Learn together, grow together

I consider myself a positive person. When I hear people complain, I can’t stand it. It’s like I’m allergic to complaints. I do realize that I would complain from time to time. When the moment hits, I don’t feel good. I feel that I have lost the battles. No one is exempt. Not you and not me. It’s easy to complain, and who doesn’t love easy? This is how our brains train us. If we are not careful, it will majorly impact our daily life.

So why do we complain? It’s because complaints help us relieve our discomfort or even pain, it helps us shift the blame to someone else. It’s always someone else’s problem, not mine. Unfortunately, complaints drive negativity. It might give you some short-term relief, but it does a lot of damage to you in the long run. I told my kids and people I coached that negativity was like a vampire, and it sucked out all your blood until you were lifeless.

How do I know? It’s because I experience it every day. I would say most of us are not negative people, but all of us will have negative thoughts from time to time. Those thoughts turn us into negative ones. They also drive depression and make us sad. They suck out your energy and your spirit. It sounds scary, right? You know, what? It is.

A few years ago, one of my close friends (who used to work for me) passed away. The news was so upsetting and shocking. I wonder how did it happen to a smart young man? Leo was hardworking and brilliant. He was sweet and caring. Why his life ended so early? No one knew how he really died, but I do know what contributed his death. Leo had a lot of negative thoughts, way more than a normal person. He also complained a lot. I had tried everything to turn his negative thoughts into positive regularly. It was very tiring for me, but I never stopped giving up on him. He was safe under my watch, but after he left, I couldn’t protect him anymore…

This Negativity Vampire is always watching and is ready to attack us when he sees an opportunity. He sucks out our energy and positivity little by little so that we won’t notice that he exists. He is persistent and will do it every day without fail. 

How do we win over this evil vampire? It won’t be easy, but it certainly can be done. Just remember this whenever you have a negative thought:

First, you need to acknowledge it. It’s like telling the vampire that I know you are here, but I’m not afraid of you! Second, take a deep breath. Third, replace the negative thought with a positive one. Anything positive. Positive thought is like the sunlight. You know the evil vampire doesn’t like sunlight, right? The more positive you bring into your mind, the more sunlight it generates. Your sunlight will eventually kill the evil vampire and put him to rest. Will another evil vampire come again to attack you? Of course, but if you follow this simple method, things will surely change. I guarantee it. 

Life has challenges, but it’s okay. We just need to find ways to take on these challenges.