To grow in mindfulness, it is important to monitor the negative criticisms we direct to, or about, others. Negativity can become a mindset where we only look for, and consequently see, inadequacies in others. Before you realise it, your whole stance towards a person, or a group of people, can become negative – you become blind to their positive characteristics.
Negative criticisms can become contagious as you influence the mindset of the people you are speaking to. People love to hear negative comments about others – it helps to build their own self-image. This is particularly true of people who have low self-esteem.
There is some merit in the saying, “If you can’t say something positive about a person, don’t say anything.” If our communication is positive we can help build up others and create a constructive environment.
Clearly, there are times when you have to exercise discernment and identify a person’s strengths and weaknesses, and in some situations, communicate weaknesses. However, it is important to monitor our negative criticisms to see whether the communication of this “assessment” is desirable or necessary.
As the image for this post indicates, continuous negative criticism of other people sets up a vicious circle that is destructive and difficult to extricate yourself from without awareness of what is happening.
Monitoring our negative comments about others helps us to grow in awareness and mindfulness and gain a better insight into how our communications impact others.
Image Credit: courtesy of johnhain on Pixabay