One of the most challenging parts of life as a small business owner is dealing with negative energy. From snarky FaceBook comments to the discouraging looks and raised eye brows of you your closest friends and relatives, the more you attempt to better yourself and grow your business, the more times you will feel like the forces of hell have been unleashed upon you.
But there is good news, and it starts with accepting the fact that dealing with negative energy is an important part of your personal development. The more you face negativity, the better you become at dealing with it and overcoming it. Here are few things I do regularly to help combat negative energy when it comes my way.
- Review your core values. The best way to resist and overcome negative energy is to solidify who you are before the energy ever even comes your way. This is where your core values come in. Refer to them each morning, before you interact with another human being, so you start each day secure in your guiding principles and in who you are as a person. When you know who you are, negative energy is like an annoying fly. Swat it away at will, and move on with your day.
- Review your mission statement. Negative energy has a way of causing you to question your mission, and sometimes even your very existence on earth. The easiest way to combat this is to review your mission statement daily, again early in the morning as you review your core values. Also, take a look at your vision board, and let it remind you of all that you seek to achieve in your life.
These actions take a few minutes and they are very effective at helping you push away any negative energy that comes your way, especially if you do them in in the still quietness of the morning when no one else is around. It's a great way to prepare for a positive day, no matter what kind of energy comes your way.
- Respond to negative energy with positive energy. You've heard this before, “Kill 'em with kindness.” Easier said than done, I know. But it really is true that misery loves company, so if you take the bait and join the negative energy party, the demons will have twice the fun.
Resist the urge to externalize your fight. Follow Steps 1 and 2, and release the negativity into the light of your core values and mission. Allow this process to fill you with positive energy which you can release outwardly into the space around you. In short order, your positive response will cause the negative energy to either burn itself out or go elsewhere. Sounds weird, I know, but it works.
There are other things you can do that are external to yourself, like going for a run, calling a friend for a pick-me-up, or watching a favorite movie or TV show to divert your attention.
I know you have other ideas.
Question: How do you deal with negative energy?