Soul Kadee

If you’ve ever had any doubts about the benefits of a positive attitude, here’s some compelling scientific evidence showing why avoiding negative people is a good thing.

It comes via an very interesting post on the Creating Passionate Users blog, on why angry/negative people can be bad for your brain.

The post discusses the neuroscience of “mirror neurons” and “emotional contagion“, both new concepts to me and quite fascinating.

It discusses how these factors are responsible for the way negative people drain us of our energy and how the company we keep can infuence our thoughts. It also explains why happiness is good for your health and bliss benefits your brain.

I especially liked this quote on the effect of mirror neurons and emotional contagion on personal performance:

“If you want to accomplish something that demands determination and endurance, try to surround yourself with people possessing these qualities. And try to limit the time you spend with people given to pessimism and expressions of futility. Unfortunately, negative emotions exert a more powerful effect in social situations than positive ones, thanks to the phenomena of emotional contagion.”

This sounds harsh, and it is, but it’s his recommendation based on the facts as the neuroscientists interpret them today. This is not new age self-help–it’s simply the way brains work.

This advice is not new. Wise men have been telling us for thousands of years that the quality of your life is defined by the quality of your thoughts.

Having a positive attitude is not about being a Pollyanna, being in denial or faking happiness. It’s being able to interpret events in a more empowering way, being able to see problems as opportunities for growth, and choosing to be happy despite less than perfect circumstances.

I’ve seen a lot of people equate depression and negativity with being more creative, when in fact the opposite is true. Although some writers and poets have written some of their best works while in a depressed or intoxicated state, they are the exception, not the rule.

Some of our most inspired ideas come to us in positive states. Tony Robbins, Robin Sharma, Deepak Chopra, Brian Tracy and other success coaches have always championed the benefits of a positive attitude.

What you focus on grows. So if you’ve been indulging in negative self-talk, you need to replace that with positive thoughts. And if the the company you keep is getting you down, it’s probably time to make some new friends.

Resources:

How to Become an Unshakable Optimist

Learn the seven secrets of peak performance thinking in this fast-moving video presentation - professionally recorded before a live audience. Learn how to:

• Look for the good in every situation;
• Seek out the valuable lesson in every setback;
• Solve problems and overcome obstacles;
• Keep focused and moving forward;
• Trust your inner voice in every situation;
• Remain positive, optimistic and self-confident no matter what happens.

Self-Defeating Behaviors: Free Yourself from the Habits, Compulsions, Feelings, and Attitudes That Hold You Back

Addicted to Unhappiness: Free Yourself from Moods and Behaviors That Undermine Relationships, Work, and the Life You Want

When Am I Going to Be Happy? : How to Break the Emotional Bad Habits That Make You Miserable

Reinventing Your Life : The Breakthough Program to End Negative Behavior…and Feel Great Again

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