Thursday 18 December 2008

How to Stay Positive When Surrounded By Negativity

In one of the gyms that I teach at there is a large plasma screen TV directly opposite the reception area. When I visited recently the news was on and, as usual, it was all doom and gloom with news about the economic crisis, horrendous crime and the like being broadcast. And I was only at the reception desk for a couple of minutes.

I suggested to the receptionist that they could change the channel to something more enlightening or at least something more light-hearted. Their response to me was that they couldn't be bothered to come from behind their desk and change the channel. I said no more but went to teach my class.

I returned just over an hour later and the same channel was still on. I departed hastily.

Now, I'll admit that there is certainly a lot of negativity around but you don't have to immerse yourself in it. When you have a television or radio on that is continually belting out bad news or even when you surround yourself with people who do nothing but talk about negative things, even if you are not consciously paying attention to what is being said, your sub-conscious mind is soaking it all up.

There are several ways in which you can stay positive when surrounded by negativity. First and foremost it's important for you to express your gratitude for the good things you have in your life - no matter how small. The more you express your gratitude the more grateful you'll feel and the more you'll have to be thankful about.

"Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy - because we will always want to have something else or something more."
Brother David Steindl-Rast

And here are some 10 more ways in which you can stay positive and focused on your goals while surrounded by negativity.

1. Surround yourself with positive, optimistic people who will support you and stretch you to achieve more in your life.

2. Create a Vision Board with images of the goals you're striving to achieve and place it in a prominent place where you can view it on a regular basis.

3. Boost your positive affirmations by creating your own Mind Movie of the lifestyle you are striving for and watch it daily.

4. Write your Vivid Vision Statement. This is a term I first heard coined by Robert Allen. Describe in vivid detail how you'd like your life to be and re-write it and refine it on a regular basis.

5. Listen to uplifting and positive music.

6. Read positive and inspirational books.

7. Watch positive and inspirational movies and documentaries.

8. Listen to the audios and watch the videos of personal development and self-improvement experts.

9. Be mindful of your self-talk and ensure that it stays positive.

10. Surround yourself with reminders of the things you love and the goals you're working towards. These reminders could be artwork, objected collected from nature, magazines, posters, etc.

Regarding the later, I have such objects in every room of my home so no matter where I go there are objects that help to keep me focused on my goals. Practically, every object in my home has a positive story behind it and some objects in particular have a profound significance to me.

And yet, they may be very simple objects but when I see them I'm reminded of:

~ Challenges I have overcome,

~ Wonderful places I have visited and will visit again,

~ Life's simple pleasures and treasures,

~ People who dear to me, and much more.


This is how you stay positive when surrounded by negativity.


2 comments:

  1. Staying positive when surrounded by negativity is something a lot of people must face. Thanks for this summary of pointers here. I'm really enjoying your blog.

    Keep up the good work!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Paula,

    Thanks for stopping by and for taking the time to leave your feedback. I really appreciate it.

    Best wishes

    Nickolove

    ReplyDelete