Black hole

I

thought this comment by Bev was very insightful:

My experience has been that some complaining people have...... like a black hole in them and they would wear out an ARMY of encouragers because they need within themselves an ability to RECEIVE encouragement. Others just need an encouraging word to get out of the dulldrums.

I know people like that. No matter how much you try to speak words of truth and encouragement, it seems like they are a leaky vase. You fill it up, the flowers perk up for a moment, but within hours, the vase drains dry, and the flowers are once again wilting. The "black hole" analogy was a good visual for me. The fact that "they would wear out an ARMY of encouragers because they need within themselves an ability to RECEIVE encouragement" really struck me.

Perhaps some of you out there know people like this. Perhaps you find that this is a description of YOU, and you really don't know why it is??

What is it that can be done? Is the cause just a non-stop barrage of negative thoughts that over-ride any encouragement? Do you think it's spiritual in nature? Is it a self-image issue? or perhaps a pride issue? (constantly wanting affirmation)

I find myself being (as Bev says) one who "just needs an encouraging word to get out of the dulldrums." It's hard for us "easy-perk-ups" to understand the mind of the "black-hole" people.

I'd be interested to know how you've dealt (successfully) with either types of these people...or if you find yourself being one.