Stop Stopping

Do you ever feel uncomfortable when you are surrounded by people who are complaining and seem unhappy all the time? Studies show that having a positive attitude can lead you toward greater happiness. You probably know this is true. Don’t you feel better when you have an upbeat outlook on life?

Now the questions become: How do you stay happy, positive, and stop reacting to the negativity of others? And how can you still be a good listener and at the same time avoid being bombarded by complaints?

“Nothing can bring you happiness but yourself.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

The first thing to understand is that you can never stop doing anything, you can only start doing something else.

So what can you can start doing that will help you stay positive and continue to be a good listener?

You can start learning how to be more self-connected–use your discomfort as a warning that it’s time to turn your attention towards something you enjoy. Then practice the art of empathy–listen under the surface of any complaint for the values hiding within it.

Once you learn these skills and begin practicing them, you’re bound to find more of the happiness you’re looking for.

With Love and a Commitment to a Happier World,

Beth and Neill

Feeling Dissatisfied?

Have you ever thought about all the time people spend grumbling about what they don’t like? Are you tired of hearing yourself and other [tag-tec]people complain[/tag-tec]? What if all the time and energy people spent complaining could be channeled into fixing what it is that they’re dissatisfied about?

[tag-tec]We all have complaints[/tag-tec]. Whenever we’re irritated or frustrated, it often seems like the first course of action is to complain. While it may seem that voicing our complaints is a way to relieve stress, complaining actually distracts us from the cause of our dissatisfaction and prevents us from improving the situation. Over time, [tag-tec]constant complaining [/tag-tec]can create a feeling of hopelessness that keeps us from experiencing the happiness we seek.

“Realize that if you have time to complain about something, then you have the time to do something about it.”
~ Anthony D’Angelo

Feeling unhappy is a signal that something important-something we value-is missing in that situation. The key to finding authentic happiness is learning to dig beneath the surface complaint and discover what you value that’s missing. Then you can decide which actions you can take to do something about it.

Next time you hear yourself complaining–Stop–Identify what’s missing for you in this situation and decide on one action you can take in that moment to experience what you want. Give it a try and let us know what happens.

With love,
Beth and Neill