Sometimes we make ourselves unapproachable.
We want people to reach out to us, but we negatively “reward” people who do. Oftentimes we can’t control our bitterness or resentment, or possibly we just don’t realize how we come across to people or don’t realize all the feelings we have pent up inside.
But it can become similar to learning to not ask an older person how they are doing. I am not saying that we shouldn’t ever do this. We should care, and we should be prepared to listen.
But not to every ache and problem and not on and on.
People won’t ask again. They may still care, but they just can’t take the dump truck load of negativity.
I sometimes have to remind myself to dwell on the good things. This is more than therapeutic; it is good biblical theology. Words to direct our lives.
(Philippians 4:8 MSG) Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious–the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.