by Susan Durbin Panker

Created on: April 15, 2009

Positivity is like the cream that rises to the top and negativity is like everything left over. There may always be more negative people than positive people because it is easier to be negative. With the advent of technology bringing news from around the world instantly to your viewing eyes is it no wonder that negativity is perceived as a worldwide pandemic? Negativity has been here since life began. This is nothing new. Read the Old Testament. Read the New Testament. Now imagine that being broadcast on the news. In today's world we are bombarded with horrible news 24/7 365 days a year. If you watch everything and listen to everything negative out there in this brave new world, you might just want to curl up in a corner and pull the window blinds and triple bolt your door. Or you might do something worse like become apathetic.

Take heart though, there is hope. Positivity is the only way to overcome the damage that is being done everyday by the media. They are there to deliver the news but why is it that the news is only negative? Because they feel this is what the viewers want and need to hear? Remember it's easier to be negative than positive so it's a perpetual process. More viewers means better ratings. There are some media outlets that follow the heart-wrenching stories with a positive story about a hero or a good deed that was done to help others and we should applaud and watch those stations as they try to combat this enigma of gloom and doom.

It is possible to overcome this negative way of being. Positive thoughts must be cultivated. It takes practice and discipline. It takes time and patience. It takes turning off the TV and not sitting there hour upon hour listening to the world's problems. You can't carry the weight of the world on your shoulders and when you die the world will go on without you. What can you do before your time is up on this planet to make the world a better place? Start off by doing something small and positive in your own community. If everyone took the two hours or so that they watch the news and went out into their community to help a less fortunate person wouldn't the world be better off? Your place in the world would be and we are all a bunch of little places that make up one big world.

Positive thoughts are necessary for a healthy life. If you surround yourself with negative television shows or negative people who are always complaining you will become like the flower that shrivels up and wilts because it has no food, water or sunshine. Positive thoughts are like nutrients for your well being. Being altruistic is like fertilizer for your soul. Reading positive books daily will feed your mind with the necessary armor to combat the everyday negativity that surrounds you. The more positive you become, in time you will be immune to the negative thought patterns of others. Your optimism will become second nature to you and that is one way the misconception of pandemic negativity will end, one person at a time, passing on positive energy making the world a better, happier place.

Learn more about this author, Susan Durbin Panker.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.