Dealing With Negative People Made Easy

I was playing tennis today with one of my tennis buddies. We play once a week and we usually chat about work, professional tennis players and local news.

Today he was very negative about the people of the area we live in. According to him they are all thieves and crooks.

Now this makes me really angry when I hear him talking like this since I have had very positive experiences with the people I have dealt with locally. I find the locals to be very friendly, helpful and considerate.

So we disagree on the facts. What can I do about his negative thinking? What can you do when dealing with negative people?

Three Ways To Deal With Negative People

1. Get specific

When someone is caught up in negative thinking they will often generalize their statements. It is a good idea to ask them questions to clarify what they mean.

For example if my friend says all dogs are aggressive I will ask him:

Small dogs or big dogs? All dogs or certain breeds? According to who? In what kind of situations?

By doing this you can shift the perspective of the negative person from a generalized over reaction to a highly specific opinion. This will ease some of the negativity and the intensity of their outburst.

2. Let Go

Let go of wanting to control the opinions of the people you deal with no matter how negative they are. By all means talk to the negative person and use your persuasion skills to help give them a more positive outlook.

However remember that each of us is entitled to be negative, wrong and inaccurate! Once you accept this you will not get so stressed about wanting to change people who are negative.

And ironically when you stop trying to change people they can almost sense that you accept them and so your words have more impact.

3. Choose to Be Positive

When people around us are negative sometimes the easiest thing to do is to join in. You do not have to. If you want to just go ahead.

Otherwise find ways to maintain a positive attitude. Look for the positives in the situation and point them out to people. Ask yourself how you can use this opportunity to become better.

And refuse to get dragged down by others into the murky waters of negativity no matter how bad it gets.

Being positive is a choice even when those around you have slipped into negativity.

About The Author

Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently produced a very popular free report: 10 Simple Steps to Developing Communication Confidence. Apply now because it is available for a limited time only at: http://www.howtotalkwithconfidence.com/report.htm

In The News:

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents
Apple recently notified a small number of iPhone customers in 92 countries that their phones may be under attack by mercenary spyware.
An artificial intelligence-powered home security system can fire paintballs and tear gas at trespassers. The camera identifies human faces and animals.
Technology expert Kim Komando gives her tips and tricks on enhancing your user experience a smartphone and other devices you use everyday.
A new camera called NUCA uses artificial intelligence to create deepfake photos of subjects by stripping away clothing in close to real time.
The Kimberley Kube trail-ready camper has a compact but spacious design and combines luxury, functionality and ruggedness for a weekend getaway.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Emails instructing you to reset your password for an account may be legitimate, or they may be scams. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains.
Northrop Grumman's Manta Ray uncrewed underwater vehicle aims to revolutionize undersea missions — it glides through the ocean without human assistance.
Learn how to work Google's calendar application to streamline and organize your daily tasks from technology expert Kim Komando.
If you do not want Facebook to have automatic access to your private photos, follow our tips to protect yourself. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson shows you how.
Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson goes into detail about Apple’s recent iOS update that allows iPhone users to instantly translate spoken language simply by using the Action Button.
Safeguarding your digital life with a reliable physical backup isn't just a precaution, it's a necessity. Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson provides the essential backup checklist.
Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals how a Redditor exposed false recycling claims at their apartment, highlighting a report that only 21% of U.S. recyclables are processed.
Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson offers a travel toolkit featuring five technology tools to help you with booking flights and hotels for your summer vacation.
The bubble behind the clock on your iPhone can appear in different colors. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains what each of those colors mean.
Scammers are using the power of artificial intelligence to mimic voices of people and are using the fake voices to commit crimes, like kidnappings.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Tech guru Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains the science behind the Invisibility Shield, a 6-foot shield that makes people become invisible.
The International Olympic Committee on Friday announced plans to use AI in various Olympic aspects, including athlete identification, training and judging.
Tech guru Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains an easy trick to avoid squinting while working or surfing the web by zooming in on your personal computer.
Streaming giant Roku has recently been targeted by a pair of cyberattacks, and the company confirmed over a half million Roku accounts were compromised.
The Land Aircraft Carrier combines an all-terrain, six-wheeled vehicle with a two-seat aircraft, which features electric vertical takeoff and landing.
The European Union has sent TikTok a "request for information" on the video sharing platform's newest app, TikTok Lite, under the Digital Services Act, with the aim to clean up social media.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Train Your Brain, Or Cook Your Goose!

One day while in deep meditation and self analysis, a... Read More

It?s All About Beliefs

Changing your mindset can have a significant impact on achieving... Read More

Good News! The Pathway of Change Is Predictable

Often when radical change occurs in our lives we feel... Read More

Short Cut to Self-Confidence: Say Yes to You!

You are the only one that can give confidence to... Read More

3 Little Words Equal More Power To You!

Life shouldn't be so complicated. Have you ever wondered why... Read More

Passion To Succeed

"Spiritual Intelligence" (SI) is the ability of a person to... Read More

Firewords: A Dangerous Necessity in Your Life?

There are many stories of people injuring themselves, and others,... Read More

Moving? Pack an Emotional First Aid Kit

From Making the Big Move: how to transform relocation into... Read More

The Art of Thankfulness

With Thanksgiving approaching, I thought it would be especially appropriate... Read More

Positive Things To Do For Yourself

Being a mom can take a toll on your body,... Read More

Life Is Not Always Fair

I once heard the story of a grown bear that... Read More

Overcoming Bad Moods

From experience, one of the biggest stumbling blocks for people... Read More

Are You A Victim Of FABS? Part One

Have you heard of the FABS? The FABS are quadruplets;... Read More

A Day in Your Life: 17 Ways to Make it a Special Day

A day in your life is a brief and precious... Read More

Choose Wisely

During these times of uncertainty in the outside world, look... Read More

The Power Of AND

Not Amen, just so we're clear on that.AND.The little connector... Read More

Positive Thinking - Anxiety & Panic

If you suffer with or have in the past suffered... Read More

The Power of Positive Thinking: Unlimited Possibilities

Does negative thinking pay? Is it desirable for me to... Read More

The Power of the Mind

Each of us has a mind by which we convert... Read More

Free Tips To Increase Self-Esteem

I have had many confidence issues in my life, all... Read More

Self-esteem: Does It Really Matter?

Some people are full of confidence and able to meet... Read More

Create Your Own Confidence Bank Account

This is a technique that sounds a bit silly when... Read More

Self-Opinions---Can Limit Our Lives

Dr. Phil says each of us has a personal "truth"... Read More

Why Do Some Affirmations *Work* - and Others Dont?

By definition,an affirmation is a statement repeated time and again... Read More

Anger - The Truth Beneath

The other day one of my "challenging clients" and I... Read More