Monday, May 05, 2014

Criticize, Complain or Appreciate?

Affirmations:
I appreciate all things for the lessons they offer me.
I fully appreciate all the gifts in my life.
Love grows when I share the Good I know.
Life works best when I give my blessings to one and all.

Do you start your conversation with an improvement or appreciation?
Do you share with others your topic or listen for theirs?
Do you open your mind to a criticism or what you value?
Do you have the habit of suggesting a better way or giving positive feedback?

Establishing a safe relationship requires that you look for the positive.
Reaching out to another for connection demonstrates what you value.
Extending your best to another is sharing with them what you love and enjoy.
Clearing the obstacles to be trusted and listen to requires you share you care.

What would it take for you to always with everyone, seek out the gift?
What could you say that makes the difference in someone’s life?
How can you interact with the people in your life that inspires their life?
How can you be the one in everyone’s life that they count on to bless theirs?

Can you and I be the one to begin a complementary conversation?
Can we remember love and gratitude is what really matters?
Can we be the consistent loving reminder in someone’s life?
Can we use our own positive psychology in a way that changes our world?

Let’s start with ourselves.
Do we pick on ourselves or appreciate ourselves?
Do we look for the flaws or look for the gifts?
Do we complain about our lives or validate our lives?

Criticism and complaining is learned from the world in which we grew up.
Mistakes were emphasized and bad behavior was punished.
Often kids were only noticed or given attention when they were complaining or demanding.
We learn from were we received the most attention, both positive and negative.

Observe your relationships and communication.
Do you leave people feeling better, happier and more inspired?
Do your relationships feel like you do all the talking?
Are you the one who points out the errors and the difficulties?
Do you always have a suggestion for others to do better?

While we may feel we are being helpful and loving, the other may feel belittled and criticized.
While we may want to connect and validate another, they may feel less than and devalued.
When we try to help, they may get the message “You are never good enough.”
When we always focus on what you want better or more, the other may never receive the complement.

Clarify your underlying intention.
What do you really want to say?
What is the gift you want to give?
How do you seek to participate or contribute?

Loving us all as we learn to love one another in all ways.
Betty Lue