Improve Your Outlook on Life with a Bit of Positive Thinking {Guest Post}

I think I’m becoming allergic to negativity. Admittedly, I’m a happiness junkie and I love to be around people that inspire me. So naturally, when I’m around buzz killers and miserable people, my spirit has an adverse reaction and I feel personally responsible for changing the energy around me. It’s a blessing and a curse, I tell you. Recently, I was talking to a colleague at work and couldn’t help but notice how negative he was about absolutely everything. None of his criticism was directed at me, so it wasn’t a contentious conversation at all. Still, by the time I left his office I was exhausted from trying to deflect his toxic energy. I wanted him to see that his attitude was making everything seem worse than it really was. I don’t know if I was effective or not. I probably just annoyed him with my incessant optimism. 

As much as he was down on everyone and everything around him, I really believe that his own self-perception was at the root of it. When you don’t feel good about yourself, it’s hard to feel good about anyone or anything else. This guy is the type who is just unimpressed with everything. Do you know anyone like that? Hey, maybe one could argue that I’m at the opposite extreme and I’m too easily impressed with simple things. But there are so many benefits to appreciating people and situations for what they are without feeling the need to judge.

The absence of judgment helps us to appreciate reality for what it is. Don’t believe me? I’ll give you some examples of how positive thinking is way cooler than negative thinking any which way you look at it.

Everyone is on a different journey. Who’s to say that your way of thinking is the way that everyone should think? If you always set out to prove others are wrong, it will only bring more resentment and narrow mindedness into the world. If you ask me, there’s already enough of that.

It’s easy to talk about someone who is frustrating or angering you. But if you want an actual solution, the only way to initiate that is to actually talk to the person and address the issue. If you don’t agree with them, tell them. But don’t judge them and talk smack to everyone else. You’ll feel better and have a better reputation for being direct and honest.

Many people use negativity as a defense mechanism, which in effect keeps them from broadening their perspective. Instead, why not identify solutions and stop complaining?

There will always be highs and lows in life. Instead of acting like this is a surprise, be awesome and learn how to ride the waves. In other words, accept the lows and learn from them.

Recognize the representative. Usually what you see is simply what people choose to show. Keep in mind that everyone is coping with something. Everyone.

All in all, negative thinking is just not sexy in any way, shape or form. If you want to feel better, look better and attract more positive experiences – then you have to change your thinking.

“What you give out will be returned to you. Get rid of your bad thoughts, inferior attitudes and limited behaviors and good will be attracted to you. It's not easy. It's not magic. But it works, miraculously.” -Author Unknown

- GG 

The Write Curl Diary 

*photos via Tumblr