Squawk, Bellyache, Murmur, Oh My!

If you want to be frustrated, feel defeated, and set yourself up to fail, kick start your day off by complaining!

• Do you have a beef with someone?
• Who are you bellyaching over?
• Do you holler, moan, murmur, mutter, and get to the point of a nagging scream inside that you squawk, squeal, whimper, whine....and COMPLAIN?

Seriously, what is all the fuss about?

• The fuss is you could feel that you are not being heard, validated, or something is not going well and isn't justified. And, there may be truthe to that...BUT, but, when you start to complain, it can also lead to a point where you only see the deficiencies and you can become blind to anything else but the negative. 

Complaining...I am sure that there isn't a person that hasn't done it to some extent. But to express dissatisfaction, pain, or resentment, usually tiresomely can really cause you an adverse affect. Not only will it cause you to worry, have unnecessary stress, but you will become an annoying person to others and after being perceived as a chronic complainer, people may not take you seriously.

Think about it, those that complain are "marked"...they are the ones that people will not want to be around, associated or will make a point to avoid. Like gossip, complaining is something that "will get on you" if you stay around long enough to listen.

So, if you want If you don't want to be frustrated, feel like you can conquer anything, and set yourself up to succeed, kick start your day off by looking at the positive, avoiding whimpering, whining, and declare the good!

Mean words can SCAR...

Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words can scar for a lifetime!

• Everything you speak, shouldn't be spoken and always think before you speak.

 Your words have power and so do mine!

• Our words have power to bless and power to curse.
• Our words have power to build someone up or to break a person down.

 Never should I or anyone tell someone they:

• are a spoiled brat
• are a loser
• are a failure
• will never amount to anything.

We should never tell a child, a teen, an adult, or our parents:

• that they are ugly
• they are worthless
• are a fool
• they are stupid

Keep in mind....IN MIND...that just becaus you think it, doesn't mean you should speak it! Allow our words be a blessing and not a curse.

Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words can scar for a lifetime!

Hi, How Are You?

The phone rings and you answer, and the person on the other end greets you saying,

• “Hi, how are you?” 

You might reply with,

• “I’m fine thanks and you?”

You walk into a grocery store and the cashier says,

• “Hi, how are you today?”

You might look up and give a half smile and say,

• “Fine.”

A friend asks you out for lunch and when you arrive to the restaurant, your friend says,

• “Hey, how are you doing?”

You may look at your friend and say,

• “Okay and you?”

It seems that whenever someone asks, “How are you doing?” it is more of an instant response or automatic statement. No matter how a person is doing, it seems just as automatic for them to answer with “Fine”, “Okay” or “Good.

Is the person who is asking really interested in how the other is doing or is it more of a “let’s do lunch” response? Think about it for a moment, when you ask someone how they are, are you ready for their reaction?

This happened to me....I was asked how I was and as I went to answer, the person continued inthe direction they were going and walked away. So, I thought to myself, "I guess they really weren't interested in how I am doing, so they shouldn't ask."

Do you really want to know how they are doing? What if that person really is in need that day, you ask how they are and while you are asking you are thinking about your next sentence and overlook the situation? 

Let’s be sensitive to who we meet each day, and give a greeting with warmth. Whether it is someone you know very well or people you run into during everyday life such as the guy pushing your cart out to the car, the people drying off your vehicle at the car wash, the hostess at a restaurant, or the gas station attendant, let’s show that we are interested in them. You might be surprised at the response you get, or better yet, how you will feel by making someone else smile.

It is amazing what a little interest in another person can do for their self confidence. We all have an opportunity to bring a little sunshine into the lives of every person we meet. Yes, this can happen with just a sincere, “Hi, how is your day going?”

There is power of life and death in your words. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill them. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day.

 "Hi, How Are You?"

Written by Vicki F. Duffy - copywritten material