Just a few weeks ago I was watching an awards show on television. At the same time I happened to also be browsing on Facebook. While on Facebook one of the groups I “liked” began commenting on the same show I was watching. I very quickly noticed that all of the comments being made in the group were negative. They all centered around how unflattering they felt someone looked.
I didn’t think much of it at first, but then it really got me scratching my head. The things I was thinking were very different then the comments they were making. I wondered why this group was so negative and what could be done to change their perceptions.
I made a promise to myself that I would go out of my way to only write comments that were positive and only respond to comments that were positive. Now don’t get me wrong, that does not mean that I didn’t periodically have unpleasant personal opinions about the things I saw and heard. But knowing personally how detrimental, painful, and infectious negativity is in our society today; it was simply my plan to balance the negativity that was being spread with more positivity.
How on earth, I thought, are we going to change the views of society if we continue to perpetuate the very negativity that we complain about?
As a child therapist, I often share with parents and teachers that they need to provide 10 times the positive reinforcement to each negative comment or reaction. This is considered balanced due to the heavy influence negativity has on people. I found myself offering the same advice to adult leaders. When evaluating their staff, it is much more productive to provide some positive feedback before offering the negative criticism. Again Balance.
Somehow balance was not in this group. What I saw was quite the contrary and it got me feeling really discouraged. Asking myself, how is this helping? Who is this helping?
What was designed to be a very uplifting and inspirational awards show was being beaten down with criticism and ridicule. What I saw was average sized women choosing not to wear spanx, showing their love for who they are (I mean that is what the awards show was all about wasn’t it?). What I read over and over again was, “that dress is not flattering”, “is she pregnant?” “Is it just me or is there something wrong with her midsection?”, and “what is up with her hair?” I was hurt as if it were me personally they were criticizing. But the reality is, it was me they were criticizing. I mean I looked just like some of those women.
Not feeling so good about the discouragement I was feeling, I committed myself to restoring the balance by being positive. Unfortunately I am but one of many million, but it only starts with one right? So, here I am again challenging you. For just 30 days focus on displaying positivity. Think twice before you type that Facebook or Twitter post. Is it something you would want someone to say to you? Is it something that will be hurtful? Is there something else you could say that would make someone smile? Go out of your way to look for the positive aspects of life and share them.
If the negative thoughts are just that overwhelming and you must say them, write them down and then throw them in the trash. For the next 30 days Be Positive. Can you do it? Are you in this with me? Will it help? What do you think? Share your thoughts. I’m curious.
Change your mindset, Change the world.
The Crossroads 
This message is at the heart of why I do what I do! I truly believe that we as a race, the HUMAN race have to make a cognizant effort to sensor our words. There is power in words, both negative and positive. When I was a paraprofessional for Special Education children, I had a saying over my desk. It stated, “If a child cannot learn the way we teach, then we had better teach in a manner in which a child can learn!” We can continue to do the same thing the same way expecting a different outcome, but we all know to do so, is the truest form of insanity. In order for our world to experience change, we are going to have to implement change at it basic level; with our words. By speaking positively are we saying that negative things are not happening in our lives? Absolutely not. But we are declaring to the universe that we would rather use the power of our words to plant seeds of that which is good, positive, fruitful, of a good report instead of the opposite. Thank you Sis for spreading the positive… you are indeed a light!
Well spoken Denise!! I feel so passionately about this and I am so glad to see I am not alone. Oh the power of the tongue. If we only knew, I mean truly knew. Hoping for more people like you in the world.
Agree with you; although it may sound contradictory now, for those who read my last post, as I said that to friends we need to honestly say the good and the ugly, if we are to help them.
Your text resonated with my me because you touched upon the need to build from strength, using a positive mindset, which is much more powerful than crashing people’s dignity with negativism and ridicule. Thanks.
Well I would agree with you that it is important to address both good, bad, and the ugly. I just wish more people would give 10 “goods” to every “bad/ugly” and not the other way around.
Let’s keep following your advise and spread a positive attitude everywhere.
I’m in!