The little things

[tklmyfeet]

So I have a co-worker who is a curmudgeon (complains a lot). He sits right next to me, and he chews gum all day, which is a HUGE pet peeve for me. Something about the sound just gets me. I've tried the noise-canceling headphones, I've tried to tell him to take it easy on the gum. Still very frustrating and no major improvements.

Someone chewing gum or chewing in my ear has always been a pet peeve. Lately I've felt like I get easily frazzled or frustrated by the little things. I want to be resilient, grounded, collected, not easily shaken up. I want to be able to sit next to this guy and not be pulling my hair out. I don't want to be easily annoyed or bothered. Just happy and positive 🙂

I'd like to hear from the positive people. How do you not let the little things bother you? How do you overcome a pet peeve or an insecurity? How do you stay relaxed, grounded, calm, and happy?

Thanks a lot.

Josh

 

[Bothersome]

This may not be the most helpful advice, but I've never been able to overcome pet peeves. The only thing I've ever been able to do is gradually increase my level of tolerance for them. Do little things still get to me? Sure. I've just found some amount of discipline that I didn't have growing up that helps me deal with it.

After that it's just a matter of finding a way to vent all of that building intolerance so that you can make it through the next day.

I'm sure there are plenty of ways to shift your perspective of the world so dynamically that things like that don't bother you, but I've never been overly committed to finding them.

 

[puretickling]

Just concentrate and cast it out your mind. I have college students disrupt class and its annoying but I listen attentively and ask questions and engage in discussion and carry out my normal business. Its hard, but not impossible.

 

[tklmyfeet]

Thanks, I appreciate the responses.

 

[GirlWhoLikes2Laugh]

Yeah, one of my pet peeves is when someone is on their cell phone while I am ringing them up at the supermarket. I've learned to tolerate it but it's still rude. Some people need to learn cell phone etiquette.

 

[tklmyfeet]

It does help to know what other people are experiencing and how they're handling their situations. Thanks a lot.