Dealing with Negative People

In so many aspects of our lives, we do not have control over the people we interact with daily.   In fact, co-workers, neighbors, and family members are among the relationships we all share. 

Listed below are six rules of thumb to keep in mind when faced with potentially negative individuals. 

Rule #1: Avoid negative talk.  Don’t gossip or indulge others in negative conversations.  As the old adage goes, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

Rule #2: Demonstrate your values through your words and actions.

Rule #3: Openly talk about those values and goals you hold to be most important.

Rule #4: Support the values, goals, and ideas of others through your actions and your words.

Rule #5: Minimize the amount of time and energy you invest in negative people.

Rule #6: Surround yourself with positive people whose ideas, values, and goals are similar and compatible with your own.