Trade your inner critic for a powerhouse gratitude habit

Kevin ran the sales floor with a sharp tongue—“That forecast was pathetic,” “Why are you even here?”—until he noticed morale crater whenever he fired off criticism. So he tried an experiment: every morning he listed five things he liked about his team. On Monday it was “I appreciate Sara’s follow-up emails”; Tuesday he wrote, “Thanks for Miguel’s cheerful help at checkout.”

By midweek he felt lighter. When he told Sara, “I appreciate how thorough your follow-up is,” she lit up and offered extra help. Miguel beamed at Kevin’s thanks and started arriving early. Kevin noticed fewer errors and more teamwork. On Friday he realized he’d gone from feeling stressed and combative to feeling motivated and generous.

Psychologists call this the “positivity ratio.” By consciously praising five positives to every negative, you build emotional “muscle,” reducing your default crankiness. Over time, your brain rewires to notice what’s going right first, flipping your inner critic into a genuine cheerleader.

Each morning note five times you felt critical. Immediately flip each one into a real, heartfelt appreciation. Share one praise in person—no matter how small—and watch the mood shift. At week’s end, track your happiness and teamwork. You’ll find positivity spreads faster than complaints. Give it a try tomorrow.