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It's hard to not let gossip and people being negative affect you on a daily basis.

However, it's better to be the stronger person and be positive when others try to bring you down.

It's really hard to stay positive when you're around negative people who complain or talk down to others or gossip all the time. It's hard not to let that affect you, and even rub off on you, when it's someone you work with or someone in your home, or even a friend or relative you see often.

A couple of years ago I made a choice to practice what my mama taught me when she said, "Sis, if you can't say anything nice about someone, don't say anything at all." I challenged myself not to speak ill about anyone or say anything that I wouldn't say in front of their face. Boy, was that hard! I had no idea how gossipy and negative I had become. But I tried it out and I of course failed every now and then. I'm not perfect.

I notice when I'm around certain people, it becomes harder to hold to that challenge. Because some people in my life are really negative and their attitude is always "whoa is me" or they complain or they make snarky remarks about how others dress and pick at things that don't really matter. Makes me wonder what they say about me when I'm not around...

Don't let negativity steal your joy and don't let negative people bring you down with them. Make a decision to look at things from a different perspective, to count your blessings, to be grateful, to have a positive attitude. Try not to say negative things about people. If you're not comfortable saying it in front of their face, don't say it behind their back either. It's hard at first, but it's all a part of an attitude refinement process that helps us enjoy a better outlook on life. Just a thought...

How do YOU deal with negative people? Comment below!

Rachel Specht contributed to this post

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