I often write general advice about not letting things upset you, controlling your response to circumstances, and so forth.  For me personally, and I think for most people, it is easier to notice and correct your negative reaction on those occasional “big issues”.  In reality though, it’s not the occasional big issue that makes you unhappy; rather it’s the accumulated wear and tear of all the small things all day every day that grind your mood down.  I struggle with many of these myself.  Our reactions tend to be so automatic we often don’t realize we are allowing ourselves to be negatively affected by them.

No matter what you think of this stuff, it does you absolutely no good to get upset over it.  All that does is make you miserable.  If you do catch yourself in an automatic negative response, take a deep breath and wave goodbye to that which you refuse to let bring you down.  Over time your automatic negative reactions will disappear and the lack of reaction will become your new default response.  Peaceful well-being is a wonderful state and it is yours for the taking.

Please add your suggestions in the comments.  I’m sure I missed a number of good ones.

1. People talking loud on their cell phones in public places.
2. Aggressive sales people or crusaders.
3. Slow old people.
4. The speed or manner in which others are driving.
5. People who complain all the time.
6. People who rush to dart in front of you and steal your parking place or spot in line.
7. Somebody who never admits they to their mistakes or that they might be wrong about something.
8. Mannerisms in others that bother you.
9. People in retail establishments who are more concerned with their social lives behind the counter than providing you with service.
10. General inconsiderate behavior by others; many people seem to think only they exist and could care less about your convenience.
11. Waiting in line for anything.
12. Colleagues or managers who don’t agree with you.
13. People with different political viewpoints.
14. People who say or do things just to yank your chain.
15. Unfair or disrespectful criticism.
16. People who play their bass so loud that feel it in your chest.
17. People who interrupt you.
18. People who always have a better story than the one you just told.
19. Know-it-alls.
20. The size of your to-do list.
21. The cluelessness of teenagers.
22. The mess in your house.
23. The lack of appreciation from your family.
24. People who constantly dump their problems on you.
25. Tardiness.

If you truly learn to stop reacting negatively to these small things, your life will get a whole lot better.  I know that for a fact because they are the kind of things I have been and continue to strive to not let them affect me in any way.  It’s the difference between a wonderful day and a miserable day.

What do YOU think?  Leave a comment and join the conversation.