Are you a positive person?

[Mouse House Mama]

Meaning do you let things get to you? When people disappoint you or do something that hurts you do you really feel bad or do you have a pollyanna outlook? I am curious. A couple of us have talked about this and we do not believe that anyone always lets things roll off their shoulders yet we have met people where it appears that way. What do you think?

 

[cabanafrau]

I am a negative Nelly who married Pollyanna. Thank goodness. We seem to strike the right balance after 20+ years. I'd love to know how he does it, but I still don't have the hang of it. The best I could manage was marrying it.

 

[Pixiedust34]

I try to be positive.

The older I get (I'm in my 40s now), the more I think that happiness is a choice. I'd rather wear a smile than a frown and try to live that way. Life is too short to get bent out of shape over little stuff. I do get bent out of shape now and then, but remind myself that there can be a positive spin on many circumstances. Life is too short to be not happy.

 

[wdwfan16]

People at work call me the "Perpetual Optimist". I rarely let things get to me.

 

[themilesfamily]

I've found that the older I get the more quickly things roll off my back. I'm still bothered and hurt when someone comes down or me, or something bad happens -- but the recovery process is so much quicker.

At 20, I would be devastated by an unkind word, just sick about it. Now at 40 it's like, okay, is there some truth to what that person said to me? And if so, can I learn from it? If not, I can let it go and move on pretty quickly.

I have to say, I've LOVED getting older. So much of my life is better at 40 than at 20!!!

ETA: I think the DIS community board has helped in that process. It's toughened me up!

 

[autumnpalm]

I think I'm a pretty positive person.

I think the most important part of that for me, is knowing who I am and being happy with that. I don't let other people decide how I'm going to feel about myself.

I also think it's important to let your happiness come from satisfaction with what you have rather than achieving the next "thing." I like to be able to lie down at night and think- my life is far from perfect, but I can choose to find happiness with exactly what I have already been blessed with.

I very much believe that positivity is a choice. It takes some work to train your brain not to dwell on negatives but I think it is possible for anyone! Nobody and nothing in this life is going to be perfect and if you expect that, disappointment is inevitable. But no matter WHAT the situation, we ALL can have bright spots of joy in our lives every day.

I don't think there's anything wrong with feeling sad or expressing your emotions if you are truly upset. It's healthy! But I try not to let life drag me down. I look at every day as a blessing I want to get as much out of each one as I can. I deal with the things that bother me, clear my head and then move on to the positive things in each day.

 

[bballmom56]

The older I get (I'm in my 40s now), the more I think that happiness is a choice. I'd rather wear a smile than a frown and try to live that way. Life is too short to get bent out of shape over little stuff. I do get bent out of shape now and then, but remind myself that there can be a positive spin on many circumstances. Life is too short to be not happy.

I had the same epiphany. And I was in my 40's at the time. I realized how much I was agonizing over really stupid, menial stuff. When I went through fatal illnesses with each of my parents, I came to know what was important - and it wasn't the silly little stuff that used to bother me.

I am really pretty good at letting stuff roll off now. I decided I want to be happy. I try to find the positive in any situation these days - even a negative event. And I have had a lot of practice in that recently, lol!

 

[java]

My 16 year old is the postitive person in the house. We say the sun always in shining in his world. Rarely anything gets him down. I don't worry about him. I know in his world he will be happy. I try to be more like him every day.

 

[JulielovesDisney]

Everyone tells me that I'm always smiling. It's true, I'm a happy person, and it does take a lot to get me down. And even when life is hard, I'm still smiling. I just think being negative and down is just a waste of time.

 

[RNMOM]

I feel I got really good advice 20+ years ago. I was in counseling for being an incest survivor and my counselor said it is very difficult or negative people to become positive. She suggested aiming for the middle or neutral. I took that advice and it has helped me immensely.

 

[castleview]

yes

 

[almburr]

yes I am. I dont like to frown I'd rather smile. If you sit around in your pitty with a frown you will always be down. Things do get to me but I deal with it and move on. My mother and sister on the other hand are the debbie downers-they do nothing but complain, never try and change it. I dont think they ever smile.

 

[momof1princess]

i don't see myself as a positive person, at least, not right now. too many issues going on around me, but i AM trying not to be negative, and focus on the good. i WANT to be positive, and happy.

 

[Micca]

I like to be positive, polite, and friendly to people. For me it's much less effort than being negative and getting all worked up over little things, or even big things. My decision to become the laid-back guy has eliminated about 99% of stress in my life. Highly recommended.

 

[powellrj]

I like to think I am. I had a good friend tell me this week that she likes to be around me because I bring out the good in other people. I took that as a HUGE compliment.

My kids on the other hand tell me I am a buzz-kill and can spoil all their fun. Maybe thats a good thing????

 

[Rora]

I try really really hard. But worrying sometimes gets the best of me..

 

[Acklander]

I'm definitely a positive person. I think it's because I have no expectations of anyone doing anything for me, so I'm always surprised and thrilled about the little things.
As far as letting things roll off my back. I learned early on not to take things personally. I try to live my life true to who I am,to give more than I take, to remember that you can be honest without being cruel to think of others before taking action, to focus on fun/laughter/creating good memories, and to be a positive force; so that seems to reflect back to me. (and by the way this is what I think is the true meaning of karma - a reflection back of what you give out - not that a bad thing is going to happen to you, because you wronged me that so many people refer to)
Yeah, occasionally people will be nasty, or have negative energy, but when I run into someone like that, I figure it's because they are dealing with something going on in their life, and probably has very little to do with me. So I accept it as that. As a matter of fact, when I run into someone like that I'll usually go out of my way to see if there is something I can do for them to make it easier for them. Sometimes when you lighten someones load just a little bit, it makes all the difference in the world.

 

[Feralpeg]

I am a "glass half full" person. No matter what the situation, I usually find a bright side. Thank goodness. I can't imagine going through life feeling down all the time.