Overcoming
negativity
Are
you discouraged whenever you come across a little opposition and resistance? Do
you fail to achieve your dreams because you always expect and want it to be
easy to do so?
Whatever
you want to achieve in life, it is very likely that you will run into some
resistance. This resistance may come in various forms and at times from
unexpected or unusual places.
Overcoming
negativity – the laws of nature
It is a natural thing in nature
that for every action there is an opposing and equal reaction. If you want to
move, you must overcome friction and gravity. This may not seem to be a good
state of affairs, until you realise that it is actually the opposition of
gravity and friction that strengthens you. In order for you to walk and jump,
your muscles have to develop the strength to overcome gravity and friction.
The experience of astronauts
shows that when they go to outer space where there is less gravity and
friction, their muscles and bones actually become weaker, to an extent where
some fail to walk for some time on their return to earth. Without the
opposition of gravity
and friction their bones and muscles deteriorate.
Overcoming
negativity – personal challenges
Just
a few days ago, I came across some resistance myself. I got an anonymous
message posted from the comment page on my website. Usually these messages are
from people that have found my articles and website interesting and helpful and
they encourage me greatly to keep writing and telling people that they can
achieve their dreams. However, this message was different. The unknown person
accused me of stealing their work word for word in my articles.
I
was shocked, to say the least. More surprising was the fact that he went on to
threaten to “notify the Post and even take a large ad in the Times and Daily to
expose” me. I read the message again just to be sure I was reading it
correctly. I was.
What
I felt at the time was a little disappointment and then amusement. This soon
turned to utter disbelief when a few minutes later the anonymous writer sent an
email declaring his identity and formally accusing me that “most of the
articles that you have written for the Post contain my original work and
writing.” It was from someone I truly respect and admire, and someone I aspired
to work very closely with in future in order to make a positive difference to
the lives of many people in this country.
Overcoming
negativity – the resolve to overcome
However, my disappointment,
disbelief and amusement soon turned into a burning resolve not only to continue
doing what I am doing, but to do it even better. In addition to that I was
inspired to do a lot more than I am currently. That resistance and opposition
is perhaps the very thing I needed to strengthen myself and develop myself
further. I refuse to wallow in fear and let anything like that hinder me. This
will not be the stone that will crush me, but the stepping stone to greater
things!
I subscribe to Stephen R. Covey’s
philosophy that “Opposition is a natural part of life. Just as we develop our
physical muscles through overcoming opposition - such as lifting weights - we
develop our character muscles by overcoming challenges and adversity.”
Overcoming
negativity – welcome challenges
So,
if you are not being challenged in any way, you cannot grow. If you do not have
anything to push against, you cannot make any progress. This is a revealing but
true concept. If you are absolutely satisfied with your life the truth remains
that you will not try to change it in any way. Any positive change must come as
a result of some negative influence that forces you to change.
This
negative influence can take many forms - from dissatisfaction with your work to
disappointment from your girlfriend or boyfriend. There are many geniuses out
there who found their passion and did amazing things after some tragic event in
their lives or after being disappointed in one way or another.
Overcoming
negativity – be prepared for it
As
a dreamer, you must always be prepared for opposition. In particular, you must
be prepared for the nay-sayers and the haters. These are the people that would
love to see you fail and they know that you will fail in trying to live the
life that you deserve. At times it may be people you truly trust to help you
along on your journey. Instead they try to stop you and discourage you.
Spouses, relatives and close friends are some examples. My anonymous e-mailer
is another.
This
is a facet of human nature that is hard to understand. Why would anyone want to
stop someone else from being all that they can be? The answer is simple. That
would expose their own failures and shortcomings. It is not that they don’t
believe in you – they just don’t have enough belief in themselves. They would
judge you based on their own abilities. But rather than get discouraged and
defeated you can use their unbelief to spur you on. I have found that there is
nothing that can encourage you to take action more than having someone show
doubt in what you can do.
Overcoming
negativity – looking forward
One
of my favourite motivational speakers, Jim Rohn, tells a story of how his
former boss did not believe in his abilities and thought he was a failure. When
Jim became wealthy from his speaking business he took a briefcase full of
dollar bills, got into his former boss’s office, opened the briefcase, poured
all the dollar bills on the desk in front of where the guy was seated and
exclaimed just two words before walking out – “count it!”
As
Lee Iacocca said: “In times of great stress or adversity it's always best to
keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive.” What
Jim Rohn did is a good example of that principle at work. I would urge you
right now to write a list of things people in the past have said you can’t do.
I would urge you also to plan your victory celebration – what are you going to
do once you get there? What are you going to do to help elevate those who will
be in the position you may be in now?
Overcoming
negativity – conclusion
The Bible says in Genesis as Joseph
addressed his brothers: “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God
meant it unto good…” Turn the negativity into a positive. Overcome the
opposition and prove them wrong.
You are all you can be. Go on and be
it.