Sometimes it's hard. Sometimes it's really, really hard to be positive. When you're having a shitty day, or a client says/does something mean, or you're simply overwhelmed with work, being positive is the last thing you want to do.
But you gotta do it.
Negativity is like cancer. It spreads quickly through a workplace and kills motivation. I've seen it happen. I've even participated in it from time to time. We've all have bad days -- that's not what I'm talking about here. I'm talking about perpetual, habitual negativity.
I've also seen what a positive attitude can do for a person and a workplace. One simple act from just one person can set in motion a wave of positiveness. And the cool thing is, we can chose to be positive, just like we can chose to be happy.
One of my favorite Stephen Covey principles is, there is a space between stimulus and response. In that space, you get to chose. So if a co-worker says something negative to you, don't be a victim -- don't let it impact your attitude. Stop, take a deep breath, and chose not to listen to it, to ignore it or to empathize and let it go. But it's always, always your choice.
