I've realized something about myself recently: I love to vent. I enjoy it. In fact, I vent about just about anything. There is always something to complain about, and I never miss an opportunity to share my frustrations. If someone asks me how my day was—big mistake—I will spend the next few minutes venting and complaining about my situation. It could be about being broke, about someone saying something or doing something that annoyed me, or any number of grievances I seem to carry with me.

When I approach people, I see them actively trying to avoid me. They see me coming from a distance and instinctively go the other way.

The Realization

It’s a hard...