How do you prevent yourself from being affected by others' negativity?

Question

I am a very positive person, but lately I have had to work with so many negative people that I have struggled to maintain my usual sunny attitude. Half the time I feel like a bird with broken wings. Do you have any strategies that help you cope with negative energies?

Answer 1

Think of a place that you really would love (it can be real or imagined). Create a mental image of that place in your mind. Focus on the details. How does the breeze feel there? What does the sky look like? Things like that. Once you have that image fixed, keep bringing it up from time to time, like you were going there for a brief visit. Then, when the sour people get on your nerves, find a quiet moment and close your eyes and go to your sanctuary. Really try to relax into it. Enjoy it as your own private hideout. That will help you cope with the blue meanies.

Answer 2

Avoid as many as you can. Don't be a part of gossip. If others' negativity is stemming from stress, try listening to them. You may be the only person that can help since you're so positive. Ask them what's bothering them. Sometimes people need a shoulder. You may end up being more appreciated in the long run by working through this instead of running from it. If the anger is directed toward you then I know how you feel. People can be very draining. If you like your job throw yourself into it. If not, find another one. Even if you don't find one the fact that you're looking could be a big stress relief. I always browse the want ads when I'm having a bad day. Nobody has to know. Sometimes when people see that they're dragging others down they change their attitude. If it's people that you normally talk to distance yourself. They'll get the point. It could be that alot of people that you're working with have troubles at home right now. If you don't have any problems dragging you down other than your co-workers consider yourself lucky and be thankful. If the behavior of these people are a constant then I say refer back to the first sentence.

Answer 3

Man do I know how you feel, half of my family is like that. I guess they say everyone has a set point of happiness. The scale is from 1-10, ten being the highest. Since you sound like a 10, feel blessed that you're not a 2, but as you say, there is no way to get away from those negative depressing people. I would just use reverse psychology on them, but the crazy thing is, the more happy and positive you are the more they try to bring you down.

Answer 4

I was the same way ,happy go lucky not a care in the world until my wife passed away then my whole world came crashing down around my head. I have found solace in reading for knowledge rather than enjoyment. But, also to overcome the loss of my spouse. So I read all the books that I could get on the subject psychology books, medical, books,spiritual books. I was relieved that through the reading of those books I had gained a greater understanding of the human condition as well as my own. Information is the key as well as bri9nging you to the presence and the realization that you are the only one that you have to live with and everything else is arbitrary(it does not matter).Here are some if the books that I have read that will hopefully teach you how to manage your emotions.

Answer 5

first of all let it be none the only way to fly is the cup is half full and not half empty . IT sounds like your trying to teach them something you work so hard to develop. Is it fair to just give it away to some unworthy person where they fight you every inch of the way . They may be feeding on you racking you brains teaching a no brainer something thats either built in or not .Thats your fault if your falling for the same game. Shut it off when it shows up unless theres something there worth developing. Strategies is in my world compare a Battery and an alternator im the batterie world is the alternator if im running on my B and people are the Alternators if there not rechargeing me like seeing the cup half full then how long do you think ill last talking to dead weight if there not charging me then there draining me and not giving back the juice iv been giving Naturelly your gonna burn out ?dont beat a dead horse as the saying goes unless there recharging you. If you must talk and whatever the outcome is it is .let it go you did yours thats all can be exspected.YOU DIG. DO DO BRAIN. PEACE OUT CUPER HALFER FULLER.

Answer 6

,Keep your positive attitude, many people with a negative attitude, when trying to make a decision say and think what if it goes wrong, what will happen? If you think it going to go wrong it usually does. With your positive attitude you assume that it will go right and if not you can make it right. Many people make their life miserable with with their negative attitude and misery loves company. Its great to have a positive attitude and with your strength and your strong will life will be much happier without the gloom and doom of you fellow workers. Positive is always stronger negative and their are many more negative people in this world than positive. Look George Washington, what if he had negative attitude . Keep up with your positive thinking you will always come out on top!

Answer 7

Work with negative people? I sympathize. I live with my extremely negative mother in law. My kids aren't even allowed to have friends over because she is such a recluse.
At any rate, one of the best solutions I have found is to remember that no one can be positive all the time and no one can be negative all the time. Life is going to be full of ups and downs. (Actions as well as attitudes) Also remember that your sunny attitude may be one of the things that helps brighten their days. (Unless they are so negative that I just annoys them) That is another thing I love to do when M-I-L is especially grouchy. Be just as cheery as possible.
Smile! Happy people are in a shortage in this insane world! :-)

Answer 8

Yes it sucks how such people can have that affect on you. If you can try to avoid talking to them. Otherwise you just have to know that they have some kind of issue going on and that it doesn't really matter to you so that it won't affect you. I don't know maybe talk to them on a personable level and ask them why they are so negative. But then again negative tend to get more negative by that question. You can try to help them out but this is work afterall and maybe its the work that is stressing them out and that's just how they deal with it. Nothing you can do about that. They can only change themselves.

Answer 9

O god YES! I work with older men who MOST of the time are cranky old farts... So to maintain my positive attitude, I have realized from past experiences that the ONLY thing I can control is myself, NO person can CONTROL anyone elses actions, So if they are talking trash about something and I just dont feel like getting involved with their drama, I walk away, or occupy myself doing something else. When their drama is directed at me, I just say, Ill work on that boss, and keep smiling. At my last job I worked with ALL WOMEN.... which was hell in itself... So to stay away from all their drama (which was 10x worse than these guys I work with now) I ignored them when they got like that, I walked away and eventually they kept me out of their gossip because they knew it didnt affect me like that. I hope some of this helps. Good luck and stay positive! I always say that if people put half as much effort on themselves as they do tearing down all others, everyone would be MUCH happier. Read my about me... It says it all!

Answer 10

You have to think along these guidelines:

These people were raised different than me. They were raised with negative attitudes and outlooks on life, therefore that's all they know. They can't help being negative because they've learned this behavior and are acting out what they've been taught.

I know what you mean, I have family who's negative and all I know sometimes is to STAY AWAY. But that's hard to do at work.