Negativity can take our joy away, but only if we allow it! All of us know at least one friend or relative that never has a positive thing to say about anyone or anything. There may be ways to help these negative people, but in the process we cannot allow them to take our joy.

God intended for us to have a life full of joy. In His word He has given us all the encouragements we could ever need. To go around with a negative attitude is dishonoring to God. He does not want us to focus on this world and all that is in it, but rather He wants us to focus on the heavenly things to come.

Negativity can be brought on by many things ranging from difficulties in life to how unfair the world is. More common is how someone has been mistreated or hurt by another. Life can be tough at best and if we allow ourselves, we too can find ourselves leaning toward the negatives of our circumstances.

We should keep our mindset positive so we can have hope in creating a positive attitude in others. Our entrance of approach to the person of negativity should be with kindness, yet firmness to maintain our own boundaries. This eliminates the possibility of being manipulated by them.

Maintaining the relationship based on the realities of it will distance us from attaching emotionally or personally. We must respond calmly without emotions so not to encourage their actions. Allowing ourselves to not feed into their situation with the emotions they expect, will show them they cannot depend on us for a reaction.

When possible we should try to disarm their negativity, even if it is for only the moment. (Let’s check out this movie coming on tonight.) This can lower stress levels and give the person the opportunity to regroup. Lastly we have to acknowledge when it is time to walk away. Some people live on negativity and refuse to be any other way. If we stay in the situation longer than we should, then we have to ask ourselves what our payoff might be.

It is not our place to judge others and we do not know what has brought the person to the state they are in. All we can do is be a positive example and encourage them to move on to the positive things in their own lives. Dwelling on negativity affects you mentally and physically and if not dealt with can affect your physical health as well.

As discouraging as this world might be at times, we have to understand this is not our home. If we will set our mind to what awaits us, we cannot help but be encouraged and even excited. Our time on this earth is just a fleeing moment and God does not want us to lose our joy, but rather He wants us to have joy abundantly in knowing that the best is yet to come.