I want to be positive.

[Jackal]

Anyone ever learn the secret to being nicer? I want to quit being negative too. I'm sick of my attitude towards people and life in general. Any advice on how to just forgive, forget and start seeing the good in people?

I know you just do it, and focus on the positive and control your thoughts and comments (gossiping). But how do you do this for more than half an hour before giving up?

How do you do it when everyone else is so fucking negative all the time?

[Fab]

You prod them with a stick.

It's not so much controling your thoughts in that if you happen to think something negative you go "go away, you nasty thought, you!", just look to see the positive side to things. I still think "wanker" when someone drives in front of a junction i'm indicating to go down when they're stuck in a traffic jam, but I make a concious effort then to make sure I let people out if they're trying to get on to a busy road or something.

I dunno, read Yes Man, that's a nice book about thinking postitively.

[Kelly Kapowski]

i made the choice to be nicer maybe 7 years ago? i'm serious! I think it's almost like quitting smoking cold turkey; you really just do it. I didn't really decide to choose to look at the positive side of things, more just like, "stop being a fucking bitch" and it worked for years but i think i might have backtracked a little the last couple years D;

But really, when I feel like an overwhelmingly bitchy person, I think about how much negative energy already exists in this world and then I'm usually quick to just let it go. It's not enjoyable being pent up with anger, and it's not enjoyable when people don't want to be around you because of that, so that was also enough for me to say, "just stop."

I still think i need anger management though!

[Static Split Screen]

It gets easier as time goes on.

[Kinbote]

Less condoms, more needles. It's that easy, gals!

[Peter]

I knew someone was going to make a comment like that, Ted...but I thought I was going to be the one to do it.

As far as being optimistic goes...I just go by the usual saying "today is today, yesterday is yesterday, tomorrow is tomorrow." for some reason, things always seem to get better with time, and as long as I don't die, I know that at some point I'll be doing better than I currently am. So...I dunno really.

[ramblingrose]

You can still gossip and be nice!
Seriously, I don't know. I don't so much have a problem with being nice to people, but some days I feel fine and that things will turn out alright as long as I keep trying, and then other days I feel like I'm totally hopeless and keep thinking about all the things I wish I'd done different. I think a lot of it is how you're made, but if you pretend to be positive and things it eventually becomes less of an effort and more of the truth. My major problem is procrastinating, like there's quite a few things I really need to do at the moment, and some days I make lots of progress and then other days it's suddenly bed time and all I seem to have done is a lot of tea drinking and mild worrying.

[cigar store indian]

i made the choice to be nicer maybe 7 years ago? i'm serious! I think it's almost like quitting smoking cold turkey; you really just do it. I didn't really decide to choose to look at the positive side of things, more just like, "stop being a fucking bitch" and it worked for years but i think i might have backtracked a little the last couple years D;

But really, when I feel like an overwhelmingly bitchy person, I think about how much negative energy already exists in this world and then I'm usually quick to just let it go. It's not enjoyable being pent up with anger, and it's not enjoyable when people don't want to be around you because of that, so that was also enough for me to say, "just stop."

I still think i need anger management though!

same here!
after working with the public for a while I saw that i was a bitch to a lot of people for no reason. I then realized i HATE people who are miserable and take out that misery by being a cunt to everyone. Nowadays even if i want to slice my throat open in anger I don't take it out on people undeservingly.
Most of the time.
Also, I find myself being extra nice to the blacks. :darn:

[Static Split Screen]

I knew someone was going to make a comment like that, Ted...but I thought I was going to be the one to do it.

As far as being optimistic goes...I just go by the usual saying "today is today, yesterday is yesterday, tomorrow is tomorrow." for some reason, things always seem to get better with time, and as long as I don't die, I know that at some point I'll be doing better than I currently am. So...I dunno really.


Really? Cuz shit keeps getting worse for me! Though actually things are looking up recently.

[cigar store indian]

ha! i wish i was dead, but not really, cause i already am! but things are looking up too.

[Peter]

Really? Cuz shit keeps getting worse for me! Though actually things are looking up recently.

I always feel that in the long run, over the years, there will always be a point higher than the current point.

[Jackal]

Thanks everybody! All good ideas. Yesterday I made it through 2 family gatherings trying to see everyone as new people and finding something good about them.

That was much easier than noticing their faults again.

[Daysleeper]

I think that I'm nice and good to people, well those who deserve it anyway.

But I do find it hard to be positive. When something good happens, I'm always aware and thinking in the back of my mind that it isn't going to last, that it has to end some time.

I also tend to focus on the more negative aspects of my life and don't think about the positive things in it.

[Leela]

But I do find it hard to be positive. When something good happens, I'm always aware and thinking in the back of my mind that it isn't going to last, that it has to end some time.

I also tend to focus on the more negative aspects of my life and don't think about the positive things in it.

Me too. I hate that I can never enjoy when my life is on an upward slope because I always feel like something bad is going to come along and take it all away.

However, I've been a lot better about that lately, I just force myself as much as I can to find the silver lining and even if I can't just keep telling myself that things will get better.

[Jackal]

I do that too.

[Static Split Screen]

Me four.

[i]

I've had a really good week in Sydney but I'm kinda dreading going back to the USA and working in DC again. I will stay positive tho cos it's all part of our plan to uhhhh. I dunno exactly but I'll be doing this for a few years methinks.