The Power of Positivity

Do you feel like negative individuals surround you? Does it seem like the negative opinions of others defeat everything you do or attempt to do before you even start something?

It's easy for others to look at the things you're doing and criticize. Some people seem to have the gift of knowing exactly what everyone else should be doing at all times. If you decide to lose ten pounds and put together a new diet and exercise program, do you hear comments like, "Well, you won't stick to it..." or "You'll just gain it back..."? That's negativity in its most common form and it is an attempt to control you.

People who consistently wreck your self-esteem and belittle the things you want to do, especially ways to better yourself, threaten someone else's control over you. As long as you listen to their defeatist attitudes, you give them carte blanche to influence your every action. There are two key phrases in that last sentence that will set you free because you actually have all the power you need.

"You listen" is one short phrase. Don't listen to the negative, nay saying of someone else. These people can come in the form of your mother, your father, siblings, neighbors, co-workers, friends and sometimes even your spouse.

"You give" is the other phrase. Others only have the control over you that you give them. That's right, by listening and acting on the negative comments of others, you gave them permission to keep on pouring on the negativity.

There are ways to break these bonds and they start with listening to yourself. Learn to tell the difference between good, well meant advice and negativity that is meant to control you and keep you from advancing as a person. Once you learn the difference, you will feel your positivity grow and you will begin to accomplish things.

Light eliminates dark. Your positive attitude is your weapon of choice. When someone tells you reason after reason why something you're doing or getting ready to do won't work, thank them for their opinion but tell them you have your bases covered. Smile, don't argue and most of all, don't let any comments they make about you or to you cause you to second-guess yourself. Believing in yourself completely and absolutely is paramount to dispelling negativity from your life.

Negativity can make you ill; don't allow yourself to get pulled into the mire of pessimism that someone else has created. Believe in yourself and you can rise above it with the power of positivity.
 posted by Friends of Leah