“There is a magnificent, beautiful, wonderful painting in front of you! It is intricate, detailed, a painstaking labor of devotion and love!
The colors are like no other, they swim and leap, they trickle and embellish! And yet you choose to fixate your eyes on the small fly which has landed on it! Why do you do such a thing?” ― C. JoyBell C.
Negative people can suck the fun out of any situation.
It can be tempting to tell them to change their attitude, or to avoid them entirely. However, doing so is not in the spirit of compassion. When a person perpetuates negativity, it is likely they have absorbed quite a bit themselves. They don’t need your judgement or ridicule. They need your kindness. They need you to hold them in their darkness. They need you to help them find meaning and joy in their life again.
Here are twenty things to say that might help your negative loved one come back to the light:
1. It makes me sad to see you in such a bad mood. I really care about you, you know. Let’s do something together. We can go to the mall to watch a movie, or do some window shopping, for example.
2. What can I do to make you smile? You know that smiling reduces stress and it is as good for you as a sound sleep.
3. I’m going to walk dogs at the animal shelter tomorrow morning. Want to come? They are so cute that you can actually decide to adopt one. Doggo, the Great Dane, is my favorite!
4. I don’t think all this worrying is getting us anywhere. Let’s try to think of some solutions, instead. There is no need to fret about things you can’t change!
5. I know it’s silly, but would you mind smiling for me? You know that you are the sunshine of my life, so your smile will make things so much brighter for both of us!
6. Your friend/co-worker/spouse was just telling me how wonderful you are. You really mean the world to them. Do not forget that!
7. Surprise! I baked you some cookies. They are just like you like them – crunchy on the outside and soft and chewy inside!
8. All this talk about politics/midterms/drama is stressing me out. Can we switch to a more upbeat topic? Even last night’s baseball game is a better option…
9. Let’s list three good things that happened today. I’ll go first… After all, every day that you wake up in the morning is a good day, right?
10. I heard you’re a wonderful painter/singer/volleyball player. I had no idea! Tell me more about that. Is it just a hobby, or you’re thinking of going pro?
11. We’re both super stressed out. We should do something relaxing this weekend. How about brunch or a spa trip? Let’s have our long-awaited romantic getaway!
12. Let’s draw cartoons about what’s bothering us. I bet mine will be funnier than yours. Do not worry if drawing isn’t your cup of tea, I am not good at it either!
13. Tell me about your favorite childhood memory and I will share mine. We will both feel so much better, trust me!
14. I know how you feel. It really sucks. I hope this moment in your life passes soon, and something better comes along. Every cloud has a silver lining and there’s always light at the end of the tunnel!
15. Tell me about your pets/children/nieces and nephews. Do you have any pictures of them to show me?
16. Let’s get outside. You seem like you need some fresh air and sunshine. It’s a lovely day, isn’t it?
17. Wow, you have the best job/abs/car/husband of anyone I know. You’re so lucky! Sometimes I wish I were more like you.
18. Can I take something off your workload? You seem overwhelmed. A friend in need is a friend in need, you know!
19. Come here. I think you really need a hug. A big hug will warm your heart and will make you feel much better.
20. I hope you feel better soon. I’ll do anything in the world to help you!
“People tend to be generous when sharing their nonsense, fear, and ignorance. And while they seem quite eager to feed you their negativity, please remember that sometimes the diet we need to be on is a spiritual and emotional one. Be cautious with what you feed your mind and soul. Fuel yourself with positivity and let that fuel propel you into positive action,” wrote Steve Maraboli.
Don’t avoid negative people.
Share your positivity with them instead. You have the power to make the world a kinder, brighter, and happier place. Managing to convert just one negative person into an optimist is more than enough!
