Negativity

“Two men looked through prison bars, one saw mud, the other stars.” Ok that does not address why they were in prison in the first place. But good chance they deserved to be there. The point for me is though what they saw.

One obviously spent their time looking down. I know I need to be careful as there is a beam in my eye but some people are downers. It seems they can find nothing positive even in the most positive event. I must admit I need to brace myself for that, if I know it is something that has to be done.

There is a difference when it is said as a lesson. As someone said, “Even if I'm talking about something that's negative, I look at it as putting my mistakes out there for people to learn from it.” For some that is not the case though. Mistakes are the way of life and all problems are everybody elses fault.

That raises some issues for me though. I think that even if every problem and difficulty were suddenly solved I would still take me with me. If I am negative I will be negative. Habits can be hard to break.

I cannot be too harsh though. Often there are good reasons for the negativity. Yet I think we are all faced with the same choices. The trouble with negativity is it seems to harden. Something that could have been dealt with early solidifies, and, before I know it, it is the go to response.

Being negative is easy though. It is weird how that is often my first response. Someone may be doing something and I think if they did it this way that would be better. Yet just the fact they are doing it is a positive. At work, when I delegated something, I would let a person go once I knew they were on the right track. If it was not to my satisfaction I would do the straightening up at the end. The only way to learn is to do. A head full of knowledge is useless unless applied.

The other guy saw stars though. I might be a bit Pollyanna like, but I have been in both places and positive is a way better place to be. It seems appropriate that a basketballer said the following. “Everything negative - pressure, challenges - is all an opportunity for me to rise” (Kobe Bryant)

Even when I think an idea is a good one, it is healthy to me to question it and put up arguments as to why it cannot be done. That does not necessarily mean I think it can’t be done, but questions serve to make things surer.

Being positive to me is not adhering to something despite the evidence, it is adhering to something because of the evidence. Just because something has not been done does not mean it can’t be done. Sometimes after establishing something is a goer, the only evidence I have is the person. Yet that can be enough.

I am not for taking unnecessary risks, but I am all for taking risks if it will achieve a worthwhile aim. Habitual negativity is not a part of the equation. ​