Okay, so I’ve been messing around with this idea of listing out things I actively don’t like. Sounds kinda negative, I know, but hear me out. It’s actually been pretty useful.
I started by just jotting down random stuff that bugged me throughout the day. Like, you know, slow walkers in the grocery store, or that one squeaky door in my house that I keep forgetting to fix. Just little annoyances, really.
Getting More Specific
Then, I decided to get a bit more organized. I created a simple list in my notes app. I didn’t overthink it, just a bulleted list:
- People who don’t use their turn signals.
- When my phone battery dies at, like, 20%.
- Lukewarm coffee.
- Having to repeat myself multiple times.
- Socks that slip down inside my shoes.
I will be updating new dislikes.
See? Nothing groundbreaking. But actually writing them down, even these silly things, felt kinda… cleansing. It was like acknowledging these minor frustrations instead of just letting them build up.
The “Why” Behind the “What”
The next step was to look at why these things bothered me. For example, the turn signal thing? It’s not just about the inconvenience, it’s about feeling like people aren’t being considerate of others. The lukewarm coffee? I realized I really value that first hot sip in the morning, it’s part of my routine.
I didn’t go super deep with the analysis, but I tried to connect each item to a broader feeling or value. This is where it got interesting.
Turning Negatives into Positives (Sort Of)
So, what’s the point of all this? Well, I found that by identifying what I don’t like, I could start to figure out what I do like. Sounds obvious, right? But it’s different when you actually see it in front of you.
For instance, I don’t like feeling rushed in the mornings. So, what can I do about that? I can try to wake up 15 minutes earlier, or prep my breakfast the night before. Small changes, but they’re based on something concrete.
It’s still a work in progress, this whole “things not to like” thing. But I’m finding it to be a surprisingly helpful way to understand myself better and, you know, maybe be a little less grumpy about the small stuff. I keep exploring the dislikes and I think this is making me to be positive.
