Beep beep! My negativity meter turned red this week as I was inundated by someone’s brash behavior. Along with it came the symptoms of choked throat, frozen creativity, restless mind and agitation that came out on my kids. Though I am glad that I do not deal with these personalities often, but when encountered I am drained of my positivity, and then I look for ways to get my balance back. I lost two days delving into the happenings, and to get a grip around the entire episode.
The fact remains that we all have to deal with such unwanted behaviors and personalities be it in our work, relations or at times strangers who seem to pay us a visit just to disrupt the peace. Some of us are better equipped to deal with negativity, while some sensitive souls like me get easily sucked into the negative field. This was one such episode for me, and here are some techniques that I deploy, to recover from the negative encounter, while some work better than the other, and some others work great cumulatively-

Running/ Cardio exercise

In order to stimulate my under stress nervous system, I like to indulge in some heart pumping exercise-running and Zumba being my two favorites. Running is a recent habit that I imbibed from my lady friends in the neighborhood.
I find clarity when I am alone with my thoughts, and running gives me that solitude to reflect. Running to me is like a meditation on an accelerated mode, and more often than not, I emerge happy and grounded.
By the same token, the fun and exhilarating moves of the Zumba class are enough to pump up my feel good endorphins, thus melt away any stress.

Deep Breathing

Deep breathing is an instant method to calm my thoughts, and the best part is that it can be practiced any time and anywhere. Inhale deeply and let the air out through the mouth- it works better when you exhale with a deep sigh, eyes closed imagining that you are letting go of all the negativity in the air.
And after 10 such breaths, be ready to embrace a lighter you!

Meditation

I do not meditate often, but being aware of its positive effects I decided to indulge in meditation that restless night. So, I let the meditation app guide me as I followed the instructions to breath deeply and relax. I became aware of the sounds around me like that of the clock ticking in my room and my kid’s breathing next to me.  Before I knew, I felt refreshed as if my soul just had a facial.

Distractions like TV and video games

In order to keep my mind off the dreaded incident, I ended up watching several episodes of a soap opera that I have been following. And yes, it diverted me temporarily from the happenings, but when I switched it off, my thoughts swayed back into the mess.
Even though this technique does not provide a permanent stress relief, I still tend to use it to keep me entertained and occupied for the time being.

Writing

When using writing as a therapy, I pen with all my might and emotions about the episode – the stronger my feelings, the faster I write! This is an objective way to find clarity, and clear the negative chatter inside.
You do not have to use ornamental words when writing for self, just let your thoughts run along with the pen, and then there will be a moment when you have nothing more to vent. At that instance you will find yourself better centered, and ready to get back into your life.

Music

Listening to music is yet another form of therapy to keep your mind engaged, and to get you back into your rhythm.
My choice of music is closely alligned with my mental orientation- when I am swamped with work, I prefer fast beat, when in blue I prefer soft . But ‘Yanni’ is my all time favorite. I find his music serene and calming….always.

Count thy blessings

When I feel miserable, I gently direct myself to look at the sunny side, and turn on the gratitude mode. And then I discover not one, but countless blessings that I need to be thankful for. Suddenly the negativity looks minuscule in the vast universe of abundance, and the difficulties seem to fade away.
I have also dedicated an article previously about the importance of gratitude in our daily lives- https://ipenlife.com/2015/11/22/attitude-of-gratitude/

Awareness and Intention 

Lastly, the most important of all the steps is the awareness, that I was gripped by negative energy, which made me feel stifled and agitated. So, I slept with an intention to wake up happy and move on with my life.
After a good night sleep, this morning I woke up fresh, and ready to grab the world again. Then I wrote this post.:-)
I am happy to report that I have successfully neutralized negativity, and my friends, when next time you encounter one, make sure you do not stay in that state of mind for long. Use the techniques that work best to get you back into your positive self. Do not waste yourself overthinking about the negative behavior of others, as this kind of behavior is rarely about you, and more about the person spreading the negativity. Remember, the important thing is to get yourself together again, and keep moving ahead!
Photo credit: The Waterboy via Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND
Photo credit: thornypup via Foter.com / CC BY-NC-ND