There are times when we must go through negative situations. Maybe people say something negative about us, or they show rejection or even resentment against us. In such situations, it may be difficult to stay positive. We may be inclined to react negatively to them. That won’t do us any good though; doing so will just make the situation worse. People may behave even more negatively to us. Our day would be filled with anger and disappointment. At the end, nobody wins.
Though it’s not easy, it’s important to stay positive in negative situations. Beat the negative situations by staying positive. Here are 15 tips on how to do it; pick the ones that work for you:
- Never respond when you are not calm. If you are not sure that you are calm, don’t respond. Take time to calm yourself down first.
- Take a deep breath as a first step to calm yourself down.
- Speak in gentle tone to reduce the tension of the situation.
- Realize that you can find opportunities in negative situations. Albert Einstein said: “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.”
- Look at the content of what people say to you for something positive that you can act upon to improve yourself. Don’t just reject the whole messages.
- For the rest of the messages which is negative, simply ignore it.
- Maintain positive view of the people. Maybe you don’t like their messages or behavior, but that doesn’t mean that you can hate them personally.
- Realize that having negative feelings will just hurt you, not them. So there is no reason for you to have any negative feeling.
- If you make mistakes, be open to admit it.
- If you make mistakes, remember this quote by George Bernard Shaw: “A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.”
- If you can, listen to motivational audio program to feed positive thoughts into your mind.
- Talk to a positive friend who can encourage you.
- Remember your favorite quotes to give you inspiration and motivation. This is one reason why you should have quote of the day.
- Look at the negative situations as your training sessions for real life. The higher you climb in life, the worse the negative situations would be, so you’d better be prepared for them.
- Realize that you can’t please everyone. In fact, nobody can. Sometimes you need to just let some people go. Realizing this will relieve you from a lot of unnecessary burden so that you can focus on the people that you can positively interact with.
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These are great tips, and I’d like to offer one more: always remember that even though you may be in a negative situation, you have the ability to remain positive in the first place. Knowing that possibility exists is half of the battle.
Thank you for the powerful words, Continue for these are the kind of words that give us hope.
Thank you. Good Works.
Hi Donald! While living a life as near to positive as possible, negativity doesn’t have to have a clearly negative effect 🙂
By that I mean, a person grows not just from their positive experiences but also by the not so positive. We learn, therefore, from our “mistakes.” I agreed going off the deep end is not a great way to handle things, and I also know that sometimes “righteous?” anger can be a good thing even if in the moment it doesn’t seem like it.
Stephen,
You are right, knowing that we have such ability can greatly help us stay positive. We should not let situations take control of our life. Instead, we should take control of the situations by staying positive.
David,
I agree with you. Negative experiences may in fact teach us more than positive experiences. It is our attitude that should remain positive so that we can learn as much as possible from those negative experiences.
But we must also realize that people can be evil and manipulative. They have their own motives as to their attitudes toward you. Realize that if you work under a woman a lot of “6th grade, she said, she did, crap” will inevitably follow. There is no advice out there to solve the boss’s mental issues. Just realize that no matter what they don’t dictate who you are! This article is filled with great advice but its easier said than done. Calm down, cry if you have to in privacy, take walk, come back to office without being seen by said mean person and get back to work… coffee is a comfort to me … even grabbing a bite to eat helps… you won’t want to eat, talk or look at anyone but let the moment pass…. put a smile on the next time you see them… it always confuses them as to why your no upset… thats my best advice that is left out from this article… use it wisely from one who got her position from the higher ups because I was more qualified than the boss’s best friend. Good Luck!
[…] Donald Latumahina is an avid learner who blogs regularly about personal growth and effectiveness. Read his articles on 15 Tips to Stay Positive in Negative Situations, and 10 Ways to Increase Your Arbitrage Power. digg_url = ‘http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/how-to-enjoy-what-you-are-doing-no-matter-what.html’; ( function() { var ds=typeof digg_skin==’string’?digg_skin:”; var h=80; var w=52; if(ds==’compact’) { h=18; w=120; } var u=typeof digg_url==’string’?digg_url:(typeof DIGG_URL==’string’?DIGG_URL:window.location.href); document.write(“”); } )() Author: Donald Latumahina Posted: Wednesday, September 19th, 2007 at 10:50 am Tags: attitude, happiness, life, motivation Bookmark or Share this with a friend! […]
I took alot from your post. I have a problem in a negative situation of taking it as a personal attack.
