Ignore your habits in the present and focus exclusively on the events of your past.
If you feel stuck, more thinking is usually the answer.