How to Deal With Difficult People: The "Fault-Finder"

                                                                      Out of all of the difficult people that we encounter, the "Fault-Finder" can be one of the most frustrating.  This is the chronic complainer, the blamer, the negative thinker who can shoot down any idea or option with a single bullet.

     I am well-acquainted with the "Fault-Finder" because I have been accused of being one myself (an accusation with which I beg to differ, of course).  True, like the "Fault-Finder" I have a tendency to see why something can't happen or won't work more readily than to see why it might...but for a born-pessimist like myself it takes significant effort to change thought patterns like these.  I'm finding it to be worth the effort though.  Why?  Well, I'm becoming a happier person, not to mention a far less annoying one.  (For more on pessimism, optimism and happiness read The Pursuit of Happiness)

     So, now we know that a pessimistic attitude may be behind fault-finding behavior.  But what might this behavior look like?  How do we recognize him among our friends, family or even within ourselves?   (Read more....)