How to Keep a Positive Attitude Around Negative People

Keeping a positive attitude can be difficult, especially when you're around negative people. There's at least one naysayer in every crowd. You know the type. They gripe and complain and never have anything nice to say. Negative people always have a negative response for every statement. It can be a real challenge to keep a positive attitude when someone is shooting poison darts of negativity your way. But nothing is impossible. If you get into the habit of thinking positive thoughts, the negativity of others will not influence you.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Counter a negative statement with a positive one. Don't let a negative statement bring you down. Fight back positively. For instance, if a person says you'll never succeed you can counter by telling them they're absolutely right if you never try. Get your point across by letting them know that you will try and they're not going to deter you with a negative statement.
2. Smile. By putting a smile on your face you help create a positive inner state of being. It also helps deter negative people. If you walk around scowling all day you'll only set yourself up for negativity that will attract negative people and negative circumstances. By smiling you set yourself up for the exact opposite. So smile and let all the negativity bounce right off of you.
3. Exercise your positive power. Realize that negative statements have no power to affect you. The only power they have is the power you give them. Refuse to let negative statements bother you. If someone tells you that you are a failure, their statement has no power over you. It cannot hurt you. It cannot make you a failure. But if you believe that negative statement, then you give it power over you. Refuse to believe that statement and take back your power. You are what you choose to be and you become what you believe yourself to be. You have a choice. Believe the positive.
4. Put distance between yourself and negative people. If certain people always put you down or make you feel bad because they're always so negative, spend less time with them. When you are with them encourage them to be more positive. Most people who are negative suffer from low self-esteem. Encourage such people to have more confidence in themselves. Use your own positive attitude to turn their negativity around. You may start to notice a difference in them.
5. Work on building your own self-esteem. People with a healthy sense of self-confidence have no need to be negative nor do they succumb to the effects of negativity. Believe in yourself and your abilities and encourage others to do the same.