The Easy Way Out: Complaining and Negativity
It’s easy to complain, gossip, and criticize others for what they “shoulda, coulda, woulda” done differently. It’s easy to bitch and moan about management, life circumstances, or whatever seems to be going wrong. It’s a common trap to be stuck on the negatives and forget to look for the silver lining (which is always there, even if it’s hard to see).
The point is, we can choose to look at the bad, or decide to look at the good, even if it’s only a little good in a terribly bad situation – it’s all up to us and realize that; that’s power.
Embracing the Silver Lining: A Difficult Path
Embracing the silver lining and finding the positive in challenging situations is easier said than done – it takes practice to get good at it (just like anything else). When everything seems to be going sideways, and you can’t even stand, it’s hard to believe that everything will work out. It’s even more difficult to take the high road, to keep pushing forward daily, and to create the life you want instead of letting life happen to you.
Examples of Taking the High Road
- Instead of complaining about a colleague’s mistake, offer constructive feedback and support to help them improve.
- When faced with a setback or failure, look for the lessons learned and opportunities for growth. Maybe even commit not to doing whatever it was again
- If you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a step back, practice self-care, and refocus on your goals. This is the high road in the purest sense. Just like in the unlucky event of a plan crash, you need to put your oxygen max on before you help someone else, taking the time to refocus on your goals helps give us that oxygen we need to thrive.
The Choice is Yours: Lightness or Heaviness?
How we want to live our lives is a choice. It’s easy to be weighed down by negativity, complaints, and a victim mentality. It’s much harder, but more rewarding, to choose lightness, positivity, and personal responsibility.
Embracing the silver lining, even in the toughest of times, can lead to a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
Are you ready to take the high road and embrace a more positive mindset? Start today by identifying one area of your life where you can shift your perspective and find the silver lining. It can be something grandiose like your life purpose or as menial as how you’re doing your work differently.
Share your commitment in the comments below, and let’s support each other on this journey towards a lighter, more fulfilling life.
Joe DiAndrea 