Negativity
It may seem like I’m stating the obvious here, but those who can’t seem to grasp the concept of gratitude are negative people.
It got me to wondering.
Some folks just approach life from the angle of negativity. It’s conditioning, but we think it’s who they are. No, it’s who they made up and got comfortable with.
Gratitude is an antidote for negativity but it’s a hard sell to someone on the minus side of the ledger.
There are so many things to be grateful for that we can fill up journals with them. If we take time to just meditate on one of the ideas, it’s enough to bring us peace.
But negativity doesn’t look in the direction of gratitude.
I believe there is a way to help. It’s a bridge building strategy to gratitude for any negative Nelly or Ned.
Let’s call it “Negative Gratitude.”
Here’s the concept: You become grateful for the things you don’t have. “I’m grateful I’m not Michael Jackson’s doctor.””I’m grateful I don’t have my in-law’s living with me.” I’m grateful that my feet aren’t as big as Shaquille O’Neal‘s, especially if I get athlete’s foot.” You get the idea.
The list could go on and on and it would resonate with the negative energy generated by these folks. The idea is to introduce them to the feelings that go along with gratitude. Once they have a taste of these feelings, it’s an easier transition to express gratitude for the things they DO have and have the layers of negativity peel away.
It’s the strategy that Colin Tipping uses for people who cannot accept things. Part of his Radical Forgiveness model is acceptance. When someone states to him that they can’t accept something, he asks them if they can accept that they can’t accept it. He’s introducing them to acceptance from the back door.
I can assure you that “Be Positive” is a message that will never reach a negative person simply because there is no strategy offered with the suggestion. They don’t know how, and your suggestion doesn’t contain requisite instructions.
Gratitude will get you more positive but someone negative needs more than “Be grateful for what you have” to find gratitude.
Negative Gratitude may just be the introduction these people need to enjoy the healing properties that embracing gratitude delivers.
If you’re having trouble finding something to be grateful for, make the effort to find some gratitude for something you don’t have. You may get two gifts for the price of one – Gratitude and Empathy.
All the best,
John
http://cdbaby.com/cd/johnmorgan
http://www.cafepress.com/grasshoppernote/3580301
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