The Power of Positivity
Negativity and cynicism are everywhere. Look around you: on social media, TV, blogs, even billboards.
People, these days, gravitate towards the negative. And negativity leads to failure. Truth.
More articles, blogs, posts, tweets and TV shows tell you what you can’t do, versus what you can do. I believe this needs to stop! We all need positive energy—something to empower us in our everyday living.
Too many people lack confidence in their abilities—they don’t dare to dream of doing something spectacular, and a good part of this is because we are bombarded by negative messages.What’s odd is that many people seem to thrive on this negativity and move towards it, instead of away from it.
But why?
Perhaps the reason behind this is that those people would rather identify a problem—and then vent about it—than do the difficult thing and create a solution! Let’s face it. It’s much easier to complain about something and jump on the negative bandwagon, than it is to stop and think about a creative, positive answer to the problem.
Know that just venting about a problem, without creating an alternative solution, will only lead to a lose-lose situation with anything in life.
Stop following those cynics! They will not have the ability to empower you, nor to improve your self-image, your capability for confidence, or your life. Misery, essentially, loves company.
The Power of Positivity is a wonderful, strong and impressive thing!
Once you make it into the arena of true positivity—once you live and breathe it—you will find that it is almost a discipline of sorts. You’ll boost your self-esteem, enhance your mind, and use that positivity to master other areas of your life.
For true self-improvement to occur, you need to first surround yourself with optimism and encouragement. Positive reinforcement can be life-changing. So, try your best to be around those people who offer up positive reinforcement and, additionally, you should be that person who gives positive reinforcement to others. It’s precisely this give-and-take that can create a win-win situation.
Recently, I read something somewhere that went something like this –and I’m paraphrasing:
It’s easy to spot a yellow car, when you are always thinking of a yellow car.
It’s easy to spot reasons to be mad and negative when you are always thinking of being mad and negative.
It’s easy to spot opportunity when you are always thinking of opportunity.
You become what you constantly think about.
So, think about the positive!
To develop the skill of empowering others—which will then, in turn, naturally and organically empower you –you will need to first analyze your attitude.
Are you looking for the good in others? Or, do you naturally gravitate towards the negative?
Change that outlook as soon as possible! You will need to be fully aware of your perspective.
Then, to be the Promoter of Positive Reinforcement, make it a point to search for positive things—however small– in people. This eventually will come naturally to you, if it doesn’t already. With some practice of really making a point to look for the positive, you will become a pro. This step is important and will lead you to the next step of empowering others and to then empower yourself.
Once you have some practice of looking for the positive, the next step is to try offering positive reinforcement to others. I’m talking genuine, positive reinforcement –not something that is fake or patronizing. Getting an unexpected pat on the back can make someone work even harder, derive more confidence and can allow that person to become even more successful.
This might mean just saying a few kind words to someone at your gym, whom you’ve noticed has made some progress, or to someone at work who has accomplished something impressive, as examples.
The point, however, is to ensure that this is a genuine form of positive reinforcement. You don’t have to put someone on a level higher than yourself. Say something simple like, “Hey, I noticed you’re making some real progress with your weight training. I admire your hard work.” Or, “I learned a lot from your presentation. You clearly put a lot of work into it.”
I’m not suggesting you begin a long conversation. Just something quick to someone whom you feel is well-deserving of some positive feedback. Try doing this at least two times a day, every week.
Another suggestion is to send an email or text of encouragement when you see or experience something you like that is the direct result of someone’s efforts. This may sound a bit bizarre, and it may take some effort and getting used to, but in my experience, valuable relationships are forged through such an endeavor. Sharing specific positive comments and reinforcement to someone—even if you do not know them, or do not know them well—can be huge in networking, developing friendships, and creating business relationships that can last a lifetime and which can help you immensely.
Once you get into a habit of offering positive feedback to others to empower them, you will be amazed at how empowering others actually empowers you!
One more item you might want to consider in this quest to empower yourself by empowering others through positivity:
Be aware of those people in your past (or present) who took a chance on you and who helped you to get to where you are today.
Consider sending those people a quick text, email or message, thanking them for believing in you and for making a difference in your life. Again, it may make you a bit uncomfortable at first, but once you do so—send a message that is genuine and sincere and positive—it will make a difference in how you feel, because you’re making a difference on how someone else feels.
If you practice these skills of searching for the positive and offering positive feedback to others, you will begin to notice that you automatically start looking at things in a more positive light. You will, then, be more likely to recognize others’ accomplishments deserving of praise, and you will offer that expression of admiration to folks who are achieving things that you would also like to achieve.
The power of positivity should never be underestimated. To receive that positive feedback, you really need to make it a point to give that positive feedback, and do so routinely.
The power of positivity is an amazing thing!
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Bill Yeager is an entrepreneur, leading mindset success coach, virtual online personal trainer, inspirational writer and health & wealth enthusiast. He’s helped over 500,000 people worldwide become inspired to transform their lives most widely known for becoming a Body-for-Life Champion & co-Author of Champions Body for Life. He is the author of several fitness articles, books and president of multiple companies.