Is People-Hating Killing Your Spirit?

3 Mindful Ways to Love Your Neighbor

Piper Punches
Aug 27, 2017 · 5 min read
“When you love your neighbor, you love yourself.”- Piper Punches

I hate people.

No, you don’t. Or, maybe you think you do. If you are a member of the group known as “people haters,” may I ask you a question?

Can you hate people and love yourself?

I am not judging. This question comes from a place of love and curiosity because I am a recovering people-hater. Many times I have let the phrase, I hate people, roll off my tongue. It’s usually because I woke up on the wrong side of happy. Other times I may have found myself repeating this mantra because someone cut me off at a stoplight, let a door slam in my face, or even looked at me the wrong way. Saying that I hated people became as natural as breathing.

I made the decision to mindfully stop my people-hating habit because friends and loved ones around me were starting to get a vibe from me that wasn’t the authentic me. They would say things like, “I know you don’t like people, but I’m having this party. . . “ Or, the conversations would be, “I’m having a get together, but I know you don’t like being around people.”

What? I like parties. I like get-togethers. I like to be included. Don’t we all? Was I really emitting such a hateful stench? Even my kids were repeating the hatred mantra. What did I create? I believe in raising beautiful souls who walk with empathy and consideration — not hatred. Yet, I felt that’s exactly what I did. Which made me consider this question:

How much are we really loving ourselves if we’re filled with so much loathing and annoyance for others?

Because, let’s be honest, most often we don’t hate the people. We hate their behaviors, and I’m quite sure that we all have exhibited less than perfect behaviors in the past. So, aren’t we really just hating ourselves?

There’s a trend on the internet (oh, the internet — you challenge me so much!) of articles that talk about hating people. I recently read an article written by a mom who said she hated people because she felt judged for not always doing the right thing. She felt judged by all these “self-help” articles and blogs that made her parenting skills look subpar. I know that some of these articles can trigger feelings of worthlessness, can create an unhealthy environment of comparison, and, if you’re in a bad place, it can send you even deeper into that bad place. It’s easy for us to tell people what they should do and what you would do. It’s just as easy for us to tell ourselves what we should do to live up to other’s standards of worthiness. Those are judgement words that have no place in fostering loving relationships with others or building a loving relationship with yourself.

How do we walk through each day letting annoyances roll off our backs so we can move with love and understanding?

I’m going to share some of the mindful tools I’ve used to help me in my journey to love more and hate less. Maybe you’re already doing these things. These suggestions are merely that — suggestions. Not things you should be doing because we must all come to our truths on our own paths.

Consider Volunteering

Unplug and Recharge

Haters live on the internet. Lovers live in the physical world. I know which place I prefer.

Learn People’s Stories

Learning how to love people instead of dismissing them with a hateful attitude is hard. I feel we’re conditioned to be cynical and distrustful. Even though I believe I’ve come a long way from the hater that I was, I still struggle with seeing things from a perspective of love sometimes. It’s a journey, my friends. Let’s be mindful of our thoughts and create a collective experience of love, healing, and understanding. Until next time. . .

Free Gifts for YOU . . .Choose one or ALL

Hello, my friends! Want a weekly dose of inspiration and loving, positive energy? Sign up here for my mindful warrior newsletter.

Also, check out my free short story, Gracie’s Gift. It’s a quick read about love, forgiveness, and the meaning of legacy.

Piper Punches is an author of fiction and truth, tackling topics on social justice, mindful living, creativity, and the writing life. She is the Amazon bestselling author of The Waiting Room, and the short story, Missing Girl. Piper is also a regular contributor to Thrive Global. Her newest book, 60 Days (Missing Girl Series — Book 1) is currently available on Amazon. For a limited time, readers can sign up to get a free copy of Missing Girl here.

Originally published at http://mindfulnessgreen.com/blogposts/3-mindful-ways-to-stop-people-hating.

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Piper Punches

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Writer of Fiction and Truth | “Live with intention to manifest all good things.”| Join the community: http://eepurl.com/baqFeX.

Thrive Global

More than living. Thriving.

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