TC is Lead Host on DC TV-13, covering the DC City Council. She is also an air personality on Smooth Jazz 105.9 FM.  As a native Washingtonian, TC chooses to give back by supporting various charities for women and children.  Her company (TCB Enterprises) and website ( www.sistacircle.com ), are devoted to just that.

Lessons in the positive:
How to deal with negative folks...   
By T.C.

Back in my school days, I was amazed to find out that when you multiply two negative numbers you always get a positive one. Today, that mathematical theory may offer some much needed encouragement for those who try in vain to stay positive surrounded by those you might call “naysayers.” I call them “spirit killers.” You find them in the workplace, among family and friends; you even find them complaining as they ring up your purchases in the grocery store (it’s time for their lunch break, they grumble). I’ve found that most negative people don't see themselves as negative. They truly believe they are just voicing what everybody else is thinking but not willing to say. Then, of course, there are those people who are just bitter and believe they’ve been through enough trials and tribulations to have earned their “Grinch Card.“ But once you overdose on tolerance, how do you handle it? Time to work on your reactions. (That's what you can control. After all, you can't give them an attitude transplant!) I’ve been told I’m “the queen of tuning out negative folks.“ Beam me up Scotty. I’m out of here - transported instantly in my mind to a tropical, sandy, beach where the only thing I’m hearing now are waves crashing against the shore.  With practice, you too can tune out The Grinch, and find yourself…..in a more positive place. Here are a few more tips:

* Don't reward negativity. Attention is a big payoff of a negative attitude. Well-meaning people try to cheer the person up and halt their pessimism. Flashing back to school again, I recall a basic Psychology 101 principle: behavior that gets rewarded gets repeated. Don't reward negative, complaining behavior with too much attention.

* Confront them. Most negative people don't know that they're negative because no one ever tells them. If someone’s negativity is affecting your ability to be productive and focused, give them some straight-up feedback, or a copy of this column.
Final thought: Before you give yourself a mental pat on the back for being a positive person: Ask yourself if you’re sure that YOU, yourself are not the dreaded negative person. Oh, you’re not? Are you POSITIVE?

Talk About It - Click here to tell us what you think!