This is hidden brain.
I'm Shankar Vedantam.
We all know people who perpetually see the glass as half empty.
They can find something wrong in every situation.
The potatoes are hard.
The beef is tough.
Other people have it easy.
Other places are nicer.
Other times were better.
I'm a grumpy old man.
I don't like everything the way it.
Is now compared to the way it used to be.
These people see the world through dirt stained glasses, and the glasses are scratched, and they were the wrong prescription anyway.
Oh, and here's $65 for your budget.
Oh, and here are four idiots who'll do nothing but weigh you down.
Oh, and your cat's still dead.
Researchers, counselors, and motivational speakers have examined the effects of these attitudes on our relationships and well being.
Complaining is damaging to our health, it's destructive to our relationships, and it limits your career success.
But if complaining is so bad for us, why is it so ubiquitous?
Does it serve a psychological purpose?