‘Social’ Intelligence: Surround Yourself with Positive People

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Pessimism is a catalyst for cataclysm; I know that, you know that, Hell, even Mr Osborne knows that!

The important question is, however, what, if anything, are we doing about that?

I have honestly lost count of the myriad of articles that I’ve written on the importance of being optimistic about everything and how that can have a tremendous positive effect on your professional and personal life.

Nevertheless, I know that it can sometimes be incredibly difficult to be positive about anything when you are surrounded by negative people.

When surrounded by negative people:

• You spend most of your time with them in trying to show them a more positive side to things which takes up a lot of time
• You spend a lot more time focusing on things that you cannot (presently) change rather than on those that you can
• You spend a lot of energy on trying to talk some sense into such people and, consequently, feel too tired to do anything else
• You start seeing those around you as whinging babies rather than grown up people which, consequently, turns you into a negative person
• You haven’t got any time to talk about anything else besides their ‘problems’ which obliterates, almost completely, any chance of your having a good time, let alone relaxing
• You realise, at some point, that for the last hour or so, you have all been talking about what you haven’t been able to do and why you will never be able to do it rather than what you want to do and how you can do it
• You start believing people that ‘being realistic’ is possible. It’s not. You’re either pessimistic or optimistic, end of.
• You start numbing down your ambitions because you want to fit in

I trust that all of the above sounds incredibly scary and off- putting. I am fully aware of the fact that many of us want to influence others and turn the world into a better and more positive place.

Nevertheless, it is very important that, in order to help others, you need to help yourself first. 

Only then will you be in a position to efficiently help those around you.

By surrounding yourself with positive people:

• You feel invigorated and always up for a new challenge
• You feel that, regardless of what difficulties you experience along the way, there will always be someone to help you out
• You see that there are others like you and there is hope to change the world for the better, after all
• You stop thinking about the past and the future and focus on the present instead
• You develop a can- do attitude which is quite a charismatic trait
• You find that you more time to talk about your ideas with people who are willing to hear and help you out
• You smile and laugh more often (for the positive effect of that, see << http://myveryownhell.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/social-intelligence-smile-it-looks-good.html >>)
• You act more and talk less

It is, indeed, quite important to be optimistic and try to positively affect those around you.

Before you do that, however, get some reinforcements on- board; trust me, it’s easier and much more enjoyable.