Negativity.

Negativity is severely contagious.  I, too, have been guilty of being negative at times.  This was especially the case while I was hanging around negative people who pulled me down to their level.  Also, I was guilty of this many times during our adoption process when really I should have been counting my many blessings.  It's easy to complain about ailments, set backs, the economy, friends who you realize aren't really as good as you might have once thought, waiting, slow drivers, etc.  With that said, I have learned a lot about what causes me to become negative and I have learned a lot about how I can not be that person.  Going forward, I am going to try even harder to block out negative thoughts (& people) and be someone that can walk through a door and folks not say,

"Oh, no!  Here comes Debbie Downer."

I found this article from Dayton Daily News and thought it was very appropriate for this blog post.

Earlier this summer the World Health Organization declared swine flu, or “H1N1” type influenza, a global epidemic. Then, curiously, we stopped hearing anything at all about it, and I find that fascinating.


So I thought that if we (those of us interested in such things) launched a declaration of a global epidemic of a different disease, the conversation on it might miraculously cease as well. What is this global epidemic? It is the epidemic of negativity. It is the victory of pettiness over possibility, of drama over discourse, of complaining over cooperation.

Look around you; negativity is everywhere. People so often would rather be right than find solutions. They would rather complain incessantly rather than be reasonable and respectful, making requests and graciously accepting that all their requests will not be granted.

Negativity is an awful disease and it is highly contagious. Once you are around it for very long you are likely to show signs of it yourself. Watch out and carry plenty of antibodies along with you. Below are some you might want to arm yourself with:

Prayer. In order to transcend the noxious negativity of others and not fall prey to it yourself, pray without ceasing. That is to say, adopt a prayerful attitude, to purify your own heart and mind, and thereby develop spiritual strength. This also helps you avoid being over-involved in those things that do not matter. Nothing is more pernicious than to become adversarial, thereby unwittingly succumbing to the disease. If you can manage it, pray for the negative ones in your circle.

Integrity. Make sure you are taking the high road in all your business and personal affairs. Pay bills, clean house, keep your word. This negativity, unfortunately, is fanned by the least slip up. If you do slip up, acknowledge it, forgive yourself and go on. Remember the Scripture in Mark 6:11: “And whoever will not receive you nor hear you (forgive you, accept you) when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet.” You cannot see clearly to do this when your integrity is “out.” Integrity includes self-care. Do not engage in negative behaviors that diminish your life force.

Guard your speaking. The most destructive member of the body is the tongue. It is tempting to add your “defense” to a conversation about how negative “another” is. But this is the deception in a nutshell: when you complain excessively about another’s faults and demonize him or her, you fall into the trap of the negative syndrome. You have been infected. Practice silence or at least minimal engagement. Your spirit will remain light and free, while the negative brother or sister becomes weakened by his or her own darkness. Establish who you trust and open your heart at the right time. Especially go to God with a real desire to be spared from the scourge of this downward spiraling condition of the soul.

XOXO,

Stacy