5 Ways to Stay Positive When You’re Surrounded by Negativity
Posted on August 18, 2011 by Danielle Klahr, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
5 ways to stay positive when you're surrounded by negativity. Gives specific strategies to cope with negative people and how to maintain positivity.
Did you ever notice that when you have a conversation with someone who is very negative and pessimistic, your demeanor begins to mirror theirs? Negativity is contagious! On your journey to a happy and fulfilled life, you cannot afford to let the negativity of others affect your positive outlook. But what can you do if you have a friend, relative, or coworker who is constantly spewing negativity your way? Here are a few tips on staying positive when faced with negative people.
1. Clean house. Cut out as many negative people as you can from your life. This is not always a possibility if the negative person in your life is a family member or a coworker who sits in the cubicle next to yours, but take inventory of who the negative people in your life are and see if there are a few you can let go. Sometimes it’s as simple as “de-friending” a Facebook friend who is constantly updating her status with negative comments.
2. Avoid negativity like the plague. If you have a coworker who is constantly complaining, limit your time with him. Excuse yourself to use the restroom or grab a cup of coffee – do whatever you can to escape from this negative person. If you have a close friend or family member who is extremely negative, this can get a little tricky. Try to avoid prolonged phone calls with these people, and limit your time together as much as possible.
3. Block it out. When you simply cannot avoid a negative person, try to mentally block their negativity. This can be as simple as imagining yourself in a place that makes you happy, or repeating a positive phrase over and over again in your mind. Keep telling yourself that you will not allow the negativity to sink in.
4. Confront the negative person. Sometimes a negative person doesn’t even realize that she is so negative and how it affects those around her. If you feel comfortable, try gently discussing it with her. It is possible that she may be hurt or offended, but it is also possible that this conversation is the first step in transforming her negativity into optimism and happiness.
5. Be thankful. Make a list of all of the positive things in your life, and be thankful for each of them. Read your list over at least once a day, and stash copies of it around your house and at work. When you’re feeling like a negative person has brought you down, re-read your list to remind yourself how blessed you are. You’ll be feeling positive again in no time!
