When your mind gets stuck on worry, self-criticism, self-hatred, or an intolerable future, it’s hard to imagine having a satisfying life. It’s also very easy to blame yourself or assume something is wrong with you.

Our culture is great at showing people how to acquire stuff, but not how to deal with fear or other difficult emotions. If “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” were actually that easy, wouldn’t you just do it?

To make matters worse, when self-help gurus and clickbait articles urge you to choose joy, visualize your dreams, think positive, like yourself, and let go of negative thinking, you’ll probably end up feeling like a failure — which will just make you more anxious!