Good afternoon, friends!  I hope your week is off to a great start! 

My morning started off nice and early with a 6:00 A.M. spin class.  Nothing beats that endorphin rush first thing on a Monday morning.  It leaves me feeling so prepared for the week ahead… that is until I get to work and am instantly surrounded by negativity. 

I’ve recently realized how much I am affected by negative people.

Of course, I understand people having a bad day and wanting to complain to help relieve some frustration.  I’m not talking about those people.

I’m talking about those people who start off each morning with a complaint, groan, or negative comment instead of a simple smile or a “Good morning!” 

I’m talking about those people who seem to have nothing but negative comments to say about being at work, and the tasks that are included in their jobs.

I’m talking about those people who are toxic to those around them that actually do enjoy their jobs!

Listening to negativity all day long brings me down, and I have been trying to rise above that.  Here’s what I’ve been doing that seems to work for me:

• Stop feeding into those negative comments.  Of course, it’s tempting to jump on that bandwagon of negative talk.  Really though, what will that accomplish??  NOTHING.  In the past, I’ve found myself agreeing with others and groaning about things that in reality, I don’t mind!  I was agreeing just to agree, not because I actually felt that way.  Now, I’m thinking before I react.  I am choosing to keep it positive.  Misery loves company, and I’d rather not be included in that slippery slope.

• Turn the negative talk positive.  My fellow coworkers look at me like I have two heads when I put a stop to the negative talk, and instead decide to tell a positive story about my students.  Believe me, if a group of teachers are talking, it’s very rare that they are discussing GOOD things about their students.  Personally though, I’d rather think about/talk about/share the good….  thank ya very much

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• Remove myself from the situation.  I may be coming off rude, or anti-social, but I’ve started to simply just walk away from places and situations that are infested with negative talk.  I love to talk about teaching, and children, but once the complaints begin… see ya!

Being in a negative environment brings me down, and I don’t have room for that in my life.  I love my job, I love my students, and I wouldn’t be teaching if I didn’t.

In order to rise above all that negativity today, I decided to focus on the things that made me happy!    Here’s just a few that jumped out to me as I was going about my day…

Using online resources like Pinterest to come up with creative ways to help my students learn…

Our “Classroom Puzzle” that hangs as a reminder that although we all have different strengths and weaknesses, when we work together, we are perfect!

Clean desks!!!

Sweet notes from my students…

and last, but certainly NOT least… OUTDOOR RECESS!!!

Do you have to deal with negativity in the workplace?  How do you rise above that?

What are you happy for on this gorgeous day?  Let’s get some POSITIVITY out there, folks!