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| The most positive people I know |
In the past, I have led several small groups as well as collaborated on
projects and causes from reaching out to the homeless to bringing aid
overseas. The biggest cancer in any
group, the thing that will bring about its demise faster than anything else is
negativity. It will kill the forward
momentum of any project if not eradicated quickly.
It starts small. One
person. One Comment. “That’s never going to work,” “We’ve never
tried that before,” or even “The last guy tried that and it never left the
planning table.” Usually, the snide
comments are made by someone who doesn’t want to do anything. They’re not just against that particular
project, they’re against any project that might require effort or cause them to
stretch out of their comfort zone. Of
course, there are always the selfish reasons like they didn’t think of it;
therefore, it can’t possibly succeed. If
it had been their idea, they would have gone about it a whole different way; a
better, more efficient way.
Then, like cancer, it spreads. That one person starts grumbling to
another. They add another. And two more.
Soon several people are whining and complaining, predicting
failure. Negativity always breeds company
and it’s easier to be negative than positive.
I have no doubt that we could have some powerful movements of change if
someone would have been able to duct tape the mouths of the naysayers. It’s hard to fight for your vision if you
constantly have to battle those who would rather condemn than build.
I discovered a long time ago that if I was going to succeed
in this life, I had to surround myself with positive people. I want people who will encourage me to go after
my dreams, to stretch and grow. I want
people who are going to challenge me, sharpen me into a better person, and not
dull my edges with their defeatist attitude.
I need those pats on the back, not hammers to my head.
Some people just can’t help themselves. They have to be angry about something, so
they try to throw cold water on the fire of other people that surrounds them.
If they are going to be miserable, they want everyone else to wallow in their
misery as well.
For others, they need you to fail to feel better about themselves. They don’t really want to do anything, but
the fact that you are makes them feel bad.
Instead of getting up and joining in or just sitting still and being
quiet, they want to destroy the dream so they don’t have to see their
inactivity and be faced with it.
I don’t do well with negative people. Perhaps you have the stamina for them, but I
don’t. I find their doom and gloom
mindset to be exhausting and I’d much rather just avoid them and save my energy
for the pursuit of my dreams. That is
where it should be going anyway. Don’t
allow them to kill your vision with their words and attitude. Stay upbeat and focus on the end goal. Distance yourself from their poison and you’ll
finish your journey. When perseverance
meets positive encouragement, it’s impossible to do anything but succeed.
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You might also enjoy ~ Emotional Vampires
Thanks for visiting The Mess! Keep chasing your Dreams!
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