Today’s card reminds me of a project I did at work. We had a virus running rampant on our call center floor. It was making everyone sick. This wasn’t a flu or a cold we could just get over. It was far far worse.
It was negativity. (reverberating voice)
And it was gross. Everyone of us was participating even if to bitch about our neighbors being negative. LOL! There was no hope for us.
I offered to send out “Positivity People Posts”. A good number of my teammates accepted. We did manage to turn ourselves around for the most part. Here is one that I wrote.
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Abraham Lincoln said, “Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.”
I’d have to agree with that. The more we kvetch about our situation, the worse it gets. It’s hard to stay positive. It’s hard to not go down that slippery slope of negativity when someone else is. We don’t want to be seen as being non-supportive of our friends and co-workers.
Consider this. How much more supportive is it to pull them up out of that downward spiral? How much more personal strength does it take to turn their attitude, and yours, around?
When we are negative, we pile the weight of the world on our shoulders. It’s been proven to be a very real cause of physical pain. The worse you think things are, the worse you feel.
So how happy are you? Can you make up your mind that for this week, you will be as happy as you can and then some? Deal!
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So I’ve been on a positivity kick for a while. And, y’all? It’s working for me. It’s not always easy (see yesterday’s post) but it is working.
This gorgeous 3 of Feathers (Wands) from the Fifth Tarot makes me feel at peace. There’s a rainbow behind the clouds and the three feathers are so prtty. I love doves as well. I like that these aren’t the normal white ones, but the kind of doves so common to this part of Texas.
How happy are you? Can you be happy just for the next five minutes? Then extend that by another five?
Three of Feathers, Fifth Tarot, Blue Dolphin Publishing, 2009
Seek Joy, y’all. Pass it on.
This workbook is helping me see a way to my goal of making “Seek Joy, Y’all” an international motto.
So true Arwen – one of my daily practices is to ask myself EVERY DAY how much I’m enjoying life right now on a scale of 1 (I’m not) to 10 (I LOVE my life!)…and if it’s less than 10 to move it up a bit by making it important. I can remember a decade ago if I’d checked on the figure, it would have been about a 2. Shudder! Since I got positive-r, it’s so much better! xxx
Oh fabulous, Donna! I love that scale. 😀 Positive is better, isn’t it! Loving your blog posts too.
I remember working in an office and joining in on the negativity. I felt awful about myself and the days were miserable. I even brought the negativity home with me. That was a long time ago. Now, whenever I feel the urge to judge or complain I see it as an opportunity to shift something inside of myself that needs healing or nurture my physical body if it’s run down. Thank you for sharing your experience and reminding me of my own.
Oh that’s beautiful, Linda! 🙂 I know what you mean about bringing it home too. I really love your attitude of seeing ” it as an opportunity to shift something inside of myself that needs healing or nurture my physical body if it’s run down.” That’s brilliant.
Misery does want company, but you don’t have to join in on the misery. I definitely think it is much more significant to give the desired attention, but to work at leaving the misery out of the equation for yourself. Supporting others to understand and rise out of it is much more powerful. Keep spreading the contagion of positivity!
Donovan, thank you. You are so right about supporting others being more powerful. 😀
Oh I love feathers!!!! So glad I came by to see that card with them on it! Love that quote by Lincoln too……….the energy of negativity is so heavy…..love how you described it as a sickness as being negative can truly make you physically sick too……thx for sharing…..enjoyed reading it!
Thank you, Gina. I love this deck. It’s very fabulous 😀
Thank you Arwen! I needed that post today!! Felt a bit grumpy without any reason and noticed how it affected the others around me. I tried being happy for at least 5 minutes and it worked. Then another 5 and somehow the day turned out to be really good. Funny how it can be so simple, isn’t it? Thank you so much for saving my day today (and that of my family), Arwen!!! 🙂
Halina, thank YOU for doing it! It really is a tiny thing that can be so big.
I found this post hard. What if you are objectively in a difficult situation, and have to talk about the tough things on a regular basis? Where is the line between staying factual and kvetching?
I think it’s probably all in our attitude, and I don’t think I’ve been doing too well here. So, thanks for the thought-provoking post – I shall try to bring some more positivity into my approach!
Hugs. I think it is staying stuck in the hard stuff. Acknowledging it is one thing. Letting it win is another. You seem to do a great job of balancing to me…just from what I read in your blog. 😀
Thanks, Arwen 🙂