Post by mod3 on Apr 28, 2010 13:49:25 GMT -5
clearday said:
One thing about me is I hate negative attitudes and hate seeing people waste their lives on negative feelings.
I used to see it that way, and had a hands off "live and let live" attitude like yourself. It's not a bad place to be in, and it certainly allows you to protect yourself from negativity.
However, I see it entirely differently today. Negativity is often a cry for help and presents itself as an opportunity to practice the second greatest commandment.
An an analogy, what good could your medical practitioner or your car mechanic do if you walked in all positive and said "hey, everything's just great!" when you are in severe pain or your car won't start? That wouldn't work too well would it?
Or, if you went into your car mechanic and told about your car troubles, would you want him to say "go away, I hate negativity."?
Encountering negativity is an opportunity because it indicates a need within our fellow man.
Over the years, I have seen a lot of negativity on these boards and discussion groups get unwound because it gave people a chance to define what bothered them, get ideas from others and figure out how to overcome it all. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of people have moved on to a happier and higher plane than where they were before engaging with others who have encountered similar challenges.
The fellowship has a strong tendency to suppress negativity rather than work with it to help heal its members. When negativity is suppressed, whatever is bothering that person never goes away, it only gets worse. Encouraging negativity to be expressed is the first step to healing.