Do you ever find yourself dragged down by negativity? Negativity that comes from the media, the people around you, challenging circumstances, your own limiting beliefs, or some other source?
The good news is that negativity doesn’t have to have the final word. We have the ability to take action and focus our thoughts and actions on what will bring out the best in ourselves and others. Here are five simple actions you can take to fan the flame of positivity.
5 Simple Actions to Fan the Flame of Positivity
1. Make Your Room Great
You may not be able to control the whole house you live in, but you do have a room and a thermostat you have control over. Your room may be composed of staff, volunteers, your board, those you serve, your family, and you.
Every day when you wake up, make it your goal to be the best you you can possibly be and from that place, look for ways to bring out the best in others. Let the negativity around you go right through you by tuning it out and staying focused on what you can control – not what’s out of your control.
2. Differentiate Melancholy from Negativity
A lot of “positive talk” fails to acknowledge the presence of legitimate loss and the emotional roller coaster of adversity. We must grieve legitimate loss and avoid a “let’s just be happy all the time” way of thinking.
Healthy positivity is an attitude that believes you’ll get through what you’re going through. Positivity appreciates the growth that happens in the face of hardship and fights against being swallowed up by a doomsday mentality or the belief that nobody cares.
3. Be the Change you Want to See
It was Mahatma Gandhi who said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” What exactly does that mean in this context? It means we need to embody the values of positivity and hopefulness in our speaking, thinking, leading, and responding.
You become the change when you avoid being pulled down by the negativity around you and focus on the good, the best, and what’s possible. An equal or greater force than negativity is the person who has lit themselves on fire with hope and a core belief that says, “Things can get better and here’s something we can do now to help turn this around!”
4. Invite Others to Join You
We can’t directly change other people but we can influence them by our words and actions. When we influence with positive energy and enthusiasm, we whet their appetite with hope.
If your life radiates a peaceful spirit, optimism, a persevering attitude, kindness of words and actions – others take notice. There is something magnetic about a person who lives what they believe and who boldly invites others to join them.
5. If Others Fail to Join You – Press On!
Positivity — the belief in a brighter future and the attitude that believes you can make a difference — is a daily choice you can make regardless of the feedback you receive. You may not have been born into an environment of positivity but you can choose to create one.
The strength of the human spirit to overcome odds, pain, doubt, and challenging circumstances is truly amazing if you decide it’s possible. As we approach the summer season, may hour carve out the time to stoke the fire of positivity in your life.
Final thought
Fan the flame of positivity by taking time to rest, reflect, replenish, recharge, relate. You will be a better leader and more joy filled person because of it.
How will you fan the flame of positivity in your life these next two months?
