DSTSS - it's all about choices

49.  Resist the urge to criticize 

I don't get annoyed by much - what's the point if you don't want to sweat the small stuff, BUT, if there is one thing that i find really soul breaking- it's criticism....look at this below it has all these words which even sound negative.  And just like when reading the labels in a food aisle, we are often discouraged from buying items that have a great list of ingredients - meaning that it's probably not good for you, it's the same with criticise, it has so many bad meanings that it couldn't even fit into one entry - they had to use a MORE link.  So i think that may be criticism isn't good.....cause if it was, it would have far less descriptives.

indicate the faults of (someone or something) in a disapproving way.

"the opposition criticized the government's failure to consult adequately"

synonyms:

find fault with, censure, denounce, condemn, arraign, attack,lambaste, pillory, disapprove of, carp at, cavil at, rail against, inveigh against, cast aspersions on, pour scorn on, disparage, denigrate,deprecate, malign, vilify, besmirch, run down, give a bad press to;More

I've been really open sharing some life experiences as i journey through the book and i've had to deal with my fair share of unconstructive hurtful criticism, from a very young age and eventually, i was able to acknowledge that the criticism wasn't about me, but about the person whose only way to make themself feel good, was to make others feel bad by finding fault with everything and i mean everything.  How sad, that it becomes a life choice to use your words to break, rather than build people's spirits.

Many of these earlier experiences paved my way to being who i am today.  someone who i like and someone who wants those around me to feel good as well.

Note to self:  I can't control anything that anyone else does or says, i can only control what i do or say. and what i do and say needs to be about making sure that those i come into contact feel the same or better for having been in my company, not feeling worse.  It's all about choices.