How to Stop Negativity
Most of the content we create for the How to SWIM series starts off with an identifying hook that speaks to who this content is for. For today’s post, we actually want to make it very clear who this content was not intended for.
If you are someone who prefers to be led by your emotions, today’s post may not be for you. If you are someone who enjoys laughing at the expense of others, especially while refusing to take ownership of the impact of your words or actions, this post was not made for you. This post is for people who see negativity in their lives and in the world around them and desire to build or help create a positive change. This post is for people who actually want to stop negativity.
Define the Problem
Life is full of unpleasant or negative experiences. One of the challenges we are faced with, often on a daily basis, is the advent of determining when it’s necessary that we do something about them.
Negativity can be defined as “the fact of tending to consider only the bad side of something/somebody; a lack of enthusiasm or hope” (Oxford Learner’s Dictionary).
Can you remember a time where you were in a situation where you felt a lack of enthusiasm or hope? Why were you there? What was the driving force behind that experience? How could you have made things different or better? We can’t control everything in our lives, however, we can overcome some of the challenges we face once we understand them better.
For example, if you continually find yourself in the middle of workplace gossip or drama, you could remove yourself from unpleasant discussions about others or commit to taking your issues directly to the people you have concerns with. If you are struggling with an unprecedented onslaught of unsolicited destructive opinions from strangers on the internet, you could change the privacy settings of your accounts, or take a break from the internet altogether.
Once you have defined and understood the problem area in your life that is draining your enthusiasm or sense of hope, you need to determine the best course of action on your part. Sometimes we get really excited about placing the blame on others, however, it is actually very important that we genuinely understand the very real role we play in the ongoings of our own lives.
Do you know how you stop negativity? You simply stop feeding it. Wherever you plant your focus, you will see growth. This is why people who focus on the idea that they are incapable of achieving great things tend to accomplish very little with their lives, and the people who focus on the concept of everything that makes them feel amazing, competent and/or capable tend to accomplish many great things.
The solution to dealing with experiences of negativity is to build experiences of positivity.
Positivity can be defined as “the practice of being positive in your attitude and focusing on what is good in a situation.” (Oxford Learner’s Dictionary)
Dictionary definitions of this term make it difficult to reach a common understanding on the practical application of positive thinking, especially considering that what is seen as ‘good’ to one person might not be the same for another. At SEA, we define positivity as an experience that produces confidence and clarity. It is something that we build that allows us to see more of what is possible and promotes awareness around what can help us move forward in our lives in a more favourable manner.
When you lean into positivity, it creates a boundary between you and negative experiences. If you’re suffering the consequences of the choice you made to dwell in negativity, choose a different path. If you’re struggling with the impact of a negative experience, create as much space as you can between you and the experience, and focus on building positivity in your life. See how things begin to change.
Why sink when you can SWIM?
Related Courses
During this course, students will reflect on the reality of their past, present and future identities, and the significance of interpersonal relationships and habitual practices to build self-confidence and determination.