Don't let Negative Energy take your Joy

 “Enlightenment is always there. Small enlightenment will bring you great enlightenment. If you're breathing and are aware that you are alive – that you can touch the miracle of being alive – then that is a kind of enlightenment.”
                - Thich Nhat Hanh
I am striving everyday to approach my day with positivity and JOY.  Some mornings, even with the best intentions of positive, uplifting thoughts and words, I get thrown off the course!  Very often I get thrown off my intention by what others around me say.  For example, I do not like swearing language, and can be tempted to “correct” someone.  Personally I find it offensive and frightening at times.  I have come to see that not everyone understands the power that positive, non threatening, compassionate words can have on another.  On the other hand, I have come to realize that some may be stuck in old patterns of negativity.
It seems that some are in a negative mindset, and perhaps out of habit (and their comfort zone), their first instinct is to communicate in the form of complaining and criticizing.  It speaks to the old saying that some “see the glass half empty vs. half full”.
Depending on the situation and the company, we do have the option of walking away and continue on our positive path.  Sometimes it may be appropriate to address the negativity by pointing out the sunnier side of the conversation.  Other times, I may remain silent and not further the conversation, which sends a silent message in itself. I find for me, I feel better even if the other party doesn’t pick up on it.
In June of this year I went to hear Eckhart Tolle speak.  He talked of an example he experienced while driving.  A driver was irritated with him,   perhaps he said because he drives slowly.  At the red light, the man was gesturing to him and yelling for him to get off the road.  Eckhart said he just looked at him….no anger, no reaction, no emotion as the man went on and on.  He felt better, but the man was probably even angrier, however it did not affect Eckhart’s day.  He knew that responding to the anger of another would not help, or solve anything.  Great example of walking away.
“I can complain that the rose bush has a thorn, or that the thorn bush has an amazing rose….it is up to me”
I have found that people are getting used to me in terms of my endeavour to see life more positively.  I also have found that it is catching on, and either others are moving to the positivity or perhaps just humouring me…either way I continue to reach for the goal of not allowing others take away my JOY.
What if everyone around you was more positive?  What if all your co-workers or neighbours were more positive?  Would it make a better atmosphere for you to work in or live in?  Could you actually make a tiny difference in our world?