If you ask the people who are closest to you to choose one adjective that best describes you, would any of them choose the following:
If so, then you are taking yourself way too seriously. It is good to be serious some of the time because it demonstrates that you are conscientious, thoughtful and responsible. However, when we take ourselves too seriously too much of the time, people avoid us. Being around us wears them out because they are constantly on eggshells wondering what might set us off – – what tangent will we pick up and run with this time. This causes our relationships to suffer because being around us becomes burdensome to others.
While we do not want to be the comic relief in every situation and in every conversation, there must be times when we can laugh at ourselves, at our situation and find the irony or humor in what is going on around us. Otherwise, we become bitter as we continue to complain and criticize others as we try to be perfect in every way. It is completely exhausting to be perfect so it is no wonder that people who are too serious are cranky and crabby. So, how do we lighten up? First, we learn to laugh at ourselves and stop hating people who laugh with or at us. Then we begin to change our perspective.
How to change your perspective for the better?
One reason people take themselves, and everything else, too seriously is because their perspective is wrong. They view everything with a negative slant. Instead of being happy that they are the first one in line at the bank, they are angry because they have to wait 10 minutes for the bank to open. Rather than being thrilled that they won a free dinner for two at the best steak restaurant in town, they are disappointed they cannot go to the Italian restaurant.
If you need to lighten up and take things a little less seriously, you may want to adopt a few changes such as these:
Laughter is truly the best medicine. Read a book, watch a movie or tell a joke – bring laughter into your world as often as possible.
Image credit: Alan Cleaver
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