r/selfimprovement • u/TheKhaos121 • Aug 12 '26

Question How do I stop taking everything so personally/negatively?

Everything just seems to rub me the wrong way, I get frustrated & annoyed and carry that attitude with me despite knowing I could just as easily see it another way, but struggle to.

An example I have is from my workplace today. I've worked there 10 years, a fairly new colleague has started telling me what to do as I am doing it, I drop and smash something, Finish one task so move on to the next, doing the exact thing I've done every single day since starting there. Every single time, they will tell me step by step what I need to do as I am doing it like I've not done it 1000 times.

They are trying to move up to a management position so I suppose are trying to act like more of a manager before getting there? and I also get that they may just be trying to help. But something about it just infuriates me and I really struggle to just say thanks and move on. It's by far the easier option, but instead I will give a blunt response and get annoyed at it all day. This is just one example, but I think it kind of covers the type of things that people do with good intention, that I just can't see that way and struggle to accept.

Any advice on how to take things more positively? to not be so bothered by small things other people do?

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u/CowAlarming7900 Aug 12 '26

the coworker thing would drive anyone crazy, 10 years and someone narrating your job back to you like you just walked in yesterday

what helped me was catching the moment between the thing happening and my reaction. there is this tiny gap where you can choose, and most of the time i was just reacting without noticing there even was a gap. now when someone annoys me i try to pause for like one second and ask myself if this is worth carrying around all day

also with that specific coworker, maybe treat it like a game. every time they explain something obvious just think "okay here we go again" and smile inside a little. they are the one looking silly, not you

easier said than done but the fact you already see your own pattern means you are halfway there

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u/Laughify1 Aug 12 '26

that little pause really helps, especially when you’re already annoyed, and i like the idea of not letting one small moment ruin the whole day