I sometimes catch myself getting tense and angry, and I even see the same bitterness in many people I know. I know I don’t want to be that person, and am sure neither do you. Let’s be honest, you lose the most in the end, and your health will suffer if you are.
I sometimes catch myself getting tense and angry, and I even see the same bitterness in many people I know. I know I don’t want to be that person, and am sure neither do you. Let’s be honest, you lose the most in the end, and your health will suffer if you are.
There are a few enviable traits of people who never get bitter that we can learn from and apply to our own lives so let’s break it down.
I want to welcome you back Adventurers and friends to Adventures Inward Let’s Talk Series! For those who are here for the first time, hello! Welcome! Thank you for joining us!
In this blog we will be talking about how we each can avoid being bitter and angry through life’s challenges and experiences.
So get yourself comfy cozy, open your heart, open your mind and let’s get into it…
I'm going to jump right into the arena with suggestions on ways to be better at avoiding bitterness and anger:
They take accountability
Bitterness is a victim-mentality trait. You can’t see yourself at the mercy of the people and the world around you and be happy and optimistic simultaneously. It takes a concerted effort to take the ownership route and never blame your situation for your pains. Everything you have in your life results from a sequence of choices you make. It’s on you, so quit moaning. You’ll be so much happier when you quit blaming like you quit a bad habit.
They understand that we’re all connected
The most bitter people I know all believe they’re different from others and, because of this, feel isolated. They’ll never be understood because they’re a special ‘unique’ case. What a miserable way to live. You must find a way to see yourself in everyone, regardless of their politics, preferences, or hair color. Human suffering is primarily rooted in the idea that you are cut off from others. Depression is a symptom of the feeling of disconnection. See the spiritual connection we have to everything, and you’ll get younger as you age.
They maintain light-heartedness
A little secret lies partly obscured in your ‘life-hacks’ toolbox. It’s called being light-hearted. Life gets more complicated if we push back against it. No matter what flies at you, you need to develop the skill of being loose and light with it all. No exceptions. This doesn’t necessarily mean being some comedian always coming out with the latest dad jokes. It means acceptance if it can’t be changed. It means smiling in the face of adversity. It means lifting those around you, even if things get real and tough.
They are intolerant of crappy thoughts
People who remain happy and healthy through life aren’t necessarily blessed with comfortable surroundings and few problems in their lives. This is a pipe dream. We all have problems, no matter how ‘privileged’ we appear to be on the outside. What’s important is your relationship with your thoughts. Happy people understand the crippling power of our thoughts. They refuse to believe the ugly ones. They don’t bother with positive affirmations. They simply let thoughts come. And then they let those suckers go. That’s positivity. That’s happiness.
They remain curious
Imagine hitting 40 and seeing your ‘Curiosity Meter’ on empty. Good luck with that. Forty years to go, and you’ve lost your soul. Humans with a sparkle in their eyes maintain a curiosity for life. This isn’t limited to their ‘specialty.’
They keep their childlike curiosity channels open and flowing for all things. They read widely. They ask questions. They watch documentaries. They talk to their perceived enemies. They breathe when triggered instead of immediately leaving or unfollowing. They care about what’s going on around them and what’s causing things to happen the way they do.
Curiosity keeps your mind young and active. Thinking you know it all and being done with learning is a slow death.
They minimize judging
Some people will tell you to stop judging entirely. But judgment is an essential aspect of our humanity and our ability to survive. If I don’t judge, I can’t know if something is a threat, which is a valuable tool in our need to discern. But here’s where it begins to get soul-destroying: we get overly judgmental of things we need to let lie. If it isn’t a threat, and you can’t do anything about it, let go of your stewing judgments because it will only turn you bitter. Judge and either do something about it or let it go quickly.
They see the lesson in all hardship
The most wound-up people I know experience hardships and setbacks in their lives — like everyone else — but they do one thing that ensures they develop increasing stress. They fail to see the lesson. They see the setback as further confirmation of a brutal existence. Good luck with that. You take on the immovable and concrete-like persona of someone who resists hardship, and this will destroy you. You must be fluid. To be like water means finding value in the challenge. Ask: how can I use this? Instant life upgrade.
They have mastered their ego
The big problem I see in many who get older is a build-up of resentment around the ‘injustices’ done to them by others. They have an unhealthy relationship with ‘ego.’ The ego is the idea we hold in our minds of who we think we are. It’s a picture we can hone over the years using memories, thoughts, and experiences. But the astute among us get that it’s just a picture. It’s not a real thing. We lose if we’re out here trying to protect a made-up concept to the point it affects our confidence and joy in life.
The Ego is essential. It can fire us up and drive us to want to create magnificent things. It reminds us to take care of ourselves and look good. But we need to use it carefully. If we take our Ego too seriously and develop the belief that we have a ‘self’ that needs protecting, we will struggle. We create our suffering because we make everything about ourselves. Those who travel light, enjoy their lives, and rarely take things personally have mastered their egos. They know that it is just a tool. It’s not a physical thing. When you can be loose with Ego, you will go far.
My Final Thoughts
Finding ways to better yourself is always at your fingertips but implementing them is up to you. If you want to live a life of contentment, happiness and with less stress, you need to make a commitment to yourself to dedicate yourself to simple changes. Start with these suggestions to discard bitterness and anger you may find within yourself disrupting your positivity.
Remember to be kind to yourself, give yourself grace and always always love yourself.