Negativity v. Being Realistic; a Conundrum for our Times?

By T. R. Shaw Jr.

A while ago I got into a heated discussion with another community leader about the abysmal turnout in our recent municipal election.  Not one precinct in our city attained a 10 percent voter turnout on Election Day.

The discussion continued on about what’s wrong with our city, government, and the world in general.  I brought up apathy, our community’s lack of a positive self-image, and well-intended, yet fruitless attempts at urban improvement.  I also opined about our local and regional economic condition as a factor.  I went into a real “Debbie Downer” mode and someone piped up and said, “You need to stop being so negative!” 

I retorted with a quick, and condescending response, “I’m not being negative, I’m being realistic!”  The conversation soon faded and went off into another subject, but the exchange bothered me.

I thought about that comeback later where I do most of my deep thinking, in the shower!  As someone who has a tendency to overthink, I wondered if I was truly being negative, or I was being realistic?  I even pondered if it’s a good thing to be negative?

This might be a topic for a college philosophy course, but where is the line between critical thinking, dealing with reality, and downright negativity?  Have I crossed the negativity line? 

As the media dwells on the problems of the day; and there are many, are we seeing the glass as only half full these days?  With a constant stream of 24/7 bad news, have we lost our ability to see the positive in the great things around us?

True, we cannot correct problems if we don’t acknowledge and recognize them.  I’m reminded that many great people have risen to challenges, and have been motivated by negativity.  Sometimes the best way to motivate is to tell someone they can’t do something!

One of the classic stories of negative motivation is the founder of FedEx.  In college he came up with the idea for a new kind of shipping company.  He envisioned a new paradigm.  His dissertation and theory was swiftly and immediately dismissed by a business professor who claimed, “You’d never be able to compete with the Post Office!”  That motivated him to pursue it, and FedEx is a household word today.

The point I pondered is whether or not negative energy can be a catalyst for positive change.  In self-reflection, I’ve felt myself becoming negative at times and have to really stop and look for the good in many situations.  Is this a side effect of our world today?  Is this normal?  Are we seeing the negative first in too many situations before we stop and consciously look for the positive? 

Being negative is easy, it takes little or no effort.  We have to work hard at being positive most of the time, especially in today’s world that dwells on the negative. 

It’s been my experience in the military, business, and civic leadership that good leaders and managers can immediately see “what’s wrong” with something long before others can.  Does this make them negative people?  Not exactly.  If they are a good leader, they can see what’s wrong, but can also see the way to make it right or correct it.  Bad leaders will continue to dwell on what’s wrong. 

The exchange I had earlier, where I was chastised for being negative, caused me to rethink about how I view problems and start thinking about how to turn them into positives.

I’m in the process of writing a book about failure, perseverance, and success entitled “Defy the Immediate.”  It’s based on a term I learned in college.  Sometimes I forget my own lessons and forget to defy the negative emotions which surround us every day.  If we don’t look for the positive, we remain stuck in the negative. 

You cannot jump start a dead battery using only the negative terminal.  In today’s world we need to connect to the positive post as well.  There is enough negativity in the world without adding to it. 

Let’s start looking for the positive in a world gone negative. 

Let’s all start to “Defy the Immediate” in in the negative world around us.

T. R. Shaw Jr. is CEO of Shaw Communication in Battle Creek, Michigan.  He is a retired Navy Officer and funeral director and serves on many boards and civic organizations.  He is nearing completion of his first book, “Defy the Immediate” a motivational memoir.  Visit his blog, The Reluctant R(L)eader; www.read-mor.blogspot.com