Okay, I'll admit it: I like to imagine myself a positive person. I like to think that I try my absolute hardest to provide everyone in my life with the positive energy needed to function daily (especially in today's society.) Furthermore, I would dare say that being positive is something that comes fairly natural to me. That said, I am human, and therefore bad days are inevitable. I am 99% sure that everyone goes through the motions of a bad day at the office at some point, but if you are like me you shake it off (word to TSwift), crank up some tunes on the drive home from work, roll the window down, and let it roll off the shoulder. Regardless, we all know that there are going to be negative people in our lives, both at work, school, and even our personal lives. I'm talking about the ones who are the negative-nancies and debby-downers who for whatever reason, refuse to see any color in a semi-dull situation. We all wish we could just "ctrl-alt-delete" them out of our lives to keep from sucking all the joy that we are trying to provide, as well as the natural joy that life itself brings, but obviously to no avail. Many people (including myself for a period of time) would say that we simply don't need these people in our lives and that distancing ourselves from them altogether would answer all of life's issues. However, there is something to be said about KEEPING these people around and actually appreciating them for what (and who) they are (just walk with me for a second).

As I have stated thus far, many believe that we don't need negative people's energy, and they would be right. That kind of energy isn't exactly welcoming. However, I believe that rather than pushing them away altogether, we should view their negativity in a different light; actually, I believe embracing the negativity is healthy for us. Yes, negativity breeds more negativity, I get it, however I also understand that when I changed how I welcomed negative people's energy, it helped me appreciate the good things in my life more. Think about it: if someone is constantly complaining about why SOMETHING isn't ever right, or about something they wish they had, a talent they wish they'd developed, or some other situational fallacy, then they will never be able to appreciate the things that are actually there in the moment. Likewise, if you allow those people to saturate all your positive energy and force the negative in your life, then you will never be able to appreciate the good things in your life either. Negative people have helped me realize that. They have helped me realize that there are things in this life actually worth paying attention to with positivity and less negativity.

I'm not sitting on a high horse saying that all in this world is fine, well, and good and surrounded by all kinds of sunshine and rainbows; I would never proclaim that. However, I am a big believer in the idea that everything in life is based on perspective and how we view everything in the world. I'm not saying that just because we perceive water as being dirt, there is an argument that it is actually dirt; what I am saying is a large part life is based on how we perceive each and every situation we come across. We can either view everything in a negative manner or we can take it positively and strive to find the best in everything. That includes the positive things that can come from negative people.

While complaining and acknowledging the things that could use improvement in your work, school, or personal life is important and worth taking a look at for things to get better, I am a believer that if we spent all of our lives looking too far ahead and only looking at where we could be instead of where we are, we would never be able to appreciate the things, people, skills, and assets that surround ourselves in the current moment. So take time to see the good in someone else's negativity. It could be a chance for you to smile about the good things that you have, while still paying attention to the good that lies ahead.