So, you can walk on water, but why can't you swim?

You know, I really don't like it when you get a promotion or a major project assignment at work and people get mad at YOU because they thought they deserved it more. How about when a boss, teacher or coach chooses to single you out for recognition based on how THEY feel about your work or performance and people get mad at you saying that you didn't do enough to earn such praise. Don't you just hate when that happens.

Me too!

That's why I got a little frustrated last week when hearing all of the criticism of President Obama after he won the Nobel Prize for Peace. Maybe you think he has done enough to earn the honor and maybe you don't. Maybe he has done enough to merit the award maybe he hasn't. But either way the President did not award himself the medal -- a committee did. He did not nominate himself for consideration -- someone else did. He had nothing whatsoever to do with the Nobel Prize selection process. So why is there so much criticism aimed at Obama? Seeing the negativity directed at the President instead of the Nobel Committee made me wonder -- why do we focus our resentment towards the person or entity that has the least to do with why we are mad? It's misdirected anger and it doesn't just happen in presidential politics; we see it in entertainment, in sports and even in our own lives, all the time. Why?

Well, because it's easy and -- we want to. Really. Whether it's a singer or an actor, a co-worker or an ex - we most likely had an issue with them before, and them getting any kind of praise, plaudits or prizes just gives us another reason to continue disliking the person. The origins of such animosity -- and if it's warranted -- are irrelevant to us; all we know is that we don't like them, so it's all bad! It's not fair, and deep down we know it, but let our resentment win out. We need to stop. We are better than that and in the end the bitterness just hurts us, not them.

Then there are those of us that think we have been given the job of bringing balance to universe. If too many people like someone or something it's our job to dislike them just to maintain cosmic equilibrium, if you will. If they can do no wrong in everyone's eyes, then in our view they can do nothing right! Win a handful of Grammy's - we say, "she's overrated." Everyone flocks to their movie opening weekend, we say, "he's not all that." A co-worker gets singled out for a job well done, we say, "hmpf, I have done way more than that and I never get credit." So there! Balance achieved! WHAT! Yeah sounds pretty silly, but many of us are guilty of it. I know am. Mostly when it comes to my frivolous (yet serious) sports, but when I allow my mind to work like that, it's only a matter of time before it creeps into my professional/personal life and that's not good.

So whether it's the President, a co-worker, a celeb, or a family member that is being treated like they walk on water, stop screaming that they can't swim and consider why you are really criticizing them. Is it really warranted? If so, is it directed to the correct source of your issue? If it is truly personal and you feel wronged by someone or a situation, be constructive not destructive. Instead of using your energy to tear down a colleague, teammate or sibling reach out to your boss, coach or parent and let them know you are not being treated fairly. More than likely, you'll be able to alleviate the situation and even if you can't, you can at least stop building up resentment for someone that has no control over how they treated by those around them.

And let the universe balance itself - it has a way doing that all on its own.