It is our 11th month of the Happiness Project. This month our focus is: Keep a Contented Heart. Corresponding pages: 258-276. So far this month, we have worked on: Laughing Out Loud, Using Good Manners, and this week we add: Give Positive Reviews. Corresponding reading pages: 268-273.
Gretchen noticed that she wanted to be more enthusiastic towards others and to not be so critical. What was it about wanting to critisize? For one thing, it was fun! It made her feel more sophisticated and intelligent to the other person.
A study showed that people tend to think that someone who criticizes them is smarter than they are.
People can also bring down a group, by deflating a popular opinion. For example, if the group proclaims they all love a restaurant and one person goes against it, they hold the power at bringing the group's mood crashing down.
Gretchen noticed that she enjoyed being with people that were more enthusiastic types, the ones who seem less judgmental,
more vital, more fun!
She wanted to embrace this type of zest. So, she stopped making certain kinds on unnecessarily negative statements. For example,when she and her DH got to get away to a movie in the afternoon. Instead of giving her review of the movie, she instead said, "It was such a teat to go see a movie in the afternoon."
Once she began giving positive reviews, she began to see how she had sucked the energy and cheer from the joyous people in her life.
She even decided to have a Pollyanna week- where she would go through each day without making a negative comment. Of course, right away life began throwing her challenges to this.
This Week's Resolution: Give Positive Reviews.
This Week's Thought: It is easy to be heavy; hard to be light.
Share your thoughts, journey here this week.
Gretchen noticed that she wanted to be more enthusiastic towards others and to not be so critical. What was it about wanting to critisize? For one thing, it was fun! It made her feel more sophisticated and intelligent to the other person.
A study showed that people tend to think that someone who criticizes them is smarter than they are.
People can also bring down a group, by deflating a popular opinion. For example, if the group proclaims they all love a restaurant and one person goes against it, they hold the power at bringing the group's mood crashing down.
Gretchen noticed that she enjoyed being with people that were more enthusiastic types, the ones who seem less judgmental,
more vital, more fun!
She wanted to embrace this type of zest. So, she stopped making certain kinds on unnecessarily negative statements. For example,when she and her DH got to get away to a movie in the afternoon. Instead of giving her review of the movie, she instead said, "It was such a teat to go see a movie in the afternoon."
Once she began giving positive reviews, she began to see how she had sucked the energy and cheer from the joyous people in her life.
She even decided to have a Pollyanna week- where she would go through each day without making a negative comment. Of course, right away life began throwing her challenges to this.
This Week's Resolution: Give Positive Reviews.
This Week's Thought: It is easy to be heavy; hard to be light.
Share your thoughts, journey here this week.
A pollyanna week for me would be torture! But I can try to be more positive - really, I can! I do try not to give negative reviews unless I'm speaking with someone I know very well &/or they ask for a sincere opinion.