This morning I found myself standing in a crowded restaraunt where a few feet away from me, another customer was the **** of one of those dreaded winter colds. Her constant coughing and sneezing and exhausted appearance let us other patrons know to keep our distance, which we gladly did. It seems like common sense - to stay healthy, it pays to avoid the sick and contagious. But if it's this obvious here, why don't we apply this lesson in other areas of life? We all have our daily run-ins with people who for whatever reason, seem to take pleasure in not only being frustrated, stressed, and miserable, but also in spreading their misery to those around them. It's a cliche, but still true - attitudes are contagious. How many great days have been spoiled by an intrusive family member, a sour-tounged co-worker, a friend's drama, or some rude stranger's inconsiderate actions? But for some reason, we accept these things as inevitable. When we do, we are denying ourselves the mental and spiritual health that we work so hard to protect on a physical level. We ultimately have control over the people who participate in our lives. Take a moment to think about who may be quietly infecting you with their psychological toxins. Diagnose yourself - do you find yourself rundown, unmotivated, discouraged, or fed up with the world? As young leaders, we need to protect our ability to think clearly and make better lives for ourselves and our families. If you are surrounded with negative attitudes and behaviors, the effects will ultimately transfer to you - as stress, anger, insecurity, isolation, and fatigue. Just as in the restaurant, when you find someone exhibiting the warning signs, make sure that person stays as far away from you as possible. It doesn't make sense to stand in front of a sneezing patient trying to prove how strong or resilient we are - why do we do this emotionally? The time to start feeling rejuvenated and inspired again is now. So get the negative people out of your life, and reclaim the mental strength and peace that you really deserve. __________________________________ The Leader's Survival Guide is daily insight for young men and women to inspire better living. Provided by Jonathan Carter of The Baltimore Renaissance Foundation, a nonprofit youth leadership organization in Baltimore, MD.
This is so true! I thought you were bout to talk about getting sneezed on.
People try to make you feel bad though. It's not like you don't want to deal with the people, exactly, it's just the mess.
If you follow the belief that God gave you talents and abilities, yea, people make you feel cold-hearted when you have to cut off the drama and not accept responsibility for their toxins, but it just seems like the least you owe to God. Otherwise, He's gonna come back and all you have to show is "but XYZ wouldn't let me get freed up enought to reach that potential". Excuses just aren't cool. You gotta do what you gotta do. YOU CAN'T CHANGE PEOPLE, you could only water along the way. Just my personal take on the matter.
As young leaders, we need to protect our ability to think clearly and make better lives for ourselves and our families. If you are surrounded with negative attitudes and behaviors, the effects will ultimately transfer to you - as stress, anger, insecurity, isolation, and fatigue.
Sooo0 true! People are constantly infecting our minds and souls with their negativity. If we, as tomorrow's young leaders can't shake that mess out of our heads, and learn to let it bonce off of us, how can we contribute to society? Keeping good company is of upmost concern for just so many reasons.
