Negative people in Your Life

Yes, I know there will always be negative people in our life. I tell my children this all the time. But it doesn't make it any easier to deal with them.
 
When your teeth clench tight, your blood starts to boil, your easy going spirit turns wild with bitterness every time you see this person’s name on the caller id, or their email that graces your inbox…well...that’s just not right!

I attended a class today requested by my work. "Exceptional Customer Service" This was a great class and I learned many great things. I even put together an action plan for my job and a training outline to teach my coworkers. But the most meaningful lesson I learned was how to handle difficult people.

Several things came up. Like stay away from negative people. Avoid angry people. Just don't hang around with somebody who brings you down. Ha! Easier said than done. And I would love to do just that. But what if your circumstances won't allow that? And the concept that 85% of our behavior comes from what we think about our self and only 15% comes from reacting to someone else words or actions, hmmm. And then there’s the saying that anger can harm you physically. Oh, and then there’s the thing that we can't control the other person, but we can control how we react. Yes, I know all that!  What can a person do? UGH!!!

Well, I learned and put into an action plan several good things. Actually it's nothing new, just a new look.
 
First I'll say out loud every morning..."I am a child of God!"

Then I will read at least one scripture, even if I'm not able to do my quiet time.

I also will write what God is saying to me.

Before I go to bed each night I will think over the day and write down two things I'm thankful for. If I start a journal just for that, in a year I'll have 730 things I'm thankful for!

When I get down or frustrated I need to remember to listen to my music. I listen to KLove mostly, or similar music. AHHHH, maybe that will work!

Well, I already feel better. How about you? Do you have a person like this in your life? Or is it just me?