It could be critical information that I should grow from lf I just get
past the point of taking it personal.
I must realize I cannot please everyone & everyone is not looking out for my well being. In this world some people are sicker than others. I must cling to the positive & not let negative
people drag me down.
Every experience there is something to take from lt, even if I
have to meditate on it for awhile to figure out what it is
Isadora,
You’re right, doing the tips in this post are easier said than done. And yes, there are things that we cannot control. I believe that we can always control our responses though. If we focus on what we can control we will be better and better in managing the situations.
Kenneth,
I agree with what you said. Having the right mindset is key. If we have the right mindset we can see the situations differently and even use them as opportunities to grow ourselves.
great tips but only need that all people to learn this rules
Thanks, Jane. It’s indeed great if everyone can learn them, but at least we can start with ourselves.
[…] 15 Tips to Stay Positive in Negative Situations […]
[…] an avid learner who blogs regularly about personal growth and effectiveness. Read his articles on 15 Tips to Stay Positive in Negative Situations, and 10 Ways to Increase Your Arbitrage […]
[…] auf dieser Page hier: http://www.lifeoptimizer.org/2007/09/10/15-tips-to-stay-positive-in-negative-situations/ Einen Ratgeber gefunden in den miesesten Situationen einfach cool zu bleiben. Ungefähr wie der […]
Nice tips, Are all of the tips given by your own personal experience?
Well, yes. To write this post, I extracted the lessons I got from negative situations I encountered throughout the years.
You have a great list of tips here!
I would like to add one if you don’t mind. It is the piece about finding relief. Sometimes, if a situation has us upset we don’t have the cognitive or emotional ability to move back to where we had been.
We can however, find one thing within the situation, or the person to focus on that will make us feel just a little relief.
Relief is the path to attracting more joy.
With Gratitude…
[…] an avid learner who blogs regularly about personal growth and effectiveness. Read his articles on 15 Tips to Stay Positive in Negative Situations, and 10 Ways to Increase Your Arbitrage […]
[…] 15 Tips to Stay Positive in Negative Situations @ Life Optimizer […]
I like your article, especially no. 14 in this list.
You are very correct: the more you evolve, the tougher the situations will become. But without these negative happenings our life would be just joy and fun, and even if this sounds great, we wouldn’t learn anything at all. It’s the hard times that teach us a lesson.
I embrace you Donald and thank you again,
Razvan
Razvan,
That’s the truth though it’s not convenient. I like to think of it like training our muscles. Only hard training will grow our muscles.
Thanks for sharing, Razvan!
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15 Tips to Stay Positive in Negative Situations
These tips i must say are amazing. I just came into my room like a little girl, ready to cry and i googled how to stay positive and it worked like a charm:). Thank you!
[…] 15 Tips to Stay Positive in Negative Situations […]
how tha heck do you co-inside with a family who is struggling to get there own self on track?
[…] ???? 15 Tips to Stay Positive […]
[…] always easy to block out all the negative vibes going out right now but here are 15 tips from Donald Latumahina to help […]
[…] right: one way to stay positive is to turn off the news. From CNN (ironically): “For somebody that’s unemployed right […]
go serve someone you are angry with. buy them gifts. send them encouraging letters. greet them with a big smile even if in your heart u feel like strangling them. do these things and other good things for them continuosly. if u believe in God, then pray for them, ask God to bless them and give them happiness.
[…] website. At a first glance, I particularly found useful the 4 Ways to Feel Good entry, the 15 Tips to Stay Positive in Negative Situations and Live your Life with Confidence. Check it out, it’s worth it. It also has many posts in […]
7 Great Personal Development Blogs…
For today’s post I’ve compiled a list of some must read personal development / productivity / life enhancing blogs that I frequently read myself! The list is in no particular order, but I have given 3 recommended readings per blog. Have a …
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10 Tips to making good friend from from neighbours
Some Time when you want to make friendship with any person, but you feel bit scary and tensed to ask about making friendship, actually that time you’re not sure that whether he/she will accept you as a friend or refused you, if he/she refused you then surely you will be much agree on ourselves and thinking for long time that why I have asked that, but here is some tips to get sure before asking that whether he/she will be interested in making friendship.
1) Note his/her daily activities for few days that when he/she go to school/office and at which time often he/she come back to home, then try to be presence there in front of him regularly, and stand near by his door.
