Why are we always grumpy

Talk Title: “Why Are We Always Grumpy?”

(For a workplace devotional or team message)

Good morning everyone,

Let me start with a simple but honest question:

Why does it feel like we’re always a little grumpy? Like, we wake up tired, walk into work frustrated, and go through the day with this low-key irritation running in the background. And it’s not just one of us—most people are carrying some version of it.

We walk into a meeting and spot the one thing out of place. We leave a great day stuck on the one awkward moment. We expect things to go wrong. We brace for it.

And that becomes our norm: Notice the bad. Miss the good. Complain. Repeat.

But here’s what I’ve been thinking: What if we’ve just trained ourselves to see the worst, and forgotten how to celebrate what’s good?

1. We Default to the Negative

There’s something about human nature—we’re wired to spot danger, problems, threats. That helps us survive, but it doesn’t help us thrive. And in a workplace setting, it turns into constant fault-finding.

We’re quicker to critique than we are to compliment. We notice who’s five minutes late but not who stayed late the night before. We obsess over the one mistake in a project but skip over the ten things that went right.

And here’s the catch: after a while, we don’t even realize we’re doing it. It becomes our lens, our default setting. And that setting starts to wear down teams, relationships, and even our own mindset.

2. Negativity Feels Smart—But It’s Exhausting

Let’s be honest: sometimes we think being negative means we’re being “realistic.” But there’s a difference between being honest and being constantly critical.

Negativity feels sharp, smart, even protective. But in reality? It drains energy. It shuts down creativity. It builds tension. It kills momentum.

Proverbs 17:22 says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” And sometimes the problem isn’t the task, the workload, or the system. Sometimes the spirit in the room is just dry. People feel unseen, unappreciated, and under pressure.

That’s the cost of constant criticism. It makes everything feel heavier than it needs to.

3. There’s Good Happening—We Just Don’t See It

But here’s the thing: there’s always something good happening. We just don’t always look for it.

Philippians 4:8 gives us some advice that’s not just spiritual—it’s practical. It says: "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely… if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

That’s not denial. That’s discipline. It’s not pretending nothing’s wrong. It’s choosing to also acknowledge what’s right. It’s choosing not to let problems blind us to progress.

You want to change a team’s culture? Start noticing wins. Call them out. Celebrate progress—not just perfection.

4. Gratitude Changes Atmospheres

Gratitude doesn’t just feel good—it works. It creates trust. It lowers stress. It makes people feel like their effort matters.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says: "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you..."

It’s not just something we do when life is easy—it’s something we practice when life is not.

Imagine the difference between these two environments:

One where every mistake is pointed out, but no one ever hears “thanks.”

Another where people still get feedback, but they also feel seen, valued, and celebrated.

One drains. One builds.

5. A Simple Challenge for the Week

So here’s the challenge I want to leave with you:

This week, catch yourself when you start to complain. When your mind goes straight to the problem, pause—and ask:

“What’s still good here? What’s going right?”

Then speak it out. Say thank you. Celebrate something. Encourage a coworker. Recognize the effort. Smile on purpose.

You might be surprised at how it shifts not just your attitude—but the whole atmosphere around you.