I find that people are constantly telling me what I should and should not be doing and frequently questioning my personal choices. How does what I do even affect them? It can be hard to stay strong and positive when being surrounded by negativity. Society is telling us what we should and should not be doing and giving us timelines for points in our lives. This creates stress and often brings us down, feeling hopeless and behind in life. However, everyone is on a different track in life, and you have to remember not to worry about what other people are doing or what they're thinking because, at the end of the day, it's your life, not theirs!
1. Watch your time on social media
While this is definitely easier said than done, it definitely makes a large impact. Try to find other things to do with your time. If you do spend a lot of time on social media for work or whatever it may be, block the haters! You don't need that energy and it will only make you more self-conscious of your posts, which will make things worse. You should also try to spend more time being productive and doing things worth your time that will have more of an impact on your future. If you feel good and feel like you are getting stuff done, you are likely to feel better!
2. Get rid of those negative "friends"
Chances are if your "friend" is constantly questioning your decisions and coming off judgmental, they are not a true friend. Your actual friends should be supporting you, or at least finding a positive way to give you advice. Also make sure that you are not reciprocating the negativity. Feeding into the negative energy is only going to have a bad impact on you and make you feel worse. Try to stay strong and remember why you're not letting that energy affect you.
3. Stop your negative thoughts
It's impossible to be positive 24/7, but try to catch yourself when you're thinking negatively. Instead, try to think about what you can do to improve whatever negative thought you may be having. Also, don't let negative people and their thoughts rule your mind. Some people are impossible to avoid (for example, coworkers), and getting rid of this negativity can seem nearly impossible. It is important to remember they are not you nor are they in your position, so their opinions do not matter.
Try to avoid talking to them as much as you can, but of course, make sure not to be rude and completely ignore them because that might cause more problems. Don't make excuses for why you may be thinking a certain way. Some people try to justify their negativity by saying they've been through a lot and life is tough. Chances are, everyone has been through s***, so just remember to be respectful to others, but you should never feel the need to bring others down in an attempt to make yourself feel better.
4. Let things go!
Again, easier said than done, but you need to realize that you don't owe someone an explanation. It's your life, not theirs. You don't have to justify what you do and why you do things to someone so insignificant in your life. Make sure you take time for yourself, as well, because while this is always important, spending time with yourself whether it be meditating, participating in your favorite hobby, or doing whatever makes you happy is essential for staying positive.
