Haters Hating

It seems that we live in a world where everyone wants to emote about everything all of the time. It's not enough to just dislike something or someone and just keep it to ourselves and go about our lives. Many feel the need to constantly post, verbalize, and/or express anything and everything that they do not like.

Case in point, the new season of Ted Lasso premieres tonight. Many critics and fans are already slamming it, saying it's not as good as the first three seasons. Some are even politicizing it, saying it is "woke," because the storyline centers around Ted coaching a women's team this time around. I am not exactly sure what makes women's sports woke. As someone who has coached collegiate and high school women's soccer teams and worked with professional women soccer players overseas, I can tell you that this is a ridiculously sexist and ignorant mentality.

It's perfectly acceptable not to like something like Ted Lasso. I assume that if you looked hard enough, you could even find some people who dislike puppy dogs, rainbows, ice cream, and babies.

Some critics and journalists sometimes go overboard and get addicted to their venomous takes panning things that many people like. Taking satisfaction in strongly expressing their disdain for something innocuous that others find joy in doesn't make them intelligent or discerning in my opinion. It simply makes them a contrarian and/or a hater.

Don't get me wrong. I am not a proponent of toxic positivity. It's not healthy to like everyone and everything. However, there is no need to rain on others' parade every time the opportunity presents itself.

I'm not naïve. Much of these haters express their dislikes constantly for engagement and clicks. Sadly, their rage bait is profitable.

By all means, you do you. Do what you like. With that said, I challenge you to take a moment and go look at your social media feeds. If you are hating on people, places, and things in the majority of your posts, go take a break. Take a deep breath. Go outside. Touch grass. Then ask yourself this rhetorical question, "What's not wrong?" By doing this, you will see that there is more right in your life than wrong. You'll also realize that there is no need to constantly bitch about everything you don't like. Quit annoying yourself with this nonsense.

No one is asking you to be like Mr. Rogers. Just quit ruminating on what you don't like. Try to focus more on what you actually do like.

There is a lot to be happy about, most notably Ted Lasso season four starting tonight.

Greg Graber, the author of "Slow Your Roll — Mindfulness for Fast Times," is a mental performance and leadership coach. More information about him is on his website: www.greggraber.com.