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I am generally a positive person, but some of my family members and co-workers are very negative, and I have a hard time keeping my spirits up when I am around them. Since I really can't just avoid those negative people, I'm not sure what I should do.
Frank
Cincinnati, OH
Answer: Frank,
At this stage in the game where concepts like the Law of Attraction and the proper methods of positive thinking are not yet an integral part of our society, none of us have to look very far before we encounter some sort of negativity. In fact, a lot of people who claim to be "positive" still carry around a lot of negativity because they don't truly understand how to actually embrace a positive lifetyle.
I called it a "positive lifestyle" because that is exactly what it is - a lifestyle. Just knowing how to act like everything is okay - even when it's not - is not positivity. We have a saying in my house: "Being positive does not mean being unrealistic". By just going through life with a big smile on your face and believing that "everything will work out for the best" is a good example of being unrealistic vs. being positive.
Positive people aren't just happy people who have a bright outlook on life. Positive people are the creators of their positive existence, not the end result of it. This applies to your particular situation for this reason:
You can only control YOUR reaction to any given person or set of circumstances!
This one concept can literally become the driving philosophy behind your very interaction with the world in general. As indicated earlier, negativity is everywhere. If you seek to control other people's negativity or potentially negative situations, then you will be setting yourself up for a very unrealistic mental attitude.
The way that we approach any given situation - or react to any given situation - is what determines how that situation affects us. As simplistic as this may sound, you have the chance during every single moment of your life to either look on the "bright side", or to embrace the negative details.
Once again, looking on the "bright side" does not mean being ignorant of the facts, but rather choosing to look at - and react to - only the positive aspects of any given person or situation.
We all have people and circumstances in our lives that we do not consider to be very enjoyable. However, focusing on the negative aspects of any given situation will only continue to propagate the negativity of that situation. As Jack Canfield says in 'The Secret', "If you focus on how bad it is, you are just going to attract more of how bad it is".
On the other hand, you can choose to see the positive aspects of any given person or situation, and act on those instead. I'll use a person that I know as an example. I won't mention any names, but trust me, this is a very real person who interacts with my family on a regular basis.
This person has a very negative outlook on life, is very set in a certain "understanding" of the way the world works, and consistently causes negative situations as a result of her words and actions. In black and white, it would seem that this is the type of person to be avoided at all costs! However, as I stated, she is a part of the life cycle of my family, so completely avoiding her is not an option.
However, I do have the option - and the right - to look at the positive aspects of this individual. I know that her negativity is a result of the life that she has led up to this point. I also know that due to her age and inflexible nature that she is probably never going to change. Here is where the "bright side" comes in:
I also know from her actions and her words that she would literally doing anything and everything in her power to help the people that she cares about. In fact, she has proven it time and time again.
So, even though she is a model of the type of negativity that I advise people to avoid - and that I avoid myself - I have chosen to think of the positive impact that she has on our lives. In fact, when pressed for how I would describe this person, I always use a similar terminology that goes something like this: "She is very set in her ways and can be negative at times, but she would literally give you the shirt off her back".
The "take away" lesson that I want you to have from that statement is that even though I strongly disagree with her general attitude about life, even when I describe her to other people, I do not "bash her", or speak of her in a seriously negative manner. In fact, the last words that people hear me saying about her is that "she would literally give you the shirt off her back".
Do you see how I have chosen to approach my interaction with this person from the best possible light? That perspective carries through to the way that I interact with her. I don't think of her "negativity", but I instead think of the fact that I know that she would do anything for me or for my family.
Now, I know that not every family member, friend, or co-worker in your life is going to fall into the category of having a "saving grace". However, I DO know that there is something positive that you can take away from an interaction with even the most negative person. Even if that positive "take away" is just a reaffirmation of how NOT to act in life!
In short, Frank, you must remember 2 things:
- Always, always, always look for the positive, and;
- Always remember that you can only control YOUR reaction to life, to it's people, and to it's circumstances.
Do your best to help other people to be positive and to educate them on how to make their lives more enjoyable. However, in the end, take care of your own state of mind, and you will see that as a natural side-effect of your positivity, that the people and situations around you will tend to be more positive and enjoyable.
That is the Law of Attraction in action!
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About the Author
Aaron Potts is the owner and the creator of the Today is that Day website. His message to the world: "YOU are in charge, and don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise!" If you found this information useful, check out his eBook 'Energy Harmonics', or click below to make a small donation to help Aaron continue to provide powerful, informative, and useful content so you can enjoy your life to the fullest!
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