Optimist vs Pessimist

In our walk of life we will come across all kind of people. Some will make you, some will break you & some will take you. Some you will resist, some you will get magnetized too & some you will always keep looking for.

Handling pessimists realized, I have to learn to deal with them without my positivity dying. For every 1 negative person I face now, there are probably thousands of them out there whom I’ll meet one day. If I learn how to deal effectively no weather can wear me out.

If there’s someone negative in your life at the moment, don’t let yourself be affected by them. You’re not alone in your problem – I face negative people as well and dealing with them is always a learning experience. While people can try to get you down, you've a choice in how you react to them.

One thing I learnt people colored towards negativity harp on the bad things and ignore the positive stuff. They have a tendency to exaggerate issues they are facing, making their predicament seem a lot worse than actually is. Provide a listening ear and offer help if needed. Provide support let them know they are not alone. However, be sure to draw a line somewhere.

Negative people can be quite critical at times. They tend to drop insensitive comments that are hurtful, especially if they are directed at you. Recognize that the negative person usually means no harm they are just caught up in negativity. Start by learning how to deal with critical comments. Objectify the comments made, Rather than taking their words personally & recognize that they are just offering a point of view. Sieve out the underlying message.

Be conscious of how much time you’re spending with them limit the duration where you can help it. For example, if they want to hang out with you but you don’t enjoy their company, learn to say NO. Keep to the objective of the discussion & don’t let it extend beyond that time.

As Jim Rohn puts it – “You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with”. What this quote means is that who you spend your time with has an impact on the person you eventually become.

Think about the times you hang out with negative people – Do you feel more positive or negative after that? Same for positive people – How do you feel after spending some time with them?