Are you the villain in someone’s story? How to know if you’re a killjoy

Every good story has a villain, but no one raves about how much they love and desire more than anything to be like said villain.  

Ever wondered if you are one, though?  I mean, we’re all in someone’s story, so how would you know if you’re a total killjoy and will mercilessly slaughter someone’s joy and happiness?

It’s pretty easy to figure it out. Here’s how:

If you…

1.       Mock people having a good time together because you think what they’re doing is stupid

2.       Complain

3.       Diminish someone’s first experience with something because you’ve done it a hundred times

4.       Make negative comments about what others wear, eat, listen to, watch, like, or where they shop and spend time.

5.       Are easily bored and dissatisfied.

…you could be a killjoy.

Alternately, if none of the above describe you, then congratulations—you’re a great supporting character, and we all know that sometimes, supporting characters become beloved heroes.

But. What if you discover with horrid clarity that you’re, you know…the bad guy/girl/monster/force?

That’s also an easy problem to solve. Let’s do just the opposite of the list above:

1.       Be happy when others are happy and be happy for their happiness.

2.       Look for the positive angle in all situations. It’s there. Just look a little harder.

3.       Be excited about and interested in someone else’s first experience with something you’ve already done, mastered, or achieved.  You were once where they are. Let them enjoy the moment and join in the excitement.

4.       Allow people to do what they enjoy and love. After all, there’s probably a villain out there that thinks everything you do is stupid or weird, so give others room to be who they are. No one gave you the final say in all things acceptable.

5.       Find purpose in everything. Even better, find purpose in life. Purpose beats boredom and dissatisfaction every time, guaranteed.

 See? That just feels better. Trade in the dark mask of villainy for the good times and smiles ahead.  Turns out, real life stories don’t need villains anyway. We’ll save them for fiction.