7 Things You Should Stop Doing Today

 

10 things that make you a jerk – that you may not even realize.

 

A couple of weeks ago, I had an argument with one of my friends. I was upset, they were upset. Trust me, it wasn't pretty. In the end, I had to ask myself “Am I the jerk here?”. The answer was a surprising “Yes, yes you are being a jerk”. It got me thinking and I wondered what things we all do that can make us a jerk without even knowing it.

 

When you are trying to live a happier life and get along better with others, there are plenty of things that we all do everyday that really can make us seem a little jerky. In fact, when you are building your social and professional networks, especially if you are looking for a job, being on top of your game is crucial. No one wants to help a jerk.

 

If you don't want to be a jerk, here are 7 things you should stop doing right now. I'm certainly going to try myself.

 

Stop taking advantage of people, just because you can – It's important to have integrity. Don't screw people over, period. Just because you can isn't a good enough reason.

 

Stop making big deals about everything – Accept that people make mistakes and move on. Give forgiveness freely and without limits – to others and yourself as well.

 

Stop giving advice and start listening – Most of the time, people just need someone to listen to them instead of telling them what to do. Listen, ask question and give positive feedback.

 

Stop trying to be everything – Instead of trying to do everything, focus on just one thing. You can't help everyone or give everyone all that they need. Instead, try to just make one person happy at a time.

 

Stop making promises you can't keep – This is a big problem I have. Mainly this happens because I'm overly optimistic about what I can accomplish. Instead, promise less and deliver more.

 

Stop gossiping – Whenever you feel like saying something negative about someone, force yourself to say something positive about them instead. If you overhear your co-workers gossiping about someone, mention the positive thing but don't get sucked in to the negativity.

 

Stop judging others – We are all humans and we all want the same things. We want to be happy, we don't want to suffer. Everyone has their own war going on inside them and you have no way to know what they are going through. This means you aren't qualified to pass judgment on them or on their actions.

 

Do any of these sound familiar to you? Are there other things you think we should all stop doing? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

 

By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for Administrativejobsblog and Nexxt. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.