By Frank G Gallis -

So, have you noticed? Things are tough all over. Whether you are rich and well-off, average middle class or living at or below the poverty level; things are tough for everyone. I am sure to get several arguments regarding how “tough” it is for those who are considered to be living in the “well-off” group. But, they, too, are finding their economic situation to be harder than it was. Now, you’re saying…”Gee how hard can it be when you a zillionaire?” Well, consider this comparison: if your investments, 401K, stock, etc. had $10,000 in it 2 years ago, now it has less than $5,000. That’s at least a 50% loss. But, let’s say you had $10M your investment account just 2 years ago and now you have only $5M. That, too, is a 50% loss; both situations are the same pain, just on a different scale.

Today, as you’re traveling down Main Street, you notice empty buildings where you shopped many times. You see restaurants where you brought your family and friends to eat several times now closed and gone. If you travel into an industrial park, you’ll see large buildings empty; “For Lease” and “For Sale” signs are everywhere. Big name companies and small alike are gone.

You listen to the radio, watch TV, read any newspaper and you see and hear just how bad the national & international economies are and how long it’s been this bad. Unemployment is high – too high; houses are “underwater;” the cost of everything has skyrocketed, and businesses are leaving the community, the state, even the country. Here again, things are tough and have caused everyone much pain.

But, what about those people who are still lucky enough to have a job? How many times do you hear them constantly complain about what they have to do, how much work they are expected to accomplish in the workday, rant about the decisions that are made, complain about their boss, complain about their fellow workers, rant about the traffic and travel time to get to/from work, holler about the weather, etc. While they are doing all this complaining and spouting negativity, they are gaining the reputation of having a bad attitude.

A negative attitude prevents you from getting ahead in almost every company. Many who are identified by management as negative employees get passed up at the time of salary increases and promotion. When this happens, they have even more reasons to be negative.

So, now that you are inundated with so much negativity everywhere, you wonder how you can Stay Positive when so much Negativity is going on around you. Let’s start by stating some facts of life:

You can’t change the color of rain. Which is to say, if you are unable to directly affect the situation, then why spend your time & energy complaining about it? When you are done with the ranting about how bad things are, you will notice that you are right back where you were when you began ranting. Nothing has changed; things are still tough.

Misery loves company. Most people who are negative tend to associate with other negative people; negativity attracts negativity.

Now let’s be honest. There are two sides to all of us: the positive side and the negative side. Everyone is vulnerable to having their negative side appear once in a while; it happens to us all. But, we do not have to be negative all the time about almost everything! If you are unable to have a positive impact on the issue or concern that has caused you to be negative, then why be negative. Positivity is no stronger a human characteristic than negativity. Both sides have equal strength. It is you who has control over which one you will be.

All of us have to deal with issues, concerns, challenges, and problems as long as we live. Our problems and challenges go away when we “go away.” Cemeteries are filled with people who have no problems and no challenges to deal with anymore. Since you are alive, you guessed it, there will be even more problems and greater challenges ahead of you. You and I just can’t avoid it.

We can choose how we handle adversity. We have control, but, we must learn how to use it, how to stay positive in this very negative world. Think about this…If you are unable to get through the tough times, you can not enjoy the good times. Life has its cycles. There will be many good times in your life and there will be many tough times.

If you are not in control of your attitude during the tough times, you will be totally unable to recognize the good times when they are present. You will have become so mentally conditioned to be negative that you will not be able to be positive when good things are happening all around you. Because it always seems like the tough times come on so quickly and last so much longer than the good times, when we focus on the negative, we don’t even see good times beginning to emerge.

So, just how to can you stay positive in a negative world:

1. Most importantly: Count Your Blessings. You have several blessings in your life, but you must learn how to focus your mind on counting them. Are you presently in good health? Are your loved ones in good health? Count this as one of the most important blessings you have.

2. Learn the skills of Directing Your Thoughts, Controlling Your Emotions and Ordaining Your Destiny

3. Learn the Power of Positive Self-Suggestion. Suggestion is the highest form of motivation. Self-suggestion being the highest of the three types of suggestion. Self-suggestion is what you tell you on how to think, act and react to the world around you, whether at home, work or play.

4. Set & Achieve a Goal, no matter how small you think it is, Daily.

5. Be a Good-Finder in others. Encourage others to be better than they are, show them how to do better in what they are engaged in.

6. Learn to talk with others, not at them.

7. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. You can do it! (whatever it is) The only things you can’t do are violate the laws of God or your fellow man and you can’t fail!

8. Share a Part of You that is Good with others.

9. Engage in Activities to Improve Yourself. Read positive books, do research on subjects you do not now know, use the Internet to expand your knowledge and know-how, engage in a positive conversation with family, friends, and fellow employees. Control the conversation to be a positive one and do not allow any negative input.

10. Remember…You are a Mind with a Body. The body will do whatever the mind, that you control, tells it to do, including speaking those words coming out of your mouth. You are a mind with a body and YOU decide what comes out, either positive or negative. Learn how to control your mind.

Keep this in mind: we all get what we deserve in life. We don’t get any more or less than we deserve. We all want more, we all believe that we’ve earned more than we have; we all believe that we deserve more, and we want it now. But, in the end, we get only what we deserve.

In life, there are only three things needed to achieve happiness. We all believe that there are more, but if you are in good health (which is always the foundation), the remaining three are: Worthwhile Work to Do, A Future to Look Forward To and having Someone to Love. That’s it. If you have these 3 and you are in good health, then YOU HAVE IT ALL. There is no more – Stay Positive and Be Happy.

This article was submitted by The Management Development Group, specializing in the training and development of corporate employees, mid- and senior management and C-Level executives in small, medium and large fortune 500 companies. Whether you have a product or services industry, The Management Development Group is fully prepared to address specific subject matter that will make a positive impact on the growth, development, expansion and profitability of your company and its people, regardless of size.

Frank G. Gallis
President/CEO
Management Development Group, Ltd.
Solutions Designed with Your Success in Mind
http://www.mgmtdevgroup.com

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