How To Deal With Negative People – 9 Tips To Try Out Today
Want to know how to deal with negative people? Here are 9 tips to stay positive when surrounded by negativity.
Let’s chat about how to deal with negative people.
There’s a good chance you probably have more than your fair share of negative people in your life, right? Me too.
Since they’re everywhere and it’s impossible to avoid crosses paths with a negative person, it’s important to know how to coexist with them instead.
Note: coexisting together does not mean you are making them your new BFF or planning to spend a copious amount of time in their company.
It instead means they can cross your path or be in your workspace or home or any environment you find yourself and you don’t feel like running away immediately from them (though the temptation may be there.)
Here’s the thing:
Negative people can seriously have an impact on your attitude and your day.
But, that doesn’t have to be the case.
There are plenty of ways you can mitigate the effect that negative people have on you.
Practice these 9 strategies to avoid allowing negative people to negatively impact your life:
HOW TO DEAL WITH NEGATIVE PEOPLE
TIP # 1 – Understand that you can only control yourself, but you can influence others.
I wish this was possible but you can’t snap your fingers and make the people around you take a more positive view of the world, no matter how much you wish you can.
But here’s what you can do.
You CAN control yourself and how you choose to react to their negativity.
- You might even be able to sway people over to your way of thinking a little bit. Set a good example and be a positive influence on those around you.
- Accept people for who they are. It’s just easier that way.
Letting go of negative people doesn’t mean you hate them. It just means that you love yourself. Anonymous
I believe “this is my movie”. I take responsibility for my part in it. If there’s something I don’t like about my life, or movie, I change it. I am the director, the producer, the script writer and the main star. I want my movie to be fun, upbeat and sincere.
I want to enjoy looking back at it when that time comes. I believe in the power of thought and positive suggestion and the effect of negative conjecture. I choose to trust that things will work out and the more I do, they do. Just trust and believe, then let it happen.
It may not always work out the way you hoped or intended but being the star of your own movie you can, for the most part, let your actions and reactions shape how it turns out for you. Christina Anthony
HOW TO DEAL WITH NEGATIVE PEOPLE
TIP # 2 – Be grateful.
Another way to deal with negative people is to embrace gratitude.
To maintain a positive attitude even in their presence you need to remind yourself of the positive things you are blessed to have in your life.
When you’re feeling run down by the negativity around you, make a quick mental list of the things in your life that you’re thankful for.
It will give your mood a quick boost.
So much has been given to me; I have no time to ponder over that which has been denied. Helen Keller
As long as this exists, this sunshine and this cloudless sky, and as long as I can enjoy it, how can I be sad? Anne Frank
Don’t pray when it rains if you don’t pray when the sun shines. Leroy Satchel Paige
If the only prayer you said in your whole life was “thank you” that would suffice. Meister Eckhart
Gratitude is riches. Complaint is poverty. Doris Day
HOW TO DEAL WITH NEGATIVE PEOPLE
TIP # 3 – Remember that it’s not about you.
Even if we don’t want to be, we are all a little egocentric.
We see things from our own perspective and have a tendency to think our perspective is right.
But everyone has their challenges and issues.
There’s no reason to be upset that someone has a negative attitude.
That’s about them, NOT YOU.
In fact, it likely doesn’t have anything to do with you at all.
It could be circumstances in their life or their basic nature.
Don’t fuss about it.
Don’t assume their behavior is personal.
Just keep on doing what you’re doing.
They can behave in whatever manner they like and it will only become a problem for you when you THINK it is a problem for you.
Choose instead to think it’s not a problem.
Ditch those sentences from your head that aren’t serving you.
If you are trying to live a life you love, you seriously don’t have the time or energy to worry so much about what others are thinking or doing or saying.
I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions. Stephen Covey
Don’t spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door. Coco Chanel
You shouldn’t focus on why you can’t do something, which is what most people do. You should focus on why perhaps you can, and be one of the exceptions. Steve Case
The final proof of greatness lies in being able to endure criticism without resentment. Elbert Hubbard
Don’t let what you can’t do stop you from doing what you can do. John Wooden
HOW TO DEAL WITH NEGATIVE PEOPLE
TIP # 4 – You have the choice to be positive or negative.
Here’s the thing: you can choose to be affected or not by the people around you.
You can choose to be positive or choose to be negative.
Which one makes you feel better?
I think the answer is obvious here.
If you have a choice (and guess what – you do!) focus instead on yourself and showing up in a way that you can be proud of.
Take care of your business and life and let others view the world and live life however they choose.
