I read a quote recently about how you should surround yourself with people who push you to do better. You must stay off negativity, have higher goals and motivation. And, work at bringing out the absolute best in each other.
When you spend time with people who bring out the best in you, you naturally become more positive. In turn, the result is that others want to spend more time with you.
This has a multiplying effect in your life. As people see how enthusiastic and passionate you are about your business or work, they will want to be a part of your vision.
I know that when I surround myself with positive people, I adopt empowering beliefs. It gives me buoyancy.
Try it, and you'll see life as happening "for" you, instead of "to" you.
And just as you gain benefit when you surround yourself with people who are drama-free, experience teaches me that you'll agonise when those around you are negative or narrow-minded.
But the problem often is that people are just not in a positive state of mind. Perhaps it's unrealistic to expect everyone to be uplifting all the time.
Life is full of dilemmas. And many people simply focus on the problem or on what is not working for them, rather than being schooled in optimism, and seeing things positively.
The result is that you will inevitably have negative and drama-filled people around you.
While I cannot give you a simple remedy for this perennial problem, especially at work, I can suggest that you become "professional" in your attitude. This approach insulates you from the pessimism and bad attitudes that sometimes surround you.
Professionalism is about how you behave, and your attitude at work or in a business environment. You don't have to work in a specific profession to demonstrate the traits of being professional.
Having a professional attitude leads to workplace success, a strong reputation, and invariably high levels of work ethic, which leads to excellence.
To get ahead at work, to be taken seriously, and to be an asset to your work team, you really have to be professional in the way you carry yourself, and do things.
Early on in my almost 30-year career, I was told on numerous occasions to have a professional approach to my work. And now, I say the same to my team, and to the people I coach or train.
But what exactly does an employer want, when they say "please act professionally"?
Start by working on your competence. Get good at what you do. Ultimately, your skills and knowledge enable you to do a job well.
Talking up how good you are, just doesn't cut it. The world is full of people who make empty claims. And, they are articulate enough to blow their own trumpet. Your actions in translating your talent skillfully by adding value to others, makes you competent.
Concentrate on doing this, and be actively interested in getting better at what you do, every day.
Become reliable. Show up on time. Complete things when they are due. Don't make promises you cannot keep. Always under promise and over deliver. Surely by now, you know the truth in this!
Act with honesty and integrity as much as you.
I know it's easier to act in self-interest and do what is advantageous for yourself. This why the authorities regularly haul up people on various corruption charges and for fraudulent behaviour.
These people who are questioned by the graft busters are not stupid. They just decided to do away with integrity as a fundamental guiding principle in their life.
People from all strata of society get caught up in dishonest behaviour. From politicians, whom we half expect to be bent to religious leaders who shock us with their deceitfulness, history is peppered with people being disingenuous.
But to be professional, you need to tell the truth and be upfront about where things stand. To be surrounded by positive energy, and to sleep soundly, you need a solid dose of integrity.
Being professional also requires you to have respect for others, and their opinions. It's not a daft cloying attitude that we often see, like in the deferential treatment Malaysians give to those in power.
It is simply a habit of treating everyone like they matter. Be mindful of your behaviour, and what you say. This also helps you to become supportive of others.
When you have mindfulness as a default setting, you automatically start hearing what people are saying. Everyone wants to be heard, so give people a chance to describe their thoughts appropriately.
Remind yourself that your personal value increases only when you add value to others!
No one likes a constant pessimist. Having an upbeat demeanour makes a big difference. This is what makes you professional, and this is what shields you from the inevitable negativity around you.
Are you professional in what you do?