Enjoy the little things... such as?

I'm not sure this is the proper place for this, I'm still learning this sight's ins and outs so if this is in the wrong spot I apologize and accept being reported.
An issue that has recently been cropping up more and more in my life is the fact that I'm not enjoying anything any more. I believe it is because I am bad at everything and thus don't take pleasure in what I do because everyone else does it better. I used to like writing but now I can't do it any more because everything I put to paper is flawed, hackneyed, and uninspired. I can't play games any more (board or video) because I always lose due to my own incompotence, and it's no fun always losing (and I don't like playing things you can't lose because what's the point then?). I used to ride my bike more frequently for fun whereas now it's just for transportation because I'm fat (though not obese yet) and sweat a lot, making me look foolish. Etc. etc. so on and so forth.
More and more I've found myself just listening to music and watching classic movies (most recently I started the dollars trilogy) but at that point I'm just passively absorbing other people's work and not doing anything myself, which just makes me a lazy bystander which I get enough of in day to day life.
I... just now realized this is a rant and not a question... uh... thoughts?

Loss of enjoyment can be a sign of depression, so can lethargy. I listen to music very loud and find it helps energise me - I used to use wine for the same purpose but the music is more healthy especially as I bop away (if no one is watching).

It's important that you try and enjoy yourself once in a while, or every week perhaps! Live in the moment, don't focus on past events, look forward to things in life, make plans and so on. Life is just too damn short in my opinion, make the most out of it while you still can!

Cheers

I understand not enjoying things you used to. I think it comes when depression sets in. The lack of energy & lack of interest can get out of hand and affect major parts of your life. Perhaps seeing a T would help.

When is a deep depression I have to keep the goals really small. hey i brushed my teeth today....way to go. i actually checked my email and opened the mail......way to go. taking a shower....well that deserves a party.

Others have mentioned lack of interest and motivation as signs of depression. That was my first thought too.

What about allowing yourself to enjoy little things like a pretty sunset (or sunrise), admire a painting or flower, that sort of thing?

I'm no expert on the subject but, as some others above have already mentioned and being a sufferer of it myself, I too might venture to guess that depression is at play here. Maybe now would be a good time to see your family doctor and/or a therapist in hopes of finding an answer (along with, hopefully, a solution). It's common to lack enjoyment in certain things from time-to-time but not "the norm" to lack enjoyment in anything and everything on a regular basis. Sorry to hear you are feeling this way, I wish I could offer more than just my few words.

All the best to you!

I appreciate the time and effort all of you have put into reading, thinking about, and responding to my inquiry, however I may disagree with your consensus. From what I've read depression robs you of drive because it makes you question the point of doing things. I see the point in why people as a whole would choose to do certain things. My problem is that what I do is of inferior quality to what other people do, so I don't want to add yet another failure to the mountain thus I have difficulty doing anything active as opposed to passive. All I do is fail. All I ever do is fail. When I try I fail. When I don't try I fail. I can't have fun not because I fail to see the point but because I fail full stop.

Try to not compare your abilities to other people Its like comparing apples and oranges. Depression may play a part but also it can be low self esteem causing the problems too.

The only thing I'm able to enjoy is when I make my best friend or my sister smile. This means that I go shopping just for them, and I'll spend hours picking out one gift or another (or contemplating which bar of chocolate I'll bring my sister this time).

The downside is that I spend all my pocket money on other people.

But I feel so guilty all the time and when I give my sister or best friend a gift and they smile, so I've made them smile!!, I feel less guilty for a few seconds and that's kind of great.

Sounds like you're lacking challenge in your life so everything starts becoming about success and not enjoying activities on their own merits. You need something with multiple benefits and which requires long term effort and persistence. Like learning a new sport or a new language. Something that you can't be good at right away but will help build up your self esteem with every little accomplishment. Failing that you can always consider tasks which are not solely about yourself and require thinking about others; taking care of a pet, voluntary work, looking after a relative. Just something that will remind you that you're not all important and that there are others worse off and in need of assistance. I think a lot of peace comes through helping others. It's a very good distraction in the least.

I do this too..... I avoid watching movies that I think will make me cry, I've virtually stopped reading altogether and it's always been a great passion in my life. I've stopped hiking, stopped running, stopped exercising in any way. And pulled back from a lot of friends. It's like I don't want to feel any pleasure from the things I enjoy. I'm trying to restart. Making myself do things even if I don't feel like it. It's quite a challenge.

I'm sorry, but that's not how my brain works. I can't pick something up that I know I won't be good at, because I know I won't be good at it. Am I clear or is that confusing?
I'm not good with other people any more. I used to be alright when I wasn't acting like a total weirdo but recently I've subconviously avoided other people. With full sincerity I'd like to help them but they are always judging me, which makes me steer away from them. The only people I get along well with were my close friends (even though they judge me) for reasons unknown to me, my cousins because they are (sorry) kind of dumb and by comparison think I'm smart and witty despite my obvious idiocy, and my little brother because he looks up to me (again, for unknown reasons).

I'm not sure how this could be true otherwise how would you function at all? We can't be good at everything in life, to suggest otherwise is self defeating. Maybe that's your problem. Do you think maybe you don't really want to move on? I mean you may not be thrilled with life as it is right now but if you don't have much responsibility or urgent need to do better i can see why change might not feel essential. I wonder how you expect us to reply to your thoughts - if nothing can be done about your current situation because you can't fail at anything, that doesn't really leave you with any options but to continue with life as it is now (presuming you can't fail at therapy).

[QUOTE=ifst5;4045748]I'm not sure how this could be true otherwise how would you function at all? We can't be good at everything in life, to suggest otherwise is self defeating. Maybe that's your problem. Do you think maybe you don't really want to move on? I mean you may not be thrilled with life as it is right now but if you don't have much responsibility or urgent need to do better i can see why change might not feel essential. I wonder how you expect us to reply to your thoughts - if nothing can be done about your current situation because you can't fail at anything, that doesn't really leave you with any options but to continue with life as it is now (presuming you can't fail at therapy).[/]

I suppose the best way to describe it is that I don't want to be good at everything, I want to be good at something, and currently I'm good at nothing. The problem I have is that I don't feel I can do something about sucking at everything because then people would quickly see that I'm worth nothing, because I'm good at nothing. I realize that I've put my self into a catch 22 scenario, and for that I apologize, but I guess that's why I'm here, because I was stupid enough to put myself in this box and now I'm too stupid to take myself out of said box.
Also, I don't function, that's why I'm here.

[QUOTE=anothercliché;4035886]I appreciate the time and effort all of you have put into reading, thinking about, and responding to my inquiry, however I may disagree with your consensus. From what I've read depression robs you of drive because it makes you question the point of doing things. I see the point in why people as a whole would choose to do certain things. My problem is that what I do is of inferior quality to what other people do, so I don't want to add yet another failure to the mountain thus I have difficulty doing anything active as opposed to passive. All I do is fail. All I ever do is fail. When I try I fail. When I don't try I fail. I can't have fun not because I fail to see the point but because I fail full stop.[/QUOTE

If you give up without trying, how do you hope to overcome this? You don't have to be perfect at everything you do. And everybody fails at things. Success usually includes a number of failures along the way. Maybe try looking at things in a new light. Instead of worrying about if you are going to fail and letting that dictate whether or not you do something, just focus on enjoying the process of what you are doing. And if you have trouble enjoying the process at first, keep trying. Being happy takes practice and focus.