Remember everything in your life is a reflection of a choice you have made.
If you want a different result, make a different choice.
If you want to feel a different feeling, think a different thought.
Life is a matter of choices and every choice you make makes you. John C. Maxwell
Sometimes it’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever. Keri Russell
I believe that we are solely responsible for our choices, and we have to accept the consequences of every deed, word, and thought throughout our lifetime. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
The key to accepting responsibility for your life is to accept the fact that your choices, every one of them, are leading you inexorably to either success or failure, however you define those terms. Neal Boortz
HOW TO DEAL WITH NEGATIVE PEOPLE
TIP # 5 – Speak up.
Sometimes it can be helpful to tell people to just cut it out.
This is helpful if they are being exceptionally rude or negative.
Maybe they aren’t even aware of how energy-sucking their behavior is?
Take the time to have a frank talk with someone that’s perpetually negative.
Maybe they’re not aware of the impact they’re having on others.
Let them know their negativity affects you and then choose to let it go.
You don’t have to be weird about it.
Just say: sometimes I think you focus onto on the negative things around you. Could we maybe focus on the positive stuff instead?
HOW TO DEAL WITH NEGATIVE PEOPLE
6 – Spend time with positive people.
The moment you notice that negative people are constantly sucking your energy like vampires out for blood, it’s time to minimise those negative interactions.
You can instead recharge your batteries with the positive energy of other positive people.
People who make you feel great about yourself.
People who are inspiring and motivating as opposed to constantly complaining and gossiping.
Did you know you get to decide who you want to spend your time with?
As an adult, you have the choice to stay away from negative people and spend time with people full of positive attitude.
People who see the potential in life, in themselves and in you.
Thankfully it doesn’t take long to recenter yourself when you surround yourself with the right people.
The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible. Winston Churchill
The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. Winston Churchill
One small positive thought can change your whole day. Zig Ziglar
Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive, good things and good people will be drawn to you. Mary Lou Retton
Positive anything is better than negative nothing. Elbert Hubbard
HOW TO DEAL WITH NEGATIVE PEOPLE
TIP # 7 – Make the most of your time alone.
Whether you are an introvert or extravert, make the most of the time you have to yourself.
This is time that you can use to fill your own cup.
Do things you really enjoy doing.
Read positive affirmations and amazing books.
Watch feel-good movies.
Put your attention on positivity.
When you equip yourself in this way, it can be like an armor against negative people.
HOW TO DEAL WITH NEGATIVE PEOPLE
TIP # 8 – Headphones can be your friend.
If the situation permits, put on some headphones or earbuds.
Weird tip right but it works.
What you can’t hear can’t bother you.
Consider listening to a positive podcast or music that makes you feel good.
If your work situation allows this, why not take advantage of it?
I know for me personally: any day that I listen to a positive uplighting podcast is a good day for me.
HOW TO DEAL WITH NEGATIVE PEOPLE
TIP # 9 – Stay away.
Let’s talk about the fact again that you have options in life.
There are plenty of people in your life that are optional.
You don’t NEED to spend heaps of time with them.
No one is forcing you to do so.
You need to know that you can make a choice.
You can just DECIDE.
You can decide to stay away from negative people that you don’t have to associate with.
You have decide to have control over who is part of your life and who is not.
Stop allowing other people to dilute or poison your day with their words or opinions.Steve Maraboli
Don’t let negative and toxic people rent space in your head. Raise the rent and kick them out.Robert Tew
Negativity is cannibalistic. The more you feed it, the bigger and stronger it grows. Bobby Darnel
Word of warning: Negative people will drag you down if you let them.
In the end these are just a few of the constructive steps you can take to reduce the amount of negativity in your life.
HOW TO DEAL WITH NEGATIVE PEOPLE
If you are surrounded by negative people, take the steps you need to take to minimize the impact they have on your life.
Remember to practice gratitude each day, and do what you can to maintain a positive perspective.
Block negativity and ditch toxic friends if possible.
This will be a game-changer for you, I promise!
Sure negative people will always be around, but that’s okay.
You now know you have options and you can deal with them in various ways and thankfully still be a positive person IF THAT IS THE CHOICE YOU MAKE AND PRIORITY YOU HAVE IN YOUR LIFE.
I wish you the best of luck with ditching the unnecessary negative influences from your life.
Much love,
Frances Vidakovic xxx
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I’m Frances Vidakovic – a mindset & action coach for quietly ambitious women who want to stop overthinking and finally take aligned action. I help women achieve their goals and follow through on what matters, without sacrificing their sanity or soul.