Don’t Focus On Negatives
Have you wondered why it is very easy to be quick to point out faults or criticize people? I see this everyday among people and I am no exception to this attitude. Sometimes, I try to figure out why we act in such a manner, and the recurrent reason that comes to mind is because we live in a world that is focused on negatives. It is hard to put into words, but a look at the news on television sums it all up; news is not news until something negative is happening. Tabloids, magazines, soft sell newspapers and other media platforms get high ratings only when a sizzling gossip concerning a celebrity has been revealed; Sexual scandals, corruption, dirty politics, to mention a few, have been churned into products by some, resulting in a multibillion dollar entertainment empire.
What surprises me the most is that little or no effort is required to focus on the negative aspect of a person’s life, hence it is unconsciously practiced by many. However, what we fail to understand is that picking faults, criticizing or always seeing ‘negative’ in people leads to a darker world. Why so? Because seeing ‘negative’ in everything is due to negative thoughts. Negative thoughts lead to negative words. Negative words cause negative perceptions. The final result is a negative atmosphere, full of hate. It is a never-ending cycle. Hate is the breeding ground for evil, wickedness and darkness. I bet you do not want to live in a world full of evil. This is the plan of the evil one, the devil. He wants to steal, kill and destroy love, harmony and positive thinking in a world full of beautiful people. He wants to create hate and turn people against themselves. We can put an end to this, not by fighting, tarnishing, tongue lashing or killing each other, but by seeing the best in people.
There’s room for constructive criticism but it is abused most times. People hide under the cloak of ‘constructive criticism’ but in reality are just being blatantly negative. I believe the solution to this challenge is a heart of love. Anything done from a heart of love is always positive. Do you know you can correct by speaking positively to a person when you find a fault, instead of being negative? Yes, you can. I believe you would get better results when you focus on positive aspects. One thing I do that has helped over the years is that when I find one wrong in a person, I remember the ninety-nine rights! Now, that’s using positive to combat negative. Most times when people do things to us, they are ignorant to the fact that they have hurt us. Moreover we have done worse to God, yet he always sees us in a positive light. He is always loving and forgiving.
A woman was caught in the act of adultery and was brought before Jesus Christ. She was about to be stoned to death because it was a serious crime according to the law. Trying to set Christ up, her accusers asked him what his response was. Oh I love Jesus! See his response- The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone. Taken aback because of his response, her accusers walked away. Isn’t it amazing that the ones who are the first to point accusing fingers are the worst sinners of all?! Christ’s method was different. He never judged her but was positive in his correction. The result was a transformed life. Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her. “Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?” “No one, Master.” “Neither do I,” said Jesus. “Go on your way. From now on, don’t sin. John 8:1-11
So from today, if you find yourself focusing on negative aspects of people and things, put an end to it. The truth is that negatives never portray a true picture of the real image. See people as God’s image, who are beautiful and wonderfully created by him. Always know that there aren’t perfect people. Instead there are imperfect people, who are on a journey of getting better, so don’t put them down. Love on them like Christ loved on the adulterous woman. If you notice something that calls for correction, do it in wisdom and love. Be an encourager instead of a destroyer. Be a positive ‘critic’ instead of a negative one. Build up instead of pull down. Be God’s pencil he uses to write his love story to the world instead of the devil’s fork he uses to harm and destroy people.
“…Does no one condemn you?”
“No one, Master.”
“Neither do I,” said Jesus. “Go on your way. From now on, don’t sin. John 8:1-11.
We would love to hear from you about how you have corrected someone positively without tearing the person to pieces. Do you think it worked? I am very sure your story would be an inspiration to many, so go ahead and let’s hear it, post your story in the comments section below.
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