Happiness begins with your mindset. It starts with feeling good about yourself and maintaining positive thoughts about yourself and others. Many highly intelligent people struggle with this; they often operate from wounded egos, unable to think “right.” This negativity, rooted in past experiences, affects us in two profound ways:

1. Negative Self-Perception: Some people are trapped in a cycle of negativity, viewing themselves and others through a pessimistic lens. They feel unworthy, not good enough, and this low self-esteem manifests in arrogant and hurtful behavior, harsh remarks, gossip, and an overall unhappy demeanor.

2. Inherited Patterns: Often, these negative thought patterns are inherited from our parents. Children mimic the behaviors they observe, carrying these negative patterns into adulthood. This perpetuates a cycle of negativity and dysfunction, leading to short-term gratifications like addictions to sex, alcohol, drugs, food, and shopping to soothe their unhappiness.

A staggering 95% of us come from dysfunctional backgrounds. Healing from an unloving childhood requires self-awareness. The key to unlocking authentic happiness lies in addressing childhood trauma.

This journey isn’t about running away from bad feelings. It’s about taking responsibility for them, understanding their origins, processing them, and ultimately releasing them through forgiveness. By doing so, you can authentically communicate positively, free from blame and victimization, and truly find happiness.