Why negativity screams and positivity is often the quiet one

So, this is my third attempt to write this blog post. The app on my tablet ate it the first two times. So, while this won’t be as eloquent as the first two times I typed it, I’m determined to not give up on this blog post. Because it’s an important one to me.

The other day I got to thinking. After a really challenging day I realized it’s so easy to get caught up in negativity. I started the day in a very positive mindset and soon after the day began I was caught up in some negativity and it was really hard to dig myself back out.

Which led me to think: WHY?

Why is it so easy to get caught up in the negative? Positivity is available to us anywhere, anytime. In ANY situation. Yet, the negative screams for us to join it. To be sucked up into it. And we often willingly sit with it — and join others in sitting with it.

Here’s what I came up with:

Positivity is often quiet, subtle.

Negativity feeds on attention. The more people it draws in, the more powerful it feels and the louder it gets.

Positivity is like a quiet sunrise. It scatters its colors across the sky, but if one isn’t looking or is hanging out with negativity, the sunrise goes unnoticed.

Misery loves company. Misery REALLY loves company. The more the merrier it seems with misery.

Be the positive one in a negative situation and you’ll find out just how true the above statement is.

Let’s talk about kindness for a moment. Kindness, in its purest form, does not need any recognition. The doer of the deed doesn’t seek any recognition. The person doesn’t need that recognition. I realized I had reached this point in my life when it was SO hard for me to hand a gift card to a random stranger. It wasn’t because I didn’t want to do the deed…it’s because it didn’t feel right that this person saw who was giving them the gift card. I wanted nothing out of the exchange. I simply wanted to brighten their day. If I do a random act of kindness now, you’re not going to hear about it. Period. That is not the goal. I do not want the attention.

To me, this is the answer why it’s SO easy to get caught up in the attention-seeking negativity that is rampant in our world today. It yells at us. Kindness does not. You have to look deeper to find the positive. The negative? It’s right there holding its hand out, calling your name. It pretends to be a friend.

I feel like this is a really important concept. While it’s much easier typed than practiced, it’s my goal to put this into practice.

 To find the light and good in all situations.