The economy sucks. Everyone's an asshole. That one blogger? Yeah, she's a scammer.
Pessimism permeates the air.
Is there anything positive in the world anymore?
It's no secret that our society is enamored with the temptation of impending doom. It's what sells… but as information becomes more abundant our options are beginning to expand.
There's no law saying you have to be cynical. In fact, the most successful people in the world are choosing to opt out of the world of negativity.
No, that doesn't mean they are buying one way plane tickets to Fuji and ignoring the realities of the world. Rather, they are consciously choosing to focus on what brings them closer to their goals.
Sure, the world isn't perfect. But don't let that stop you from seeing the good in the world… because there is good, a lot of it.
As someone who prides himself in looking on the bright side, I too can have bouts of pessimism. I've found the following tips helpful in keeping focused and grateful when bombarded with waves of gloom.
Admit You're Being Cynical
That's right.
Admit you're viewing the world from a dark grey lens. No matter how positive you may be, there will be days when the world can't do anything right.
It's normal. Don't beat yourself up over it.
When you catch yourself complaining, or getting in bed with negativity, acknowledge it.
"Wow, that thought I just had was pretty negative.."
Then let it pass.
For many, being negative is so natural and embedded in their every day lives, that they quickly forget it doesn't have to be their default state.
I know, because I've been there.
Simply by noticing your thoughts, you'll discover that you have more control over what you think than you give yourself credit for.
Admitting the problem is the first step to fixing it.
Audit Your Network
Every time I find myself in a rut or experiencing long bouts of negativity, I try and reevaluate my network.
Are my friends in real life being negative? Am I following a bunch of pessimists on Twitter? Do my Facebook groups love to complain?
Who you surround yourself with both in real life and online has a profound impact on your daily thoughts and actions.
Simple logic says that if you surround yourself with positive and energetic people, you too will become positive and energetic.
The opposite also holds true, if you surround yourself with people who only look at the ground, you'll soon forget that there is a sun shining bright in the sky.
Most people know this in theory, however, in the real world it can be a little tricky understanding the dynamics of your network.
If you find yourself being negative, start to take notice of your social circles. When are you most negative?
I'm not suggesting you ditch all your friends. Instead, begin to notice who brings you up, and who brings you down. Can you shift your time and resources to better service your needs?
Your network is yours to build or tear down. Make sure you're surrounding yourself with the love and support you need to get the most out of your gifts and talents.
Guard the castle with everything you have, one or two intruders can bring the walls tumbling down.
Check Your News Channels
The majority of news is negative. Yet, hour after hour we find ourselves clinging to the latest breaking headlines.
North Korea has nukes. A child was murdered in the inner cities. Wars blaze across the world.
It's no wonder many of us find ourselves depressed. I'll be the first to admit, I do like to keep up with the latest trends on what's going on in the world.
That being said, there are a few things you can to do keep negativity to the minimum.
Limit checking the main news networks. CNN, Fox, NBC, will do anything to keep your interest, so they fuel with fire with doom and gloom.
I recently saw a clip of Anderson Cooper the other day and literally every single one of the five stories on his broadcast was negative. No thanks.
Instead, look to stay updated through a variety of different means. These days, I get a lot of news from Twitter, and if it's something that I'm interested in I'll then do a quick google search. Steemit has a lot been a lot of fun.
Sometimes I'll use subreddits on Reddit to keep me informed on issues I'm interested in.
There are an abundance of resources out there to keep you informed, while keeping you sane as well.
Are your news networks adding value? Or simply adding more drama to your life?
Practice Gratitude
Perhaps the greatest thing you can do to leave the world of cynicism is incorporate gratitude in your daily routine.
I like to write 3-5 things I'm grateful for each day before I go to bed. Despite being surprisingly simple, this little trick has significantly helped me be more positive.
Knowing I have to write 3-5 items down, causes me to search for the good in my day. Will you still occasionally have negative thoughts? Of course. But don't underestimate the power of training your brain to look through the lens of positivity.
Regardless of your current situation, there is an abundance of things going right for you. It may be easy to focus on what's wrong or the things you lack, but doing so won't get you any closer to your goals.
Instead of being envious of your friends on Facebook, or your friend with her dream job, focus on what's going right for you.
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