Destroy negativity with this one useful trick

We face a barrage of negativity every single day.

In the morning, we might watch the news on TV and the headlining stories tell us about something graphic.

The stresses of the day come at us left and right — perhaps bosses or customers or coworkers (or even friends and family) complain to us.

We might open the mail and get a scary-looking letter from a debt collector or the taxman.

It can be SO easy to let this stuff get us down.

When that happens, we have three options.

Option 1: Succumb to the negativity

We can let ourselves be overcome by the negativity to the point where we get negative, too. We become complainers and gripers and pessimists.

Option 2: Try to overcome with positivity

For those who do not want to succumb to negativity, the most common reaction is to overcome with positivity. That is, to smile and find the good in the situation. That sounds like a good idea but it’s hard to do that. (At least, it’s hard for ME to do that!) It’s hard to be positive when others are negativity… and you can also come across as a jerk too!

Option 3 (the useful trick): Replace negativity with PRODUCTIVITY

Positivity is like a bandaid on negativity. But a better way to replace (and ultimately destroy) negativity is with productivity. When faced with negative situations or feelings, the very best thing you can do is roll up your sleeves and work. You might not be able to work on the situation itself — sometimes that is completely out of your control — but you should work on something. (And if you CAN work on that very thing, even better).

I’ve found that negativity creates a lot of nervous energy (anxiety) and it’s easy to let it fester inside while I get even more stressed. But if I can take that situation and point it like a laser at a project or task, I can actually get a lot done.

Bad news on the radio? Good! The toilet needs fixing. Angry letter from a taxman? Great! I need to change the oil in my car.

Obviously, replacing negativity with productivity isn’t going to make the problem go away. (But that’s also the case with the other to responses, above). However, it does help you get a bunch of stuff done and it also alleviates the mind-numbing, stomach-churning stress you can feel and it can clear your head.

 

Posted on February 15, 2012