2) After couple days he/she will start to notice you, and then if possible for you then pay hello to him, otherwise stand there silent.
3) After 1 or 2 weeks later, suddenly don’t stand in front of his/her home for couple of days, then he/she will trying to looking for you, because he/she will use to see regularly, now you’re in his/her routine, so if some thing missing from routine then surely he/she will start to thinking about you.
4) After few days start standing again for few days, that time in often case he/she will try to ask you how are you, otherwise he/she will give you some good expressing like smile, at that period you will be sure that he/she is interesting to making friendship with you, because he glad to see you back on his/her routine.
5) Now on next day start to pay “hello” to him/her, surely he/she replied you in good manner, and that is the beginning sign.
6) Now you will not be scary, day by day by paying hello to him/her frequently.
7) After couple of days on that routine, you will not come again for 2 / 3 days, and see his/her reaction, he/she will surely tensed worry about you, he/she will trying to looking your door several times, and mostly of peoples trying to knocking his/her door and asking some think like that do you have sugar / salt / matchbox please?
8) If you appear that time, then surely he/she will ask that are you OKAY? Why you were not standing at corridor?
9) And then say him, that due to some works at home, and then formula got succeed after next time, you peoples will start to communication slowly and after few days you will be a good friends.
10) After being a good friend showing that you’re very lucky to be his/her friend
that sounds like stalking and mind games
[…] 15 Tips to Stay Positive in Negative Situations […]
Thanks for these good tips… i m starting this with myself. Specially with two
1] Never respond when you are not calm — This will help me to overcome my anger(1st of 3 negative thing in me)..
2] Sometimes you need to just let some people go… This will help me to overcome my emotional nature (2nd of 3 negative thing in me)….
I believe that if i can conquer these than i can conquer myself.
Also to every1 reading these i want to share 1 (Albert Einstein’s not sure) quote which in turn can motivate them
“Thanks to all who said no to me, Its bcouz of them i did it myself”…
Sooner you understand this and implement in your life ,you will see a change in your attitude towards whatever you do.
Thanks to all once again..
This is a great post. I really can identify with number one never respond when you are not calm. I have seen that in my own life, when I’m responding when I’m not calm, I move into a more reactive v.s proactive state. The reactive state can be harmful. Very nice tips here on staying positive during negative situations, I think that these tips here you mention display resilence on your part.
[…] 15 Tips to Stay Positive in Negative Situations […]
There is nothing more beautiful than apositive person. Wether in a bad situation, being positive shows a deep emotinal intellect and spirituality. As stephen Covey once stated “We are spiritual beings on a human journey” I think 🙂 Life is extremely deep and negativity just stops you from uncovering the trueth and greatness available.Be more than human, be positive, be larger than life.
Within the definition of “respond” in #1, I’d include tweeting. To anyone, or to everyone. A bad reaction you don’t mean, even if spouted to casual followers who don’t know the situation, kind of taints the water of everyone’s mood. Do it too often and it taints your reputation. It seems cathartic, but it just kills your followship’s buzz. And nobody responds with the pity you think you want. Which is just as well. (I speak from experience.)
All this is good until you’re in a situation that you CANNOT change and are so controlled and abused my freaks in your life that are your own family. Then it gets a little sticky. But thanks?
[…] Stay positive. There is no upside to negative thinking when it comes to losing weight. Staying positive will help you feel better about yourself, keep you motivated and reduce stress — all of which will help you lose more weight. […]
the darkest moment is just b4 the sunrise
hello sir,
I read your articles. They are very interesting. Right now, i need your help. There is one person who bothers me everyday. I don’t like him but he tries to attract me. He blackmails me of my past relationship and has spread rumors about me and spoiled my name.
He creates noise outside my house through his cars and bikes. He follows my car, train etc.
Is there a way to deal with this person so that i can remove him out of my life. He is just adding more and more negativity in my life and ceasing my opportunities of succeeding in life.
Please help me as to how i should do deal with this person.
I am unable any sort of help from my parents. What should i do?
I like another person named sharad but this person is coming in between. Is there any way i can gain the help of sharad. Please help me.
Please give me some suggestion
yuur realy good, i wish there was someone like that by my side.=[
I have reconciled within myself with the desparity of apparently trying to have meaningful relationships with people and with life..
But I am so alone, I feel what is the point in continuing..
