stop being an ass

or at least becoming more aware.

Yesterday I was about to send an email so someone who had been rude to me. The self-deception was that I was going to give them some friendly “advice” (sometimes I believe my own BS).

Really this advice was just a disguise for telling them that they hurt my feelings.

I had two choices – rewrite the note as a statement of how they hurt my feelings, or just get over it. I chose the latter (something I should do more often).

is to go the entire week without being critical. I mindlessly say so much crap about people…and then justify it as “just being honest”. The only criticism that I honestly need to give is something that will instruct, inspire and improve…if I’m not doing that, then I should just shut my yapper (and examine my motives).

it seems that most of the time that I get upset, it’s because I’ve whipped myself into a frenzy over things that I can’t change. Must remind myself to work on those things that I can affect.

I think that says it all…I’ve been making my apologies to people. I know how much I value it when others are considerate enough to apologize to me!

I need to take a moment to understand why I’m not understood, or why I’m not communicating very well.

My simple 3 step approach is:
practice
practice
practice

I’ll start today – which is each because I’m already a bit frustrated.

I have a bad habit of being sarcastic. Every once in a while I suppose it’s witty and entertaining, but for the most part it’s got to be annoying to those around me.

From today, I’m going to stop being a sarcastic ass…

I was kinda grumpy and terse. Then I got blasted by two of my customers. It reminded me how nice it is to deal with pleasant people. The rest of the day I focused on being pleasant, rather than just not being a jerk.

It may sound silly but I think I’ll put up something around me that reminds me to be nice to folks around me each day…or at least try.

since I’ve been more keenly aware of my responses I’ve been much better (better – not perfect). I was an ass last week to someone. he didn’t deserve it. not sure what to do as an act of contrition though (and no I’m not Catholic).

not sure when I can count this as being completed. this is kinda a life long process…and I’m not sure that I’m the best person to judge whether I’ve been an ass.

need to make my things more specific.

that’s been my goal this week. just shut up and listed to what others have to say, and continue listening when other people say things that tweak me…most of the time they’re not trying to be inflammatory.

(this could go under communicate better, and stop caring what others think).