Avoiding Negative Statements

By Juanita Ecker

When South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley took office in January, she announced that her top staffers would receive salaries higher than those holding the same positions during the previous Governor Mark Sanford’s term. She was immediately criticized by her opponents for this move. Yet the interesting thing is that she is actually saving the taxpayers money, spending $71,000 less than what was in the state-set budget. If she is saving the state money, why are people knocking her decision?

After reading this story, I keep asking myself why our culture is so quick to criticize. Why are people so eager to point out what is wrong? Why do we expect perfectionism from everyone when we can’t possibly achieve it ourselves? It feels like everyone—politicians, celebrities, even our co-workers—are under a microscope, with every decision being analyzed to death.

I challenge you in this blog to see if you can go one whole day without criticizing someone, pointing out what is wrong, or expressing a negative opinion. Are you willing to give it a try?  Here’s the kicker: If you catch yourself getting negative, you have to start fresh all over the next day!

Here are a few tips on avoiding common, crankiness-inducing situations:

You go to a restaurant and the wait seems to be endless. Rather than getting snippy with the hostess, check in with a smile on your face. Say, “I just wanted to see how our table was coming along. Do you have a time estimate?” If they say it will be a while yet, avoid the urge to angrily point out how long you’ve been waiting. Instead, counter with, “I see. Would it help if we moved to this section? Would you recommend getting some appetizers at the bar?” In other words, try to come up with a solution, not another complaint.