{"id":27478,"date":"2021-02-28T10:02:41","date_gmt":"2021-02-28T14:02:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=27478"},"modified":"2021-03-01T12:35:03","modified_gmt":"2021-03-01T16:35:03","slug":"lie-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/lie-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Girl, Wash Your Face Lie 1: Your Happiness Isn\u2019t on You"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Do you want to know more about Girl, Wash Your Face <\/em>Lie 1? Do you want to know how to make your own happiness?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Girl, Wash Your Face <\/em>by Rachel Hollis outlines the 20 lies we tell ourselves and how to overcome them. Lie 1 is believing that something else will make you happy. However, you can\u2019t blame your unhappiness on where you live, how you look, or any other perceived flaws in your life. If you are unhappy, it\u2019s on you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading to learn more about lie 1 and how you can make your own happiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Lie 1: Outside Factors Are Making Me Unhappy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

From the outside, other people\u2019s lives can look perfect — home, children, jobs, relationships, looks. This can make you feel like a failure — you\u2019re just not measuring up. Lie 1: You can\u2019t be happy if you feel like a failure. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reality is, we\u2019re all falling short. Even people who look like they have it all together have their own struggles. Rachel Hollis is a lifestyle blogger married to a successful executive (this book was published prior to their divorce). His job means she gets to attend the Oscars in glamorous gowns. Her job means she\u2019s often surrounded by images of home-life perfection. She makes a living telling other women how to make their lives better, advising them on workouts, skin care, cooking and parenting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though her life might appear perfect, she wants women to know the truth: she\u2019s falling short every day. <\/strong>She\u2019s not a perfect wife, mother, friend, boss or Christian. She struggles in life and fails repeatedly. Though life isn\u2019t perfect, she doesn\u2019t let setbacks deter her and steal her happiness. <\/strong>Her goal is to be a better version of herself every day; she knows she can try again tomorrow if she falls short.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If You\u2019re Unhappy, It\u2019s on You<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Society puts enormous pressure on women to look, act, speak and parent perfectly. Sometimes it\u2019s too much pressure and women stop trying entirely. But giving up on a joyful life is a waste. Life is meant to be lived, not just survived. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are unhappy, it\u2019s on you. <\/strong>You<\/em><\/strong> are responsible for your life and your happiness.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can\u2019t blame your unhappiness on where you live, how you look, or any other perceived flaws in your life. Unhappiness is a sense of discontent, frustration and anger that makes us want to \u201chide from our lives\u201d instead of embracing our life. (Caveat: Unhappiness is not to be confused with depression or true sadness, which must be felt, processed and treated.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Life doesn\u2019t have to be perfect for you to be happy. <\/strong>Hollis\u2019s life is imperfect, yet she has learned to overcome lie 1 and be happy. She explains how she claimed a happy life despite her struggles. Her childhood, growing up in a chaotic home with anger and violence, was traumatic. Worst of all, her brother committed suicide when she was 14. She came to the realization that if she wanted a better life than the one she was born into, she\u2019d have to create it herself. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But she learned that changing your circumstances doesn\u2019t change who you are<\/a> inside.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She thought getting out of her home situation would allow her to be happy, so she graduated high school early and moved from a small town to Los Angeles. But changing your geography doesn\u2019t change who you are inside. Your surroundings don\u2019t create your happiness; it has to come from within you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lie 1 lesson: Choose to be happy, grateful and fulfilled every single day.<\/strong> When you choose to enjoy your life, it doesn\u2019t matter where you are, you\u2019ll still be happy. It doesn\u2019t matter what negativity you face. It doesn\u2019t matter where you are, it\u2019s who you are.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tips on Choosing Happiness<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re learning to overcome lie 1 and make your own happiness, try these strategies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n