Negativity is contagious. Negative thoughts internalized from others can impede your steps, shorten your race, and hinder your progress.
Negativity and self-doubt can crush dreams.
You know the adage, association breeds assimilation. Our tribe: family, friends, and acquaintances influence our attitude and altitude, our flight in life. But if we fortify our self-worth and burn negativity as fuel, we will reach our goals and realize our dreams.
I recently heard someone say they thank God for the naysayers and negative people in their lives. This isn’t a typical mindset by any means. I’m sure they didn’t always have this positive perspective about people who weren’t supportive.
Let’s be real; we can’t just open a trapdoor and make negative folks disappear.
Sometimes our worst naysayers were or are a family member: father, brother, sister, mother. No matter the circle of influence, friend, husband, or wife, negativity crops up any and everywhere.
The very people who should push you forward can attempt to hold you back.
There’s no getting rid of these folks. We love our family and friends, but we dislike their non-supportive comments or ‘say-nothing-good’ attitudes.
So, if you’ve got to live with them, beat’em!
No, I’m not suggesting violence. Beat the negativity; reach your potential.
I heard someone else say if you don’t know who you are, you’re defenseless to becoming what others say you are. People will say stop when you should continue, and they will ask you why this or that instead of why not.
After publishing two books, Room for Love and Faith: The Shunammite’s Blessing and Sandra Bland 2.0: Racist Policing in America, most of my family know I want to write a third one. All of the comments on my next venture weren’t positive and supportive, but that’s not surprising. We all have a few naysayers. But why would someone say that two published books are enough?
What positive things that we do are enough?
But I count it all good. Some people speak before they think.
After working for two years, no one suggested that was enough. Of course, no family member would’ve dared discourage me in such a worthy cause, and my husband certainly didn’t.
Knowing who you are and your potential is a line of defense to combat others’ negativity.
Go for it!
Negative thinking can poke holes in a person’s self-worth and erode stability and self-confidence. Who knows why some people try to rain on our parade? Maybe no one gave them an encouraging word. I’ve learned this is often the case. Sometimes people discourage others like they were discouraged. And folks with little or no aspirations find it difficult to encourage others to pursue their ambitions.
Like King David in the Bible, we must encourage ourselves. I feel a little encouragement coming on.
GO BETTY! GO BETTY!
Sometimes negativity from our family and friends is mental baggage that’s difficult to forget and discard. I bet you can recount one or more impactful experiences a few weeks or even decades ago. Instead of letting others’ perceptions be a drag, let it fire you up.
There’s nothing like proving someone wrong about who you are and what you can do and be. And more important than that is proving yourself right. Remember, we can do all thing through Christ who strengthens us.
I know that we’re adults. But what we want to be when we grow up is still a pertinent question. We’re still growing, right? We never stop growing.
Encourage you.
What’s the next act, chapter, or feature in your life’s story? Being our best self in every season is what life is about.
Telling others you disagree with their assessment of you and your circumstances is a stand-up way to curtail further negative comments. But showing them by achieving is better.
We all want people to believe in us, but first, we should believe in ourselves. We own our actions and our thoughts.
Robert Tew said, “Don’t let negative and toxic people rent space in your head. Raise the rent and kick them out.”
Be encouraged and encourage others.
Stay safe.