At work I am surrounded by complainers. How can I maintain my own peace in this sort of atmosphere?

What kind of things do they complain about? Are some of the complaints things that can be fixed? Using the 5 Whys is a way to get at a real reason that is often easily fixable.

What do they complain about? How do they complain? Is it about work? Or about life? Or politics? What’s the deal here?

And what do you mean when you say their attitude seeps into you. How do you feel? Depressed? Angry? Apathetic? What’s it really do to you?

Why do you think about what they say? Can’t you just do your work and get out of there or are you forced to socialize with them?

You may just be working for the wrong company with the wrong culture. If you want to maintain your own peace, you could practice meditation or something. Learn to be more secure in yourself and let their attitude fly right past you. Roll off your back like water off a duck It’s not you, and has nothing to do with you, so let it go. Don’t be so attached to it.

Why do you let it get to you?

They complain about working too hard, or not working enough. They complain about their
families. Their health (which, I have to tell you, is VERY GOOD). The weather. Lunch.
The ins and outs of life. I rarely hear them talk about anything uplifting.
It’s a small office and everyone hears everything. Even if I am not participating in a particular conversation, I still have to listen to it. They are decent people, but it seems that they are just addicted to the negative.
It makes me feel annoyed (I personally cannot fix any of the things they are complaining about) and angry that they don’t realize what good lives they truly do have.
I am optimistic by nature and realize that is a plus, but being with these three whiners
does daily damage.

You quit your bitchin’ and get back to work.~
come to think of it you’ll fit in fine

take a positive book to work and every time they complain, quote them something good from it.

This is a difficult situation. It is one of the reasons that workplaces don’t like to have complainers, because it spreads.

You could try suggesting new topics.

“Let’s all think of one positive thing that happened in our lives this week.”

“What is the last thing that made you smile.”

Can you bring a radio or your iPod to work? If you can, put some headphones on and just tune the naysayers out.

I agree with @Marina. Get them thinking positively by prompting them to tell you something positive. Maybe pose as someone who is feeling down and needs to hear some good news for a change. (That way they think they are helping you.) you could also catch good things “in the act” and make mention of them. Don’t be Pollyanna about it, though. Be a lot more subtle and nonchalant so there’s room for them to fill with whatever enthusiasm they can muster. It will also keep them from defensively reacting to your positive attitude.

It’s about tricking them into noticing positive things until they start doing it on their own.

People often would prefer to whine and complain because it is so much easier than taking responsibility for making things better. Make your experience of work better and show how good it makes you feel. Being a good example with eventually get them asking you what tour secret is. Tell them you try and make the workplace pleasant for yourself and for those around you by not giving in to complaining!

Tell them the positive side of things but don’t put too much energy on convincing them. They would listen to what they want to hear. So listen to music and do your own thing.

Beginning this question with a complaint undercuts your credability.

try headphones or something, or otherwise you may have to find a new job or find a way to not focus on them

Like this?

@PandoraBoxx
oh no not the whiners!..they were sooooo fuuuuuny

Doug and Wendy Whiner are classics!

it’s a good thing they never met Debby Downer

ha ha ha!

Feel lucky. I used to work in an office of super-duper happy people. Imagine facing that at 6AM on a Monday morning. Barf.

I do see your predicament, though. The rough thing is that I don’t think you’ll be able to do anything about it. Try ear plugs, maybe.

I agree with Marina, you’ll have to get them to think positively, remind them that their constant negative thoughts breed negative things happening to them, that when you send out the negative it comes flying back and hits you again. So tell them that we are all going to have a week thinking positively as an experiment, this means putting themselves in the feeling place of having what they want, of having happy and positive thoughts, make it a fun and amusing thing to do, because fun and laughter create a sense of happiness and their mood will change with that. Having a sense of humour about it and being positive yourself, always counteracting and laughing when someone speaks negatively, try to make it fun!

Try to get transferred into a team of optimists. If this is not possible make it clear that you won’t accept permanent complaining and have a discussion about it. If necessary ask a facilitator to help you with the discussion.