How to fail

As a follow-up to a previous post, a list of suggestions for what not to do.

1. Consistently think of life as a to-do list; never let go of the feeling that you've got stuff hanging over you.
2. Always use food, alcohol or drugs to deal with emotional issues.
3. Every time you mess up, remind yourself that this is because you are stupid and will never succeed.
4. Don't take emotional risks in relationships; nobody would like you if they really knew you.
5. Procrastinate.
6. Nobody will thank you for going the extra mile: look after number one first.
7. Be prepared to defend your point of view at all times; assume you know best.
8. Long-term planning rarely comes to fruition; concentrate on short-term gains.
9. Never try to do serious work until you have eliminated distractions.
10. If you think you know the solution, you haven't grasped the size and complexity of the problem

A short manifesto

In the spirit of the previous post, here's an attempt at a list of reminders for myself.

1. Life is what you get to do, not what you've got to do.
2. That thing you're looking for... it's not in the fridge. No, it's not in the cupboard either.
3. Just because you feel stupid doesn't mean you are stupid.
4. The only way to be able to love is to be able to be loved.
5. Your ability or willingness to do a task will not magically increase if you leave it until tomorrow.
6. Work is rarely its own reward; laziness usually is.
7. You don't have a right to be right.
8. The shorter-term your thinking, the more time you will lose in the long term.
9. You will never have no distractions.
10. If you think you've got problems, you should try finding solutions.