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Sunday Musing: Are you a SNIOP?

You see it all the time: Someone aspires to do something better with their lives and that brings out the "experts." The meanest man in town goes to a revival and accepts Christ. The armchair quarterbacks say that "this won't last."

Someone struggling with weight problems announces that they are trying to lose some weight and are asked how many times have they dieted so far? Somebody switches jobs and others predict that this is a decision that they will regret.

We hear these predictions all the time. Some don't listen and do fine. Others make the predictors look like Nostradamus. These folks are SNIOP's or Susceptible to the Negative Influence of Other People.

I don't know why people want to prevent others of higher accomplishments by making negative accomplishments. Usually these comments are made without any suggestions of how to do it better. If the negative predictions are correct then they are around sometimes to offer up other negative comments, such as "I would have told you, but you wouldn't listen."

I wonder how much I've lost over the years by letting the "negatrons" get the best of my ambitions?

Some of the folks I would classify as anti-SNIOPs would be the special folks, the 12 steppers. I have come to admire my recovery blogger friends, as they have not only come public with their struggles, but have shared much of their wisdom with the rest of us. I'm sure that they get much negativity around them, but the fact that they have sponsors and others to lean on helps them in their SNIOP-proofing.

Another group of anti-SNIOPs would be the teachers that come here. The job don't pay a lot in relation to the education that's required for the job, but for the most part, these folks are very dedicated. Two other bloggers and my daughter are special education teachers. They have the daunting task of trying to help students, who have developmental problems, overcome problems caused by others, both adult and children, who speak without thinking.

Let's lift each other up above the negative people.

Comments

J. Moses said…
Hear hear!

Great Sunday Musing, Cliff!
Ms Hen's said…
Special Ed Teachers are the kindest humans I have ever met.
Ms Hen's said…
Yep... others will say this can't be done or don't encourage their friends and family members new idea..

Someone once said it is like crabs in a bucket.. they don't want to lose a fellow crab.. so if one crab tries to climb out another will pull him back DOWN..

Negative energy is bad..

I know that I have let it get to me at times..

Now I'm avoiding negative people that talk that way..

I have God with me and fellow humans like you that say YES.. it can work with some effort and all.

And if it is in God's plan too.
Mike Golch said…
I am so with you on this one.
Ben said…
Yep, we can always do better, and we can always TRY to do better, and I usually do when I am ENCOURAGED positively. We need to build each other up, not tear 'em down! Good thought, WIXY.
Syd said…
Thanks for the post. I appreciate positive comments and positive behavior. But I also know that I don't have to buy into anyone's negativism anymore.
A very good thought provoking post Cliff ... and very positive indeed. Most of my life I have been surrounded by SNIOP's and I am sick and tired of them! Bravo!

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