It is a challenge to remain positive when we are surrounded by negativity. The key in overcoming negativity is our attitude. The world is full of negativity, just watch the news and you’ll hear about endless negative events ranging from politics to economy, including disaster, corruption, protests, data breaches in technology, and so on.
The world is a slightly more negative place than it was even a few years ago, according to Gallup’s Negative Experience Index. The index, a measure of people’s experiences of stress, anger, sadness, physical pain, and worry, has crept upward since 2007.
Negativity has always existed and will always exist. While we can’t control the negative behavior in others or the negative events in the world, we can control our attitude.
It takes time and effort to learn how to respond to negative people and to negative events. The most important thing is to look within ourselves to see how much negativity we are carrying and what the root of it is.
Every person is affected by negativity in one way or another. There are no exceptions.
Experiencing negativity in life is more than normal. Now, there are people who suffer from chronic negativity. Negativity is painful and stressful for the ones who suffer from it and for the people who are surrounded by it. Negativity can not be eliminated 100%.
Oddly enough, scientific research has found that we benefit from having some level of negativity. One study found that people in negative moods can produce better-quality and more persuasive arguments than people in a positive mood. Negative moods can also improve memory and mental accuracy, and other research suggests that negative thinking might prompt us to think more carefully.
Therefore, having a positive attitude doesn’t exclude experiencing negativity at some level, not habitually. We would be odd people if we thought positively all the time.
One of the most negative experiences that a large number of people is presently facing is long-term unemployment. According the U.S. Department of Labor, the unemployment ratefor this past November was 4.6%. Note: This percentage is only representative of short-term unemployment.
Long-term unemployment refers to individuals who have been looking for work for more than 27 weeks. The long-term unemployment rate in 2014 was about 32%.
Percent of Unemployed Jobless for 27 weeks or longer, seasonally adjusted.
Each of us views things in different ways. How we perceive things is shaped by our personality, upbringing, health or lack of it, environment, and people around us. It’s completely okay to have negative feelings when something negative happens to us.
All the things that we see, hear, and experience are perceived by our own mind. This is why some people are more prompt to being positive and others to being negative. Depression may develop as a result of constant negativity.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that 350+ million people suffer from depression worldwide and that is the leading cause of disability. In the U.S., over 15 million adults experience an episode of clinical depression in any given year (about 7% of the population), according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
The good news is that there is a lot of help. We can live positively in a negative world. We don’t have to allow negative circumstances to control us. We have the power to control how we think and how we react to people and things in general.
Infographic Source: infographicaday
We possess the best weapon to combat negativity, it is our attitude. No matter how much negativity is around us, we can learn to have a positive attitude. Of course, this is not an overnight process. It is something that is developed through time and effort.
Positive thinking will not solve all of our problems, it’s not a magic want. However, re-framing our way of thinking to be more positive works to our advantage. Also, a positive attitude doesn’t imply that there isn’t any negativity in our lives. What a positive attitude implies is that despite every circumstance, we choose not to let negativity frustrate us; we instead choose to confront it courageously.
“In every day, there are 1,440 minutes. That means we have 1,440 daily opportunities to make a positive impact.” Les Brown
“Always Do Your Best. Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.” Don Miguel Ruiz
“Positive thinking will let you do everything better than negative thinking will.” Zig Ziglar
“When you show deep empathy toward others, their defensive energy goes down, and positive energy replaces it. That’s when you can get more creative in solving problems.” Stephen Covey
“Winners make a habit of manufacturing their own positive expectations in advance of the event.” Brian Tracy
“If you so choose, even the unexpected setbacks can bring new and positive possibilities. If you so choose, you can find value and fulfillment in every circumstance.” Ralph Marston
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