Be YOU! Let 'em have it!

Do you know someone who seems to always be negative?  A real downer?  Sees the cons of a situation and not the pros?  Has a complaint about everything? Instead of letting them bring you down with them, I say, "Let 'em have it!"  The negativity that is! 

"Some people are happiest when they have something to be unhappy about.  Let 'em have it.  Not you."  (tut.com)

We become what we think about.  If we think negative, critical, unhappy thoughts, we become just that.  Negative, critical, and unhappy.  Who wants that?  Not me! 

Everyone feels down from time to time.  Everyone complains about something on occasion.  At least everyone I know.  But on the whole, we should all strive to think positive thoughts.  Remind ourselves of what's good in our lives, instead of focusing on what we'd like to change.  Be grateful.  Act kindly.  And live in love. 

Ok.  Fine.  We can think happy thoughts, be grateful, and act kindly all day long.  It's easy when we're around other happy, positive people.  Or if we're alone.  But what about when we come into contact with someone who likes to spew their negative energy on everyone around them? 

I used to let this kind of person bring me down.  I'd be happy, bouncing around, singing, and then so-and-so would walk in, all gloomy, and my mood would plummet.  I'm still working on this.  Every day is an opportunity to practice, in fact.  But what I decided last night was I'm just going to let 'em have it. 

I'm going to choose to not accept their negative energy as my own.  Easier said than done, sure.  But it's worth the effort!  One trick I learned either from a book or a seminar (it's hard to remember where I pick up these useful tidbits anymore, I've melded them all together into my tool box), is to literally imagine a coat of arms around you.  You know, like the "knights in shining armor?"  That.  Imagine you have that shiny, metallic casing around your body whenever you feel someone else's negative energy trying to penetrate your perfectly happy mood. 

The visual image works in our minds and helps us to actually repel that which we don't want.  Try it!  Next time someone is spewing their negativity in your direction, imagine yourself standing there in a shiny coat of arms, their sputum unable to penetrate your strong positivity. 

*If you want to get really spunky, try giving them a slight smile as they're spewing.  The kind that says you hear them, but you're not going to let them get you down.  It'll really throw them off their game!  And when they're done spewing, just smile and walk away.  No comment or retort necessary.  They probably won't hear it anyway, they're so engulfed in their sea of negativity. 

So next time that negativity-spewing individual enters your happy, positive space, just smile and let 'em have it! 

Quote of the Day:

"Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.  Look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.  Think only of the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best.  Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to greater achievements of the future.  Give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.  Live in the faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you!"  -Christian D. Larson