The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson. Short summary

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The piece talks about the meaninglessness of constant positivity, which does not benefit most people. Life’s meaning is given by life’s difficulties, which contribute to personal growth.

1 minute

According to the writer, the culture of meaningless positivity and the self-development industry is practically useless in reality. Using personal examples, the author proves that overcoming life’s challenges gives life more meaning. This approach to life makes more sense than the endless search for happiness.

Focusing on the positive serves as a constant reminder of what one has failed to become and what one lacks. If you keep dreaming about something, then your subconscious mind becomes fixated with the idea that it’s impossible to achieve what you want. You can devote your whole life to the pursuit of a mirage of happiness, while the key to a good life is to care less.

Thanks to consumer culture, a generation of people has grown up who view negative experiences (fear, guilt, or anxiety) as abnormal. We should not dwell on this issue; we must accept that everything in the world is messed up and it is not abnormal, as it always has been and always will be.