Note: This is topic # 2  from the 10-part series, The Fine Art of Misery.

*On a serious note: Please know that this series is intended to be a spoof, a lighthearted invitation to look at how we sometimes create our own misery. It is by no means meant to be disrespectful or minimizing of many people's true pain, particularly around depression and anxiety.

OK, here's the thing. If you truly aspire to a miserable life, you must begin here. Low self-esteem is at the very core of misery. You must perfect an absolute commitment to self-loathing. You do this by taking advantage of three powerful tools:

• grow up in American culture
  

• create a belief system, complete with attitudes and automatic thoughts, that is devoted to negativity and cynicism (see Topic # 1: Stinking Thinking: The Sweet Smell of Successful Misery).

• stay as far away from spirituality as you can get (organized religion might be just fine - use your judgment on this.

Low Self-Esteem: Your American Culture at Work

If you happen to be raised in the American culture, you enjoy a distinct advantage over others from more tolerant societies. In American culture, we have very narrow parameters for what are considered attractive qualities. The entire popular culture is
set up to program you for low self-esteem. You have to have just the right body type, the right skin color, the right age, the right gender, the right religion, the right sexuality, and have the right type of education. You must have the right values, be raised on the right side of the tracks, by the right parents, and have the right bank balance. Otherwise, "you ain't from 'round these parts" and you are viewed with suspicion just because you are different. So few people can meet these criteria, a miserable low self-esteem is almost guaranteed for most of the U.S. population. And that's even before your dysfunctional parents have had a shot at you!

I'm Not OK, You're Not OK, Nobody's OK, Nothing's OK, Nowhere, Never

It is important to develop a pretty comprehensive belief system that the world is awful
and that you hold the distinction of being the armpit of the world. Again, your core beliefs are essential here. You are innately inferior, you don't matter, you have no purpose, you are a mistake, you have nothing to contribute to the world, you are a loser and you deserve to be all alone as a social outcast. Focus on your specific physical flaws and then your obnoxious personality traits. You are too fat, too thin, too hairy, too wrinkly, too bald, too short. You are not smart enough, not popular enough, not nice enough, not healthy enough, not mature enough, not good...enough.

Mouse Vision, Not Eagle Vision

"A person wrapped up in himself makes a very small package."  Be self-absorbed. Remember that you are all alone