Can You Be Positive in Negativity?

Upon rising I walked into our family room. Joe had the TV on with the morning news. “Who’s blowing up who today,” I greeted him. Besides the poor grammar, I caught myself in a negative moment.

What a terrible way to begin my “glorious adventure for the day” that I had prayed for just moments BEFORE getting out of bed. In an instant, I had stepped away from my morning prayers ushering in a beautiful day into the bad news blaring.

It seems like it’s a slippery slope downward from the heights of joy and anticipation to being caught up with turmoil, suffering, violence and seemingly impossible divisions bombarding us from all directions.

The choice is ours. We can choose to live in this swarm of negativity or we can choose a life of happiness. We are not victims of our situations. Easier said than done, but try these 3 steps for a start.

  1. Become aware of the negativity. The pessimistic attitudes that others carry (sometimes unknowingly) rub off on you. Just listening to how someone’s day went can drag you down. 
  2. Be a strict gatekeeper of your mind. Assess and think critically, dismissing the onset of any negativity. Go mentally to a happier place.
  3. Make time in your day for happiness. Do things that lighten your spirit. Have lunch with friends who make you laugh, get some physical exercise releasing pent up stress, or enjoy some alone time reflecting on your blessings.

Alan Watts, an English philosopher and expert in comparative religions, stated, “The whole art of life is knowing how to transform anxiety into laughter.”

Let’s surround ourselves with optimism, no matter what the dire situation. Seek that silver lining and remember:

The higher you go, the better the view.