6 Counter-Intuitive Life Lessons Explained.

While on Pinterest (it's the best), I came across an image titled "Counter-Intuitive Life Lessons That Are Full of Wisdom." They are all true and I wanted to expand on them a bit.

1. The more you try to impress someone, the less they will like you.

We all know that one person who always tries to show off and tell you about how great they are. Heck, I've fallen victim to doing this time and time again; we all have. When we talk about ourselves and think we're talking ourselves up, it can come across as being insecure. It looks (and maybe feels) like you need to prove yourself to others which demonstrates a lack of self-respect and self-love. It's difficult for others to respect and love you if you don't feel the same about yourself. Soooo instead of trying to impress someone, just be yourself and love who you are. Those that are meant to be in your life will gravitate toward you without you even having to try.

2. The easiest way to get into a relationship is to be fine alone.

If you're happy being alone, it means you're comfortable with who you are. You have a full life and don't notice the absence or lack-of someone else because you're just too busy being happy and living. You're not seeking out validation or love from other people because you have so much from your friends, family and self. This may not be universal but I've found that most people in committed relationships say they met their significant other when they weren't even looking. It's because you're putting out positive self-loving energy and attracting like-minded individuals. I'm not saying that being in a relationship can't bring you even more happiness, but you shouldn't depend on that other person to be the main source of your happiness. That leads to unhealthy codependency. . . I like to think of it metaphorically. I want my cup of tea to be filled by me. My source of happiness and joy is filled with delicious tea that I warmed up and poured all on my own. I used my teapot, my water, my stove, etc. But then sometimes you run into some extra creamer or cinnamon sticks that can enhance your already delicious tea. And it's okay to add them! But make sure your cup of tea is full, otherwise the other flavors overpower the taste of your originally brewed tea.

3. The more you learn, the less you know.

Remember when people thought the world was flat? We eventually learned it was round and concluded that the sun revolved around the Earth. We've come a long way in our discoveries but it's still crazy how much we don't know. We don't know the size of the universe, what other planet lifeforms are like or what the future holds. We have some really well-supported theories based on scientific evidence but there is still so much unknown to humankind. If you continue to challenge yourself to learn, it keeps life exciting. There's always something new to explore, do or learn and it can keep life interesting. Don't settle for your comfort zone and live a boring life, figure out where your passion lies and go on a quest to learn as much as possible.

4. The more you admit your faults and shortcomings, the more people will like you.

People like people they can connect with - connectivity is a basic human desire. We all have our flaws that we complain about or try to bury. We all want to put our best foot forward and be accepted but in order to do that you need to be who you are - ALL of you. You need to be whole. If you don't embrace the good AND the bad you're not whole, you're not being your authentic self. You're trying to shove half of you in a closet, and that doesn't work very well. You can come across as dishonest, insecure or intimidating. However, if you embrace all of you (faults included), you're more relatable, approachable and likeable. To expand on this topic, check out Debbie Ford's book: The Dark Side of The Light Chasers.

5. If you strongly dislike a trait in someone else or are critical of something, you're probably that way yourself.

This is also known as projecting - a psychological defense mechanism. If you ever dislike someone else, it's most likely because they're demonstrating a trait that you don't like about yourself. Sometimes the responsibility of owning that can be too heavy a burden to bear, so we project the things we don't like about ourselves onto other people. Blaming our unhappiness on others instead of taking responsibility. It's an unconscious emotional deflection and thus you don't like the other person because you don't like seeing that dreaded characteristic displayed in front of you - subconsciously reminding you that you're this way too. This can be a complex idea, if you're new to it. Read more details here.

6. The only constant is change.

This is the most true statement you'll ever hear. Change is always happening and you'll notice the happiest people are those that adapt to the change and make the most of it. A semi-menial example of this is your grandparents. Most Baby Boomers weren't too keen on technology. They didn't know how to use it and those who didn't learn still find themselves frustrated when something doesn't work the way they expect it to. Change always happens, new jobs, shifts in relationships, different priorities, new TV shows, etc. Change will always occur - good or bad. You just have to embrace it and make the most of it in order to get the most out of life.

Bottom line: happiness stems from loving yourself - I can't say that enough. If you're struggling to figure out how to do that, find a coach that can help you, read some books, try new things. You've got to learn to roll with the punches of living A Fickle Life in order to get the most out of your time on this earth.