Negativity

Peter Irvine, co-founder of Gloria Jean's Coffees writes: People who are in a negative state of mind will usually exaggerate the situation. They will often declare,"Everyone says this won't work!" or "Everyone thinks we should give up!" There have been many occasions where people have come to me and made similar statements such as, "Everyone is doing it this way." But when you ask who everyone includes, almost always you'll find that everyone ends up being one or two people. So in response to these sweeping statements, I learned to ask the question, "Who is everyone?" It's actually never anyone.

Too many unfair judgements have been made through ignorance. Have all the information in front of you before you pass judgement on a situation or on someone. After all, that's what you would want others to do to you.

He goes on to say.....

Negativity stunts your growth. If you have a negative attitude, you will stop growing; you will stop making wise decisions and this will slow your progress. People with a negative mindset tend to believe that every decision they make will bring about a poor result. If you are like that, you need to fight those thoughts by reminding yourself of your successes. You need to remind yourself of what you have achieved to date and start to develop and more balanced, positive attitude. By maintaining a negative spirit, you limit your effectiveness in the present and you sabotage your future; you stop moving towards the resources that will eventually bring you success.

So you see that viewing every situation from a negative point of view is not a great way to manage your business, run your life or maintain relationships with other people. It's so easy to be negative with other people, but we have to learn to be positive and to see the best in each situation. We have to get away from the ceiling mentality in which we believe we have reached the ceiling or the potential in our business or relationships. if you believe you have achieved all that you can ever achieve, then you must believe that there are no more opportunities for you.

Negativity.

What does negativity do for us?

Well it would be safe to say that it limits us. But just how much does it limit us?

Negativity will put a ceiling on our thoughts.
We can't imagine good things happening to us or our situation.
We also have a negative influence on those around us. That's right, we can effect other people and situations by our negative thought process. When, perhaps, we are asked for an opinion or for advice, what we say will possibly influence the other persons thinking.

Negativity will limit our relationships.
Our negative mindset will only allow us to be critical of others. We will limit them in our eyes and mind and so we won't believe in them. This is very damaging when we affect those close to us by limiting them and their achievements. When we don't believe in them we will not encourage them or their dreams.

Negativity will influence our friendships.
We will draw to us people who think as we do. This will succeed in then creating a group of like minded people who think nothing good will come out of any situation. Birds of a feather, flock together.

Negativity will effect our decisions.
Because we think nothing good will happen to us, our decisions will not be bold and we won't strive to achieve what seems to be difficult. We will stay in the safe zone because after all "it wouldn't work anyhow".
This will limit our present and our future.

Being negative is a habit.

Do you think being positive could also be a habit?

What would happen if we turned negative thoughts into positive?
Could that negative opinion not be offered?
What if instead, we offered encouragement?
Are our friends negative? Would it be possible to seek positive friends?
Are our decisions limited because we believe in a negative outcome?
What would happen if we believed in a positive outcome?

What would happen?
What would happen?

Pressure produces opportunity.

Have you ever found yourself in a pressure situation? A situation where decisions need to be made. Decisions that could effect other people. Decisions that could see you lose favour with others. Making such decisions will be centred on your core convictions and beliefs.

 

Some people don't know what they believe in. Some are not committed to anything and are easily swayed.

What are your beliefs? Where do you stand?

Your convictions and beliefs are central to your decision making. They ground you and establish the pattern for your life.

Every decision you make will produce an opportunity. If you make a decision to run a red light, you may have the opportunity to pay a fine. You may also have the opportunity to experience what it feels like to have an accident and you may also experience what it feels like to be responsible for the death of another human being. A seemingly small decision can have far reaching effects.

Central to the decision of running that red light is the belief that chances of getting caught are slim and what harm can it do anyway.

Without strong conviction and beliefs you will be prone to making poor decisions that may have negative outcomes. There is a difference between living with conviction and living by consequences.

Pressure situations provide us with the opportunity to make decisions based on our convictions and beliefs. When we stand firm on these convictions and beliefs they will help us determine right from wrong.

A decision, based on what you feel is right in your heart, will always be the best decision. It may not be the most popular and it may not endear you to many though nonetheless, a right decision it is.