One thing that I think we can all relate to is having negativity in our lives. Whether it’s from ourselves or other people, we have to deal with it from time to time. If you don’t figure out a way to get past it, it can basically consume you and affect every aspect of your life.
I have to face negativity occasionally and let me tell you, it’s not always easy. I have days where I struggle to figure out how to deal with it and let it go. But there is something I’ve learned to do to not only make it easier to deal with, but to use it for something good. And that’s taking negativity and turning it into motivation.
It may sound difficult to do, but instead of letting all that negativity eat away at you, if you use it to fuel your motivation, you can accomplish amazing things. Here’s how to do just that.
Use your anger as energy.
When negativity finds your life, it can make you really angry. You can get mad at other people for being so mean and you can even get mad at yourself for thinking in such a negative way. The one thing that you can do in either situation is to use that anger as energy. Use that anger to fuel your next workout or to make progress on your personal projects. Use it to push you even further.
Ask yourself why people are so negative toward you.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that negativity often comes from jealousy. Others want to feel better about their own lives, so they try to put you down so you feel worse than they do. It’s unfortunate that this type of negativity exists, but you have to be aware of it.
The next time someone is being negative toward you, ask yourself why. Maybe it has more to do with their failures than it does with their criticisms of you. This can motivate you to do even better by realizing that there are people who see your accomplishments as something to be envious of.
Think about how far you’ve come from the negativity.
Do you ever get down on yourself and start thinking negatively about your current progress – whether it’s in your fitness journey or in any other aspect of your life? Use that negativity to think about how far you’ve come. When you start getting down on yourself, think about the last time you were beating yourself up about that very same thing and how much has changed since. This can help put things into perspective so you can think accurately about it.
Use those negative comments and thoughts as a challenge.
Honestly, think about the times you get down about yourself. They’re usually during times when you’re trying to do something worthwhile. Use those negative thoughts as a challenge that you can beat. Think to yourself, “Fine, I’m going to prove myself wrong by making myself proud of this,” and get to work.
Use it as constructive criticism.
Not all negativity is actually meant to hurt you and bring you down. Sometimes, it’s just constructive criticism in disguise. There are times you have to take a step back and ask yourself if it’s just helpful advice instead of negativity. Once you realize that there are some people who are trying to help you succeed, you can use that as motivation to be better.
Negativity comes in all forms. Whether it’s from someone else or in your own thoughts, it’s never fun to deal with. If you use that negativity as motivation, you can succeed in anything you do. Remember that YOU are amazing and strong. XOX
