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We
welcome your letter to the editor.
Letters
should be no longer than 300 words and must be signed and include
a phone number. Longer letters may be edited for clarity and space.
Submissions should be typewritten if possible.
Deadline
for submission is noon on Monday.
Perspectives
Patti M.
Clark
Editor
Let’s
go on a negativity fast
Have you ever noticed
that if you’re positive those around you will be positive
too, but if you walk around with a frown on your face, soon you’ll
be surrounded by other frowning faces?
Imagine what would happen if for the next 30 days you went on
a negativity fast. That means that you put away all negative thoughts.
You make an effort not to be exposed to negative media stories,
but look only for the positive stories, the good stuff, the heart
stories.
What difference would that make in your life.?
A few years ago, I did an experiment. I walked into the office
and was happy or sad, depending on the day. It was intentional.
I wanted to see how those around me would act.
On days when I was happy, others appeared to pick up those vibes
as well. There was less conflict in the office. It was easier
to deal with customers. We enjoyed each other more.
But on the days when I was unhappy, others were soon feeling the
same emotions. Employees snapped at each other. They didn’t
deal well with customers. And other employees just simply got
on their nerves.
And that was just an experiment. Imagine what happens when it’s
real life, every day. When we let our negative emotions influence
how we interact with those around us.
So I challenge you, over the next 30 days, paste a smile on your
face and share good wishes with those around you. You may not
feel like it, but by the end of the month, you may realize that
you are actually much happier than you were in the past.
Research shows that it takes about three weeks of doing something
on a consistent basis to begin developing a new habit. By three
months, it becomes an ingrained part of your life. If you commit
yourself to being happy, being positive for the next 30 days,
by the end of that time, you’ll be well on your way to living
a happier, healthier life.
There’s no shortage of negative things that happen in today’s
world, but we must each make the time and effort to find the good
things in life, to enjoy the things that are positive and positively
impact others around us.
“It isn’t what you have, or who you are, or where
you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy.
It is what you think about.”
— Dale Carnegie
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