for not being unhappy.

[keannu]

Is this "for" "for the purpose of ~" or "about"? I think 'ifs' means "if our dreams to come true" and 'buts' means "if our fears disappear", but what do they exactly imply?

ex)Football announcer Don Meredith was asked to give advice to a team that was having trouble winning. He told them :"Stop coming up with so many 'ifs' and 'buts', and you will do a lot better" It's easy to think of many 'ifs' and 'buts' for not being unhappy. But if we only wait around for all our fears to disappear and our dreams to come true before we can be happy, then we will never find happiness.

[paul.moss]

The statement basically means"if you don't want to be happy, you can find lots of reasons. So, try to be happy although there are things in life which you're afraid of and which will never disappear."
Part of the phrase has been ellipted:if you wait for your fears to disappear and wait for your dreams to come true....

[keannu]

The statement basically means"if you don't want to be happy, you can find lots of reasons. So, try to be happy although there are things in life which you're afraid of and which will never disappear."
Part of the phrase has been ellipted:if you wait for your fears to disappear and wait for your dreams to come true....

Thanks for your kind explanation, but does "for" mean "about not being unhappy" or "in order not to be unhappy "?

[paul.moss]

Thanks for your kind explanation, but does "for" mean "about not being unhappy" or "in order not to be unhappy "?

"For" in this context is the preposition that goes with "reason": the reason for doing something.Here, the IFs and BUTs are the reasons they can find for not being happy.

[keannu]

"For" in this context is the preposition that goes with "reason": the reason for doing something.Here, the IFs and BUTs are the reasons they can find for not being happy.

It's "for not being unhappy", that's why it sounds weird. "ifs and buts" and the reason seem contradictory to each other. Maybe the writer wrote wrong.

[paul.moss]

It's "for not being unhappy", that's why it sounds weird. "ifs and buts" and the reason seem contradictory to each other. Maybe the writer wrote wrong.

There is nothing condtradictory or weird.some people are naturally optimistic and anything might make them happy; there are also pessimists who would find all sorts of reasons to grumble and feel miserable: Tell them "our team are on top form and we will win" and they would say "but what if the weather breaks and the match is rained off."!