Complementer or Complainer?

Sometimes it looks to me like we fall into one of two categories: complementers or complainers.



The complainers are people who will find anything and everything about which to complain. Could be the weather, could be the service they're getting (or not getting), could be the spouse, a friend, a situation or a political party. Point is, their complaints are chronic; a kind of low-level continuous moaning of sorts.



That isn't to say there aren't reasons to complain. Sometimes we need to and should complain about such things as bad service, and, with rain five days in a row, a complaint about the weather might even be in order.



But maybe, we're just not getting enough attention or feel we don't have the power we'd like to have. Complaining is one way to get attention and to have some degree of power, even though it's a kind of negative power.



The complementer, on the other hand, searches for the good in people and things. A complementer passes out little rainbows made of thoughtful words, shining sunshine where it doesn't always shine, making people feel good about themselves and their accomplishments.



I've heard it said that most people brighten up a room; some by entering it and some by leaving it.



Bet those who brighten a room by entering it are in the complementer class.



How about you?



When was the last time you gave a compliment?