I ran across this article on Lifehack yesterday, and it resonated with me:

Many of our problems come from within our own minds. They aren’t caused by events, bad luck, or other people. We cause them through our own poor mental habits. Here are 10 habits you should set aside right away to free yourself from the many problems each one will be causing you.

I’ve reproduced the list below, but click over to the article to read more than just the summary:

1. Stop jumping to conclusions.
2. Don’t dramatize.
3. Don’t invent rules.
4. Avoid stereotyping or labeling people or situations.
5. Quit being a perfectionist.
6. Don’t over-generalize.
7. Don’t take things so personally.
8. Don’t assume your emotions are trustworthy.
9. Don’t let life get you down. Keep practicing being optimistic.
10. Don’t hang on to the past. This is my most important suggestion of all: let go and move on.

I have to hand it to the author — most people who I have seen unhappy have tended to suffer from one or more of the above afflictions, particularly #10. I’m doing pretty well here, but I know I need to be less of a perfectionist sometimes. My job has taught me about the notion of “as perfect as possible under the circumstances”, and I think I’ll roll with that in my personal life