I try to stay positive by working, going to the gym, cooking, meeting up with people, yet, I haven’t met or had anyone in my life of real consequence..
I know I should be priviledge with the life I have, there are many other people in this world, who, by circumstance are less fortunate..
So why do I feel like finishing it all..? I am slipping and I know it’s all down to me to do something about it, yet, my heart and soul is losing it’s desire to continue on..
I know I’ll be a failure if I don’t fix up, but..?!? I just don’t know or care for myself anymore..
[…] Stay positive. There is no upside to negative thinking when it comes to losing weight. Staying positive will help you feel better about yourself, keep you motivated and reduce stress ”” all of which will help you lose more weight. […]
This is a great list of positive attitude boosters, which I find very helpful. One other that I find helpful when I get pulled down into judgement and negativity is to connect with my physical body.
This reconnects me with reality, the present moment, where I can see more clearly where the other person it at, and so I am less inclined to place them in a negative box, shutting the whole situation down.
If I can remember to breathe and find my centre I often am able to step back from negativity and view the situation with more clarity and freshness.
[…] 15 Tips to Stay Positive in a Negative Situation […]
Overcoming your opposition is only the first step in overcoming Yourself – Michael Gee
Great post! So many times we forget the simple little tips to help us stay positive. Many times it is hard, and we will backslide some but it is important that we get back up and start again. Thank you for reminding us of some useful ways to help remain positive.
Negative situations can bring you down real quick if you are not aware of your mind state. Your tips can help people stay in control of their thoughts.
Cheers!
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I dig this post. Mirrors some of my own thoughts. I’d add in, Think of the Worst Case Scenario. Always puts things in perspective for me…and makes me laugh sometimes.
Thanks for this article.
Today has been a tough day for me, and it’s Valentines day– how ironic!
Anyway, I’ve been talked about behind my back today, and this article made me think that there are worse things that could’ve been said or done. Either way, I am still a little upset about the situation but thanks for the tips. I’ll try not to let the negativity get to me.
Forgiveness is the most important virtue – this is what I was taught by my family in Nepal. Forgive yourself and forgive others, this will make this world even more beautiful.
– Nepal
stay positive, think positive
Hi, thanks for this article. I’m just wondering if you could give some advice of the positive audio programs mentioned? I grew up with a strong faith but have lost it, so need some replacements to my old beliefs, and having difficulty finding positive recordings. Thanks!
Thanks sometimes live becomes so harsh, but at least now i can smile when i remember your tips on how to handle such situations in live i wish you all the best as you discover more and more.
Anna,
Hope my e-mail finds you well!!
Just wondering if you received names for motivational audio speeches as am looking for something similar for myself,
Very much appreciated.
Regards,
I just was in a situation with my sister, her adittude made me feel negative and I reacted the wrong way not thinking I sould have said something positive to change her thoughts.Knowing positive things to say rubs off.
thanks for your attitude.please inspire all the people like this through out the world.thank u sir
Thank you so much for these great, motivating words. I feel much more enlightened and positive now. I needed it.
I’m thankful for these tips on how to response in a negative situation. I’m in the learning process now. I hope i can apply it daily in my life. I don’t want to lose a friend. God bless you.
Thanks for such a lovely article, i loved it!!!!:):)
Thank you for the positive post! It is refreshing to read something positive, especially when so many articles are negative. Again, thank you!
lovely article on how to remain positive and calm.
I’m a huge fan of people who are optimists. Thanks for this article, brilliantly written. Thumbs up!!! 😉
Great tips here! One I would like to add…..reduce stress and laugh more! The less stressed you are and the more you laugh, the more positive your attitude will be overall. As an author and professional organizer I am consistently sharing ways to do both. 🙂
Thank you so much,
I was so angry and frustrated because of few mean guys. Reading this article gave me a lot of clarity.
Well it’s difficult to stay positive with all the outside pressures of everyday life, kids, family your partner and off course the pressures of money always play a big part. I’m one who thinks positive, try not to think the worst, I believe in calling the bad and projecting the good.
Big part of staying positive is love, yes with work it can conquer all.
We need to take a step back, two to the side in order to move forward, with help from the one you love you/we/I can do it.
This really makes me happles
#BArrrzz
Still relevant today. Thanks.
Find those people who are like-minded in their overall goals and build each other up, rather than contributing to their downfall. In the bad times are where true friends are found. You may find more ROI on this than any stock tip!
Keep up the good work