The Wild Fire of Negativity

One day last week, I woke up in a lousy mood. I did not want to get up, but had to. I was tired, not feeling well, and cranky. As I felt myself getting annoyed over the smallest things, I knew I needed to keep to myself until I could snap out of it.

Because negativity spreads like wild fire. 

It quickly takes on a life of its own, targeting everyone in its path—grumbling and complaining, expecting the worst, and projecting a bad mood on to others.

Everyone has bad days and sour moods can be temporary. But left unchecked, they go on for too long, becoming less occasional and more the norm.

I’ve been on the receiving end, trying not to let someone else drag me down, even removing myself from that person’s company.

But that day, I knew it was my mood that had the potential to invade someone else’s day, and I didn’t want that to happen. So, I kept to myself for the beginning of the day while my head cleared and I felt more awake. I stayed out of any conversations that might encourage my negativity and distracted myself until my mood changed.

Sometimes it takes a conscious effort to stop the wild fire of negativity from taking over, and then ruining someone else’s day, as well.

It’s the effort to spend some time alone and shift focus…the effort to not send that email until later when it can be reread from a different frame of mind…the effort to stop grimacing and start smiling. The effort to get. it. under. control.

The black cloud finally lifted that morning. My mood improved and my attitude started to turn around…and then I ventured out of my seclusion.

A cheerful heart brings a smile to your face; a sad [or angry, cranky, unhappy] heart makes it hard to get through the day. Proverbs 15:13 The Message

How about you—how do you identify when negativity is moving in, and what do you do about it?

In Christ,

Laura 

Photo credit: Stock photo: Danger

Linking up with Sharing His Beauty, Give Me Grace, Unforced Rhythms, Everyday Jesus, Blessing Counters, Faith Filled Friday