Getting Grumpy Is Great
When things feel ‘off’ and you realise you are channelling Oscar the Grouch*, it’s time to stop and examine just why, as well as do your best to do something that shakes off the feeling. But only once you’ve got the reason.
We get grumpy as part of life and living, and there are lots of reasons for it. Overwhelm can be a good source of it. Having too much to do (which is really having said yes a few too many times without thinking). Having your values being challenged, or having expectations can be another. Avoiding conflict. Not asking for help…there’s a whole raft of causes, and you’ll have your own recipe for creating the stress or ‘grumpy’ that comes with the situation.
Some people will internalise this stress, getting resentful, needy, passive aggressive, or whiny. Others will verbalise that stress out in the world, out loud and complaining, or silently with glowers. Yet others will passively aggressively grumble in the background, or get a bit snarky. We all have our own recipe.
When we get like this, the FIRST responsibility we have is to get clear on just what it is that has us grumpy. The second responsibility is to take responsibility for the feelings and do something. Not necessarily for the situation, but certainly for the response you are having, especially if it’s not serving you or others. Grumpy does in the first instance serve – IF you figure out what it’s a clue to. In the long run, if you let it go on, it just means you run out of options or people or good humour!
So what do you do?
My invite this week is to notice what’s got you grumpy and celebrate it, because you are about to get a (usually free) upgrade as a human. There’s an invitation in there (somewhere!) to learn humility, to set a boundary, to create an understanding of a new pattern for yourself that works better (or a chance to update a way of doing things).
Stop for long enough to be compassionate to the part of you that’s rebelling, and even ask it – what are you here for/what do you need? Get still enough to listen. You might surprise yourself with the answer that comes (and you might not like it, but it will likely ring as ‘truth’). Do your best to follow the guidance that comes. If you do, that’s you having learned. (And you coming out of grumpy!)
And isn’t that just a wonderful thing?!
If you happen to be one of the younger people reading this, Oscar the Grouch was a character in the children’s show Sesame Street. He made it ok to have all those icky-sticky feelings out loud. He’s def a favourite of mine!