When it comes to dealing with negative people, however, I have found that trying to beat them over the head with positivity is more than counter-productive.

That doesn’t mean that we can’t be positive around negative people, though. They love it when we do that.

That is an excellent point, and thank you for putting that example out there.

It is so easy for someone with a positive attitude (overall, or specific to a situation) to not be able to comprehend why the negative person wants to feel that way. Trying to flip them over to our own point of view can be – as you said – exhausting, and it can also create negativity for the positive person!

Best to just maintain your own positive thoughts and feelings, and if the other person wants to do the same, then that is great. Otherwise, protect yourself, and let them deal with their thoughts and emotions however they see fit.

Being prepared to search for the opposite sounds very wise. I have so many generous people offering opportunities to practise this! How AWESOME!

Let me add something that you certainly know: it’s not good to throw positive bullets in return. What I mean is something that you have already said in some previous post(s), but I think it’s necessary here too: if someone is throwing negative stuff to you, it’s not good to attempt to convince him that everything is positive. Those positive thoughts and feelings should be yours and for yourself, within yourself. Attempting to convince someone of something positive when they are in “negative mode” is exhausting and will only take the energy from yourself.

Well, I’m afraid I forget this same advice quite often and get home quite tired out after an attempt to change someone else’s energy direction. But I guess I will also definitely learn this out of practice.

All the best,
Patricia

Life is going to throw that negativity at us, so having a a simple way to keep from getting any on us is a good thing!