Is Negativity Holding You Back? The Commentary

I hope that you have had a chance to read the post yesterday, “Is Negativity Holding You Back?” I hope you enjoyed it and from the feedback that I am getting on it, I know you did!

It’s given me a lot to think about as I am sure it’s done the same for you.  Even as a positive thinker, I struggle at times with negativity.  It’s an awful feeling that creeps in sometimes when you are the most vulnerable.  Over worked?  Tired? Not Feeling Well?  Stressed? These are all things that allow that little bug of negativity to pop in and cause havoc in your life.  Well, life is life (or as I say a lot – “It is what it is…”) and certainly these things mentioned above aren’t going to go away and are bound to crop up in your life from time-to-time.

The real nugget here is how you manage them.  I’ve said time and time again in various places that it’s all about attitude and mindset. With the right attitude and the right mindset we can do just about anything.

I have been challenged a lot in the past few years and 2009 ranks up there.  Honestly, I will be happy to finish out 2009 and look forward to the promise of 2010 (not that I’m rushing the time, believe me!)  I know what gets me through each day is my positive attitude and my determined mindset.  Sure, I can be derailed from time-to-time because things happen (that’s life) and sometimes things don’t pan out the way that I see them.  I always try to challenge myself to look for even the smallest shred of positive that I can take away from a negative experience to turn it around.

We’ve all heard that “things happen for a reason.” It’s so very true!

When Judy and I first started the Gratitude Collection back in early 2007, we were thrilled to participate in a product search with QVC in conjunction with Oprah Winfrey.  We were thrilled – the Universe put this tremendous opportunity right in our laps!  We were very proud of our “pitch” and knew we did the best job that we could.  We knew that if it was meant to be at that moment in time that it would happen and if not we were okay with that.

Well, if you haven’t heard the story, we didn’t get picked.  For the first time in my life, though – I wasn’t disappointed! I couldn’t believe it – it was such an incredible feeling!  We knew some way and somehow our little brand would get to where it needs to be and at that point in time, this avenue wasn’t it.  I still believe that from the bottom of my toes and continue on its path today.

We all have a choice and today, if you have not done so already, I challenge you to “choose positive.” If you have chosen positive – keep it up, you are doing a great job! Know that life happens and you have all the tools you need to manage that pesky little critter of negativity.

In gratitude,

Is Negativity Holding You Back?

I’ve gotten some really great feedback from an article that was included in my last newsletter.  I think it really rings true.  I wanted to share it with my blog readers just in case your are not on our list because I know you’ll love it.  Not on our list yet?  Join here – it’s FREE!

I hope you enjoy reading it.  I will be back later in to make some comments on it.

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Negativity always finds a way to creep up in your life from time to time even for those of us who are already positive thinkers. It’s when negativity builds up too much or shows up too often that you have an obstacle to overcome.

A negative attitude can hold you back from truly living your life. However, you don’t need to feel stuck because you can bring positive thoughts back into your life!

How Negativity Can Hold You Back

Negativity can hold you back in a number of ways. Have you heard the saying: “If you think you can’t, you’re right.” It’s true!  Negative thoughts like this really do sabotage your efforts.

The good news is that you can gain control over how you think.  When you’re expressing complaints and negativity all the time, it not only affects you, but it also affects the people around you.  Negativity, itself, can be the reason why you create roadblocks that don’t really exist! So it’s time to choose the positive (and, yes, it is a choice!)

Manifesting A Positive Attitude

When you adopt a positive attitude, you open yourself up to the wonderful world of possibilities. When positive energy is in the air, you’ll be able to transform your negative feelings and maybe even bring others out of their negativity clouds.

Believe it or not, positive thinking is very powerful. It’s the driving force that steers your life into the direction of your dreams. Remember, your thoughts affect how you feel, and how you feel affects what you do, so if you can change your thoughts, you can change your outcome.

How To Develop A Positive Attitude

How can you change your attitude? It’s easier than you think.

Follow these tips to develop a positive attitude:

1. Visualize. When the negative thoughts come crawling into your mind, transform them with positive images. Visualize something that you find pleasing, peaceful, or exciting. Remember what your ultimate goals are and imagine what it feels like to achieve them.

2. Write it down. Keeping a journal has many positive effects. It helps you vent your frustrations, organize your life, and reflect on your innermost thoughts and feelings. Instead of focusing on the bad, use your journal to chronicle the things that have gone well in your life lately.

3. Relax. Negative feelings are bound to arise when you’re in a stressful state. It’s important to take time out of each day for yourself. This means that you need to adopt a relaxation method that works for you. Perhaps you can take a bath, go to church, attend a yoga class, or meditate. When you’re relaxed, a peaceful and positive mindset will likely overtake you.

4. Read and write affirmations. Grab a book with positive affirmations in it, or better yet, write your own. Affirmations are a powerful way to bring positive thoughts into your present state of well being. Affirmations are short statements in the present tense that remind you of positive attributes and goals in your life. Here’s an example: “I am strong and competent.”

5. Live for the moment. Live your life for the moment and let go of everything else going on in your life. Negative feelings can easily overwhelm you if you’re consumed by past failures or the fear of the future. When you concentrate on the present, your life becomes more peaceful and positive.

In the end, go easy on yourself. You don’t need to be your own worst critic, instead, try being your biggest advocate!  Just concentrate on your well being and you will develop a more positive attitude.