How to Be Positive Around Negative People and Negative Environments

Have you ever known a very negative person? Have you had a difficult time remaining positive while being surrounded by such negativity? I am here to guarantee you that there are ways to remain positive, even in the most negative of situations. There are also ways to repel the negativity that is spewed from the mouths of the most negative people. It will take a little work and effort but it is possible to stay positive and keep that happy outlook on life, in spite of being around the classic Eeyore-type person everyday!

"Looks like it's gonna rain today...", a classic negative, daunting comment from the typical negative person. You know who I'm referring to! No matter if the sun is shining and there isn't a cloud in the sky, the negative person either in your place of employment or part of your family always has something negative to say. Many times this negativity can begin to wear on you, even preventing you from having a fulfilling and positively happy day! Don't let these miserable people drag you down with them.

You know that old saying "misery loves company"? Well, it is absolutely true! Even if you are the happiest person in the world, if you are around negative people enough and don't find ways to block out the negativity, they will eventually begin to suck you into a world of negative thoughts or emotions...leaving you feeling drained of energy and spunk. But there are ways that you can protect yourself from this black hole or negativity...this abyss of depression. Have hope! I will share some of the secrets to a happy existence, avoiding the negative energies that threaten to drag you under with them on a daily basis.

You're at work, and the Eeyore of the office comes into your office to tell you that they are having a horrible day and that the boss did this or that...you have been in a decent mood all day, but as soon as the office Eeyore leaves your personal space, you feel drained or begin to find yourself thinking negative things? Don't let this happen. You have to remind yourself that you need the happiness that you have been feeling so far that day...block out the negative thoughts. Here are some easy ways in which to do this:

• Breathe. The best breathing exercise, which is virtually undetectable to anyone else in the room, is to breathe in through your nose, filling up your entire stomach with air. Slowly let that breath come out of your mouth, to a six or seven second count. While you are breathing, envision that you are breathing in the positive and releasing any of the negativity that may be welling up inside of you or popping up in your brain.
• Stand up and stretch. Stretching will relax the tense muscles in your body, releasing any sort of stress that has built up in your shoulders, back or legs. Do a toe touch or pull your arms up over your head. Do whatever stretches you can think of to release the negativity and relax your entire body.
• Go for a quick walk around your building. Everyone is lawfully entitled to a fifteen minute break during the morning or afternoon, right? So make good use of this break...don't grab another cup of coffee, skip the coffee and take to the outdoors! Getting a breath of fresh air and removing yourself from the negative energies that might have built up in your place of employment will do you some good! Enjoy nature or whatever surrounds your workplace. Remind yourself why life is precious and shake out those negative thoughts!

The steps above are quite simple and normal ways of getting rid of the negativity that threatens your happiness, but there are other ways of avoiding and eliminating the negativity. These ways are a little more unorthodox and should only be done in a relaxed place of employment.

• To avoid hearing the negativity that may circulate your place of employment, slip on some headphones and listen to some uplifting music! Many places of employment don't want their employees listening to music, but if you want to take a chance, try it! Uplifting music can really do a number for your happiness...plus it blocks out any negative comments that you may hear from the cubicle or office next to yours!
• Email something funny to your co-workers. Obviously you are going to want to keep it clean...don't email any dirty jokes around your workplace! This will cause more negativity, especially in the fact that you could get in trouble for sexual harassment! Just a lighthearted joke will do. This can relieve some tension from the co-workers around you, causing a domino effect of happiness throughout your office...even if it only lasts five minutes or so.
• Offer that negative person a word of advice, only if they want it. Or maybe offer to buy them a cup of coffee. Let them know that their negativity is not good for them, nor for anyone else around them.

Negativity is something that is very similar to a disease or even an addiction. People that tend to get themselves into a negative way of thinking also eventually begin to believe that their lives are horrible and they don't ever see the good in it. You don't want to be this person, nor do you want their negative energies flowing into your energy! Stay high on life, shake those negative thoughts from your mind if they pop up from time to time, and remember why life is so precious. Think of your family, your friends, your upcoming vacation to keep yourself happy throughout the day. Just because we have to work to stay alive doesn't mean that that workplace has to suck the life out of us! Stay healthy...stay positive.