Do you ever feel like you are standing on the sidewalk, watching the carnival of life pass you by? Psychotherapist Richard O'Connor describes this state as a paradigm where people believe life isn't worth testing fate for, and happiness isn't worth the effort.

People in this situation often settle for less, overwhelmed by worries and a sense of lost opportunities. They live in quiet desperation. But the truth is, happiness and fulfillment require a conscious effort of will. The MriyaRun project offers the psychological scaffolding needed to build that effort.

The causes vary: low expectations in childhood, lack of education, trauma, or simply learned helplessness—the belief that you cannot control your own life. Often, people are afraid of the very idea of taking responsibility for themselves.

To break this cycle, one must first understand their own mind. The Self-Discovery Diary is an excellent starting point to analyze where these limiting beliefs come from.

1. Self-Fulfilling Prophecies Events often adjust to our expectations. Optimists succeed because they expect to and plan for it. They solve problems instead of running from them. To become more solution-oriented, try using the Diary Planner to organize your future.

2. Learned Helplessness Just like the dogs in Martin Seligman’s famous experiment who wouldn't escape electric shocks because they learned they couldn't, humans often submit to bad circumstances. We see people giving up on their health or staying in toxic relationships. Breaking free requires re-establishing your personal perimeter. The Diary of the Mistress of Her Boundaries is designed specifically to help you regain your power and say "no" to what harms you.

Action is the antidote to despair.

This clinical exercise helps alleviate depressive symptoms. Before going to sleep, clear your mind of worries. Think of three good things that happened during the day—small or large. Focus on how these memories make you feel physically. Do you feel warmth? Are you smiling?

This practice rewires your brain to spot the positive. To make this a lasting habit, use the Gratitude Workbook or the Steps of Gratitude Book. These tools help you realize that happiness depends less on status and more on your mindset.

If you struggle to identify your feelings, the Emotional Intelligence workbook will guide you in understanding your emotions and building synergistic relationships. For deep work on making peace with reality, consider the Acceptance Diary.