How to Surround Yourself With Positive People

People often confuse the idea of being a good person with the idea of being a positive one. You can be a great person with a good heart and good intentions, but this does not necessarily mean you're a positive being.

It's important to have people in our lives who are motivational, encouraging and have a bright outlook on life. If we were or are constantly surrounded by individuals who are constantly pessimistic or seeing the glass half-empty, it starts to have a negative effect on us. Whether you can see it or not is an entirely different story.

Of course people have every right to complain or feel badly, but certainly not all the time. There are too many opportunities and moments that life has to offer to constantly be sad.

If you ensure that your company is a positive company, you will always have both a support group and a cheerleading squad. It's a win-win.

You may be wondering, "How do I make sure my friends are both good and positive?" It's actually really easy, and you can determine that based on everyday interactions.

How Do They React To Bad News?

If you're having a rough time you expect your friends to be there for you in those times of need. You want them there as a backbone; a support system to keep you on your feet. A positive person or friend will be the first one there to hold your hand, wrap their arms around you and offer a positive bit of advice that things will get better; never worse.

A not-so-positive person will definitely be present in that moment with you, but instead of picking you up, they may allow you to sink into that low. Negative people don't feel happy with their own lives so sometimes they see someone else's pain as a sign of solidarity with their own.

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To Good News? 

Good news is the happiest news, and you want to share it with those closest to you. A positive friend will make your victories their victories, as well.  They are proud of and excited for you, and are the first ones there to rejoice at your special moment.

A negative person will offer you congratulations and a hug, but there is no shared victory. They simply cannot share your happiness with you because they feel that they do not have any of their own to rejoice in. It's an unfortunate combination of jealousy and feelings of being unsatisfied with their own situation.

In General? 

In general how do your friends start conversations? How does this person react to small everyday outings? What is their overall outlook on life? These are all good ways of evaluating the energy someone is bringing to the table.

A negative person is not going to be shedding the best light on any situation. They often come into an everyday interaction with a bad mindset. They can turn a casual lunch outing into a pity party, real quick.

I'm not trying to say that you should not support friends, but I'm suggesting that if this is a frequent occurrence, it may be something to make a mental note of, and possibly avoid. It's definitely acceptable to listen and support a friend, but you cannot expect to maintain this friendship while being a full-time therapist. It's unfair to you, and will significantly impact your mood.

A generally positive person will tend to be looking on the bright side of things. They're optimistic not just when you need it most but in general. This means that they feel good about life, who they are, and where they're at. This is exactly the type of person you want to be around. An attitude this positive is bound to rub off on you, and you will also begin to exude the same positive mindset.

It may not be fair to say you should cut a negative friend out of your life completely because every scenario is different, but it's important to keep in mind you get what you give, so if you're sending out positive vibes, you're going to attract more like-minded people. The more optimistic your social circle is, the better you feel about yourself and everything in general. There's no such thing as too much positivity.