"Yeah, but now we have to move - UGH."
* * *
"Those shoes are super cute."
"Yeah, but SHE always looks more put together than I do."
* * *
"You're really talented."
"Yeah, but it's still not paying the bills."
* * *
 |
You are not alone! In fact, it's an epidemic! YBS has become so widespread, it's unbelievable. And it's been able to spread because most of those who are infected don't even realize that they are carriers. This disease is rampant, contagious, and may even be genetic.
I'm here to tell you that I have a long-time, serious case of YBS. For years, it went un-diagnosed. But now, I'm aware that I have this condition, and I want to reach out to my fellow YBSers.
As with most diseases, diagnosis is the first step in a long process of treatment and recovery.
As with most diseases, diagnosis is the first step in a long process of treatment and recovery.
Signs That You May Have YBS
- Do you constantly compare yourself to others?
- Are you chronically incapable of accepting a compliment?
- Do you have trouble recalling the last time you felt satisfied?
- Do you wish excuses were a cash crop, so you could cash in?
- Have you ever obsessively reminded yourself to count your blessings, take on an attitude of gratitude, stop looking a gift horse in the mouth, etc,* because you knew, deep down, you were yeah-butting yourself?
- Have you ever realized you were yeah-butting someone else?
- When is the last time you had a bowel movement? -- oops, sorry, wrong medical query.
If you answered yes to any of the questions above, you probably have YBS.
Fear not! There is hope!
You don't need a crazy fad diet or a pricey guru. You don't even have to swallow a pill. Just swallow your words, and chew on this: let something good be good.
The single biggest risk factor for developing YBS is a predisposition to qualify everything - as in "the new house is going to be awesome, but moving is such a freaking pain." Let the new house be awesome. Moving is a freaking pain, of course, and YBS is sometimes misdiagnosed for its nontoxic syndrome, HDR (Healthy Dose of Reality)... but if you're so focused on the curse that you can't see the blessing, you need to address your YBS.
So even if you can't quit superfluous caveats cold turkey, at the very least, steer clear of 'em when it comes to the three big C's of YBS: comparisons, compliments, and casual conversation. Try to avoid an excuse that isn't, in fact, totally legitimate. And remind yourself that skirting compliments *does* make your "yeah, but" look huge.
Together, we can beat this disease!
*Beware of self-medicating with cliches. It's a steep, sharp, slippery slope from one-a-day to an addiction that leads to you clogging your friends' social media pages with awful, grammar-savaged images. Trust me - no one will be inspired, and your closest friends will stage an intervention. (If they really love you.)
Yeah, but moving really IS a freaking pain! AND the house, while lacking in some of the previous abode's curb appeal, is pretty awesome. Even the cats agree. :) Thanks for the astute observations, as usual.
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of us have the tendency to downplay the good stuff, for fear that if we really want it, something will make it go away. It's completely magical thinking, but it's hard to conquer. But now that we're looking for signs and signals, maybe we'll catch it sooner.
ReplyDelete