The easiest way to feel good about yourself is by tearing others down and discouraging them. Unfortunately, the buzz from that doesn’t last too long.
If you’ve been on the internet any amount of time, you’ve seen the people who do this. They leave a discouraging or hateful comment on a blog post or YouTube video. The internet calls them trolls.
They drop a hate bomb, usually anonymously, then walk away. You can almost imagine the smug smile on their face. They put that person in their place. Unfortunately, soon after, they have to return to the job they’re miserable at. Then they have to go home and wonder why they’re living an unfulfilled life. They’ll probably spend a few more hours that day on the internet discouraging some more people. Then the cycle repeats.
Criticism is such a temporary fix to the bad feelings people have about themselves. Being a hater gives them a quick buzz, but it runs out quickly. Most people spend their days criticizing others and can’t figure out why nobody encourages their dreams. They sowed seeds of discouragement, so they’ll reap a harvest of discouragement.
Fortunately, there’s a better way. It doesn’t even take that much more work! It’s through encouraging others.
By encouraging others, you’ll feel better about yourself. But beyond that, you’ll find that job you were miserable doing is actually not so bad. You might even find purpose in it. You’ll have big dreams and you’ll have what it takes to follow them.
It’s so important that we monitor our words. They come back to us. Proverbs says it this way:
The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
Are you investing life in others?