If we choose to speak disrespectfully of others (and remember we humans are a sensitive bunch); if we elect to gripe or groan about “how things are done” without making a sincere, effective effort to make things better…. then we are sowing negative energy seeds. The comments may seem small, but they spawn emotional reactions in others, license further invalidating remarks, and contribute to toxic energy environments.
This may all happen below the level of conscious awareness, and we may want to disavow responsibility or ridicule the cumulative impact of small inputs, but it still happens.
A lot has to do with the stories we choose to tell ourselves to explain the world/events. We tend to evaluate ourselves based upon our best intentions regardless of how things turned out, however we often judge others from upon fear-based frames; giving ourselves permission to criticize and complain, find fault and judge.
Many times in life I’ve seen outcomes I did not like but when I traced back the process, the inputs were decent, just life happened and the solution was to take what gains occurred, apply lessons learned and repeated BUT you’ve got to be willing do the analysis, not just fume. Also, to the passenger in the rear seat who can’t see what the driver sees, the swerve to avoid the potholes seems like incompetent driving.
As Dale Carnegie said in the depression era classic, How to Win Friends and Influence People, “Any fool can criticize, complain, and condemn… but it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.”
Closing Quotes:
“No individual raindrop will take responsibility, but the flood still happens.” – Proverb
“The energy you create with your emotions has substance. The relational field is palpable and powerful.” – Marcia Reynolds, Coach the Person, Not the Problem
“The way we communicate with others and ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives.” – Tony Robbins, Unlimited Power/Awaken The Giant Within
As always, I share what I most want and need to learn. – Nathan S. Collier