Use Negative Situations to Create the Opportunity to Do Good!

A long time ago I learned that the longer that I would stand in a line, the nicer I had better become.

Often we find ourselves in situations or positions where we feel we are being bombarded with negativity.  We don’t deserve it, so why is it happening?  I think most of the time we do the best we can to avoid them, yet we find ourselves in these hard situations.

So what do we do about it?  First, make it work for the good, whether it be for yourself, the other person, or perhaps both of you.  A long time ago I learned that the longer that I would stand in a line, the nicer I had better become.  It was not because I felt nice, because I didn’t!  I knew myself well enough to know that I would do damage if I allowed my feelings loose.  So, I taught myself how to turn a cranky attitude into a more positive attitude and to try and make those around me feel a bit better.

I am no Pollyanna, so this wasn’t always easy.  I did feel however that all the stress, all the negativity, and all the damage that we do to each other wasn’t helpful either.  I cannot tell you how many nice people I have met.  Store clerks, IRS clerks, DMV clerks, or anyone who happens to be in line with me can be my target.  After all, we are just people.  We all have our burdens and there is something to the thought that we can lift up each other’s burdens, even by a nice word.

I find the nicer I try to be, the nicer I actually have become.  Think on this the next time things aren’t going well, or your way, or are intruding to your comfort zone.  Look at what is going on around you rather than just yourself, and see if you can make a difference!