“Watch out for the joy-stealers: gossip, criticism, complaining, faultfinding, and a negative, judgmental attitude.” – Joyce Meyer
Here’s a question you’ve probably never asked yourself before – are you a joy-stealer?
Are you that person that people eventually stop confiding in because of your uncanny ability to deflate every ounce of happiness from a situation (many times undeservingly)?
Regardless of one’s situation or circumstance, we all possess opinions about the way in which others conduct their lives. It’s human nature I suppose to be critical of others based heavily on their contradictions of our own lives.
While the majority of us have enough self-control (and etiquette for that matter) to simply contain our opinions, others have somehow managed to convince themselves that they are the authorities on what is and is not appropriate when it comes to life, love and everything in between.
Enter in the joy-stealers of the world. And believe me, they’ll never admit to that title.
Perhaps what’s most interesting about these individuals is how often they forget that we’ve got a few opinions of our own regarding how they conduct THEIR lives. While they often believe their impervious to the criticisms of others, they’ve living in fantasy land. We just choose not to waste our valuable time here on this earth passing judgment on something that ultimately is none of our business.
I’ve learned over time that the joy-stealers of the world are some of the most insecure and jealous individuals on the planet. Paulo Coelho writes in The Alchemist, “If someone isn’t what others want them to be, the others become angry. Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.”
Sounds like the definitive definition of joy-stealers to me!
If those closest to you come asking for your honest opinion, by all means provide them with thoughtful and insightful wisdom to aid in the decision making process.
But if someone is engaging in a conversation with you and the only thing you have to offer is criticism, faultfinding and a negative, judgmental attitude consider yourself a joy-stealer.
Sean Covey writes in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, “Isn’t it kind of silly to think that tearing someone else down builds you up?”