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Negativity is contagious; left unchecked it can have disastrous effects on your happiness. Much like a virus, negativity spreads quickly from person to person and can effect a whole household, business setting or classroom. While we all have to come into contact and communicate with negative people at some point, we can minimize its effects.

We all experience personal bouts of negativity, we get up late one morning, stub our toe, lose our car keys and end up late for work with a very negative attitude. Encountering someone who is temporarily negative is far easier to deal with; if anything diffusing the situation with a humorous comment such as Well at least you're having a good hair day!' can have a positive effect on our happiness and theirs.

Communicating with habitually negative people takes its toll; we can become toxic with someone else's negative emotions or view points. When you find yourself in the position of having to frequently communicate with someone very negative, your body goes into fight or flight mode, which has direct implications on your physical health and personal happiness.

I am convinced every office has one; Mr. or Ms. Negative who believes it is just pure dumb luck when anything goes right for anyone or anything. Any communication with this type of person should be kept to a minimum, and if you must engage them in conversation keep exactly to the topic at hand. Don't over prepare mentally for dealing with negative people, as this will just give you an anxiety complex. Simply have the needed conversation, let them see you smile and move on.

Trying to change a negative person's outlook will simply exhaust you mentally and physically. Negativity is caused by a wide variety of things, including mood disorders and brain disorders. Over analyzing or trying to fix anyone's negativity will result in you feeling negative. Instead; simply acknowledge that severe negativity involves a skewered view of reality, and leave them to it. Chances are, when no-one is left to listen to their ranting and raving, they will be forced to change their behaviour or seek professional help.

Truly negative people see themselves as life's permanent victims. Experiencing a run of bad luck or even tragedy never gives anyone the right to inflict it on other people. Encountering these people on a day to day basis can suck the life blood out of you if you let their black negative vibes pierce your emotions. Offering to help them rarely works; these people may indeed accept your friendship only to turn on you unexpectedly and blame you for the end of the relationship!

Deciding that you are not going to let anyone's negative mood touch you emotionally is often the best defense. Should they try, simply say, Good luck with that', or It's unfortunate you are so negative, could we please keep to the issue at hand'. Don't worry, they'll find someone else's happiness to poison in no time!

Learn more about this author, Melissa D. Ing.
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