Lies You've Been Told About Life
Instead of being right, know what’s right
The best part of childhood is bedtime stories.
And one of my favorites was the story of Columbus and his voyage to discover America.
As a child, I believed that the world was round and that Columbus sailed across the ocean to find a new continent.
But as I got older, I learned this wasn’t the case.
The world is not round, and Columbus didn’t discover America. These are just two of the many harmless lies you’ve been told about the world.
But there’re plenty of other significant lies that lead to frustration, procrastination, fear, and anxiety. And the only way to address those issues is to know their cause — LIES.
Life becomes better when you shift your mindset from being right to know what’s right. It prevents you from being politically correct and living a truthful life.
So, here are seven harmful lies that you should stop believing for a better life.
1. I’ll Be Happy If I Have X
One of the most damaging lies you’re often told is that “you’ll be happy once you have X.” Whether it’s a new car, a bigger house, or a better job.
This lie leads you to believe that happiness is always out of reach. And that happiness resides in accomplishments, goals, comforts, etc.
This mindset never allows you to stay satisfied and be grateful.
You’re always chasing after something new, and you never take the time to cherish the good things in your lives.
If we could learn to accept that happiness is not a destination but a journey, I think we would all be better off.
If the process doesn’t bring joy, the goal won’t either.
2. You Only Use 10% of Your Brain
For years, people have believed that we only use 10% of our brain power.
This belief is likely based on the fact that we don’t know how to use all of our brainpower.
However, this doesn’t mean we only use 10% of our brains.
In reality, we use all of our brainpower, but not all at the same time.
Certain parts of the brain are active during certain activities.
For example, when you’re reading this article, the part of your brain responsible for processing language is active.
However, the part of your brain responsible for controlling your heart rate is not.
This doesn’t mean that you only use 10% of your brain; it just means that different brain parts are active at different times.
3. Practice Makes You Perfect
Practice can help you improve your skills and become more proficient at something.
However, it’s important to remember that nobody is perfect. And can become perfect.
Those who claim to be perfect are liars or God.
We all make mistakes, and no amount of practice will change that.
The more you practice something, the more likely you are to make mistakes. New mistakes.
That’s because as you become more familiar with something, you start to take shortcuts and develop bad habits.
So next time you feel frustrated because you can’t seem to get something right, remember that practice doesn’t make perfect.
It just makes us less imperfect.
4. Grass Is Greener on the Other Side
Have you ever looked at someone else’s life and thought, “Wow, their life is so much better than mine. I wish I had what they have.”
If so, then you’ve fallen victim to the grass is a greener fallacy.
This fallacy is based on the belief that the grass is always greener on the other side. In other words, we believe that other people have it better than us.
But the truth is, everyone has their own problems and challenges.
Just because someone else’s life looks better on the surface doesn’t mean that they don’t have their struggles.
Always remember the grass could be greener — but it could also be thinner, weaker, less scattered, or fragile.
5. You Should Have Your Life Sorted by 30
The pressure to have your life sorted by the time you turn 30 is intense.
For the younger generation in India, the pressure is humongous. They’re expected to have a government job, a house, marriage, one kid at least, etc.
If not, society looks at them with despise. They even ghost you for not following their BS norms.
But here’s the thing: there is no magic age when you’re supposed to have your life sorted.
Some people have their lives sorted by 30, while others don’t have it sorted until they’re much older.
And that’s OK!
Life is unpredictable and often takes unexpected twists and turns.
I changed my career at 32. I am single. I don’t own a house. And I don’t give a damn about what people expect from me.
I sleep peacefully every day and wake up with a smile. That matters.
6. Ignore Your Mental Problems; They’ll Fade Away With Time
No, it won’t get better.
Mental health problems only get worse with time, not better if left untreated.
Trust me; I’ve been there.
I suffered from depression for years before I finally got help. And let me tell you, it was the best thing I ever did.
Getting treatment was hard at first, but it was so worth it in the end.
7. Life Doesn’t Give You Many Choices
Yes, it does!
It’s just that sometimes, the options are hard to make.
For instance, you might have to choose between two equally good options, or you might have to make a choice that will greatly impact your life.
Hard decisions = Long term gain
Easy decisions = Short-term gain
It’s up to you which one to choose.
For a long time, we have been misled about many things in the world.
But now, it’s time to discover the truth and unlearn those faulty mindsets to live a better life.
If you have anything more to add, I would love to hear your thoughts!
If you enjoyed reading this letter, I have two requests: