Overcoming the negative
Have you ever noticed how quickly we stream negativity?
Too often you hear someone say, “Boy, that cashier was rude to me,” or “Traffic was awful today.” Compare that to how often you hear someone talk about how nice the road was or how happy they are to be alive.
We are hardwired to pass the bad stuff on, but good stuff takes focus and intention.
Picture this, someone comes in from being out and about and says, “The cashier was so nice today, the store had toilet paper in stock, and the sun was shining with a gentle warm breeze.” While those who listen will smile and nod, they will not find this news contagious enough to spread it (unless they know someone searching frantically for toilet paper).
On the other hand, watch someone come in and say, “I just saw a horrible wreck. A Dodge dually t-boned a limousine!”
“No way, was anybody hurt?”
The worse the story, the more prone we’ll be to tell others about it. Then, a little exaggeration might get added in as the viral negativity morphs and mutates to fit its hosts.
I walked with a friend through a dark time in his life when the local news shared details of his life. It was shocking how wrongly they presented the story of a man a knew and a situation I was very aware of on at least three sides of the story. Everyone, especially commercial media, spins the negative to fit a narrative they want others to believe.
In an electrical current, electrons jump from atom to atom almost at lightning speed. A transformer boosts that charge up to be more powerful. Some people are transformers of negativity, boosting and broadcasting to a wider market.
Check what is flowing in your life. A fear, complaining, hatred, or anger surging through you?
A true believer should be grounded in Jesus. The negative flow should end with us. Scripture and prayer give us a positive offset that diffuses that lethal energy.
Others need you through the hard times. You might become their spiritual grounding rod until they learn how to anchor in Jesus (yes, even people in your church might not know how to diffuse for themselves).
If you are having a hard time getting rid of the negative, watch the video (above). Let’s talk. It is important that you learn to not be a conductor of negativity because so many are needing you.
4 Comments
Good article.
I have been in this very situation myself. I had to remind myself to speak positive about my negative situation. Back in December 2016, I left my husband of 23 years. He had walked away from God and was distancing himself from his family. I couldn’t stay I a loveless marriage. I moved back in with my parents with my son. I had only $300 to my name and no car or place of my own. I had no job and my marriage was falling apart. Before all this happened, my husband and I had evangelized, helped out churches and even started 2 churches. I was devastated and wanted to lash out at my husband. I was going into a depression where my son would have to make me eat and I would just cry all the time. I blamed God at first for my marriage falling apart and having to move in with my parents. I finally shook myself and realized, even if my husband would serve God, I would. I made myself go back to church and getting into the services with worship. God brought me through the depression. Whenever anyone would talk bad about him, I would defend him and talk the good things. I had to distance myself from negative people too. Back in November 2019, about a week or so after my son’s wedding, I received divorce papers. Although I was hurt, I still talked positive things about my husband. February 26, 2020, my divorce became final and although it hurts that after 27 years he would walk away, I still talk about the good things. The reason is I know that if I allow the negativity to happen. I will be right back in depression. The saying is true that life or death is in the tongue. Depression has to go when you speak good things, even towards the ones who have hurt you.
Thank you for sharing the rawness of your story. Thank you for speaking life in the tough stuff you have been through!
Love this article gracefully put. Its is easy to be negative and say things not so nice and you think no harm meant. Thats why Jesus said what i say unto you i say unto all” Watch”
WATCH WORK WORK WORK PRAY. NOTICE 3 WORKS. THANKS FOR THIS ARTICLE PUTS THIS IN PERSPECTIVE. LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE.