Trigger

I try not to get angry or frustrated very often. It doesn't ever feel that good for me and I'm sure it's not nice for anyone else. Who looks back and says, oh, remember that time I was so angry at so and so, yeah, that was great. 

I have been thinking more about what puts me into those negative spaces to try and figure out how I can be aware enough to more notice the emotion than to really get stuck in them. 

So I've determined four actions/behaviors that I'm trying to be conscious of that can make me go limbic. 

1. Not being nice. Trying to bring another person down is probably the thing that drives me the craziest. I especially don't like when someone tries to dress up meanness as a joke or funny comment. If you don't have something nice to say, say nothing. Period. Saying you were just joking doesn't make it OK. I usually try to have patience though as I find the way other people try to tear someone else down is usually related to something they are insecure about. 
2. Assuming the worst about other people and their actions.  Until you've talked through something with another person, it's best to withhold judgement. Hold lots of space for empathy and curiosity with others.
3. Acting like we're all on the same side. From our marriages, to our friendships, to our workplaces, to society as a whole, we are all on the same team. We all want to be happy and for things to be better for ourselves and those around us. There is no us and them. Stop perpetuating stories that make those kinds of divides. You'll be surprised when you start paying attention how much of it is just a story we've been telling ourselves, which means it's totally in our power to change it.  
4. Not taking action. This one is related to all three of the above somehow. We all have an infinite amount of power to make the world a better place.  Next time you want to complain, make an excuse or criticize, try to think of if there's even one small thing you can do to make the situation better. Even consciously stopping putting negativity out into the world is a simple and powerful first step.