(来源：英语杂志 http://www.EnglishCN.com)

Everyone experiences unhappy times on occasion, but there is a big difference between experiencing a temporary bout of sadness and living a habitually unhappy life. That’s what chronically unhappy people do.

每个人都会时不时地觉得不开心，但是偶然觉得不开心和长期过着悲伤的日子是截然不同的。下面是长期不快乐的人经常做的事情。

Even if you are generally a happy person, take a look at these seven habits to determine if any of them are keeping you from experiencing greater amounts of joy.

即使你过着开心的日子，也请看一下下面的这七个习惯，你也许会发现，如果自己没有其中的某些习惯，可能会更开心！

1. Playing it too safe.

过于保守

Don’t play it so safe that you put yourself in situations where none of your potential options satisfy your calling. Dream your dream, but also realize that you are more than just the dreamer, you are the point of origin for your dream’s reality.

过于保守的话，你的潜能就无法满足你的心愿。要有梦想，但也要意识到你不仅仅是个梦想家，你还是梦想的现实起点。

Your dream is your creative vision for your future life. You must break out of your current comfort zone and become comfortable with the unfamiliar. Start smashing through those emotional barriers. Move forward. Life doesn’t magically give you what you want in your mind; it gives you what you insist upon with your actions.

你的梦想是你未来生活创造性的愿景。你必须走出当前的舒适区，习惯你所不熟悉的内容。打破这些情感障碍，往前走。生活不会奇迹般地给你想要的东西，它会给你你自己用行为坚持下来的东西。

2. Continuous self doubt.

一直自我怀疑

You will inevitably become who you believe yourself to be.

你不可避免地成为你想成为的人。

If you spend enough time saying, “I’m not smart enough, thin enough and rich enough,” it’s likely that you will someday be right. On the contrary, if you have the belief that you are smart enough, thin enough and rich enough now to take the next positive step forward, over time you will likely acquire the capacity to be these very things at your desired level of expectation.

如果你花了足够的时间说，“我不够聪明，不够瘦，不够富有，”很有可能有一天你会发现这是真的。相反，如果你相信自己够聪明，够瘦，够富有，可以继续向前迈出积极的一步，随着时间的推移，你很有可能获得为达到梦想所需要的能力。

3. Obsession with control.

迷恋控制

Sometimes people put too much interest into trying to control every tiny aspect of their lives. Learn to let go, relax and ride the path that life takes you. Try something new, take a chance, but above all, smile and enjoy the scenery.

有时人们过于喜欢控制生活中的细微方面。学着去放手，放松心情，去走前面的路。尝试一些新的事物，冒冒险，但是最重要的，是微笑并欣赏途中的美景。

Freeing yourself from trying to control the insignificant things lets you experience more of the good stuff around you. The greatest joys in life are often the unexpected surprises that arrive when you are flexible and open to life’s twists and turns.

不去纠结微不足道的小事，你会发现身边还有很多好东西。生活中最大的快乐，莫过于当你适应了生活中的曲折时那不期而遇的惊喜。

4. Setting unrealistic expectations.

设定不切实际的目标

You won’t drop two jean sizes overnight. Your relationships won’t grow without your attention. You can’t pay off $25K in debt in a week. Your new business venture won’t instantly turn a profit.

你的牛仔裤尺寸不可能一夜之间就小两号。如果你不努力，你的人际关系也不会有进展。你不可能在一周的时间内付清两万五千美元。你的新事业也不可能立刻盈利。

You’re going to make mistakes every now and then. You will go a day or two when you feel like you’re running in place. You’re going to try new techniques and they’re not always going to work. You’re a human being. You’re going to fail from time to time. But that’s how you grow. Worthwhile goals take work and persistence.

你会时不时地犯错误。经过一两天的时间你才会觉得准备就绪。你准备尝试新的技巧，但是它们并不总是有用。你是一个人，你会时不时地失败。但是只有这样你才能成长。重要的目标需要努力和坚持。

5. A bad attitude.

恶劣的态度

The greatest discovery you will ever make is that you can change your life by simply changing your attitude. Optimism is the most essential human trait, because it allows you to evolve your ideas and improve every situation you encounter.

仅仅通过改变态度就可以改变生活，这也许是你未来的最大发现。乐观是人类最重要的品质，因为它能让你改进你的想法，改善你遇到的每一种情形。

So don’t take things for granted. Be positive and realize how fortunate you are. Not every day will be perfect, but if you pay attention you’ll realize that 99.9% of the time you’re having either a good day or a great day.

所以不要总是觉得理所当然。肯定自己并意识到自己有多么幸运，不是每一天都能完美，但是如果你留意，你会发现99.9%的时候你过得不错或过得很好。