54321…and this is why I read tinybuddah :/ BLAST!

I see no problem with your message, but the way you have phrased these strikes me as unneccesarily hurtful. This stood out in particular: “Works best when you’re desperately trying to prove to the world just how unhappy you believe yourself to be.”

I can’t help but sense an underlying judgement in this: that unhappy people are making themselves so, are faking, are seeking attention. Although a Buddhist perspective could be that all suffering is ultimately self-inflicted, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be kind.

It doesn’t help that you classify these issues as “personality traits” when what you’re describing is behaviour, ie. things that people do, not things that they are.

I understand it’s meant to be humourous, and in our culture humour is often means anger. But I would invite you to ask yourself if this is always so, if this needs to be so, and if people who are indeed suffering would benefit from your list the way you presented it.

You’ll note the other responses state: yes, I do all these things. Not: ah, now I know what to do. The envelope you used to deliver truth is also full of guilt, self-blame and learned helplessness, despite the “better options” you offer. I think this is bad medicine.

I hope my comments are useful. My best wishes for you.

• This reply was modified 10 years, 2 months ago by Will.