Breathing Fire

Happy Friday Everyone!!

"I'm going to vent for a minute."  We have all had a conversation start with this statement at least once and for some of us many times.  Merriam-Webster defines vent as: to express(an emotion) usually in a loud or angry manner.  Venting is borderline unprofessional, unproductive, and disruptive behavior.  There is usually nothing positive that comes from venting.  Even though many of us know this, we allow it to occur time and time again.  So the next time a conversation begins with "Can I vent for a second?", we should respond with our own question: "What do you hope to gain from your vent?"  The usual answer is "I want to feel better" or "I just need to get this off my chest."  If the goal is to feel better or release something that is bothering you, there is an evidence-based, scientifically proven method to make this happen that does NOT involve venting.  Rather than venting, try self reflecting.  Self reflection helps you identify your role in your unhappiness or problem, which leads to personal accountability.  This can only happen through self reflection because if the person you are venting to tries to identify your role for you, it results in an argument or conflict.  Personal accountability is the foundation of personal growth.  Personal accountability, according to all the research, is our #1 indicator or influence of personal happiness. We can all make an effort to self reflect before we start a conversation with the "I need to vent for a second." statement.  If it leads to more personal happiness, it is definitely worth the effort.

Happy Friday!