What Millennials Can Teach Us About Positivity

How can a group of 80 million young Americans suffering from mind-bogglingly high unemployment rates still be positive, buoyant and survive? Leave it to Millennials to do exactly that.

With $200 billion in buying power, they are optimistic, confident, self-expressive, liberal, upbeat and open to change—according to research from the Pew Research Center.

Once you “get” the importance of positivity for these young men and women, you have the key to effectively connect with them. Simply put, they have little or no room for negativity in their lives.

Look at the type of organizations Millennials gravitate towards. These workplaces are more likely filled with positive, mission-driven, passionate folks who are focused on doing good, and proud of what they achieve, than negative people who have a problem for every solution.

Companies such as Dove, McDonald’s and Coca-Cola understand the value of promoting feelings of positivity and happiness in attempting to connect with Millennials—who often turn away from traditional, negative, forms of advertising. These two companies have turned to Twitter to advance positivity. Kristina Monllos, of Adweek, noted, “According to a recent study by ZenithOptimedia, ‘The Pursuit of Happiness,’ brands that can help Millennials achieve happiness stand the best chance of securing long-lasting and profitable relationships with that consumer group.”

We can all learn from this adherence to positivity regardless of our circumstances.

Here are 3 thoughts to keep in mind when your negative flows:

1. “We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.”- Anais Nin
It’s far too common, and easy, to focus on the external circumstances in life and to view them through a problem filter mindset. Ask yourself instead, “ What’s one thing that is positive or good about my current situation?” “What opportunity do I have to advance in this circumstance?” If your mindset lens allows in only what can go right even about the worst of circumstances, rather than what’ll going wrong, just think of how your reactions change. In other words, as Tony Robbins observed, “Decide to develop the habit of focusing on what’s right in your world instead of what’s wrong…”
2. The battle you are going through is not fueled by the words or actions of others; it is fueled by the mind that gives it importance.” –Shannon Adler
Nothing happens TO you. See life as happening FOR you, and your entire perspective changes. Place events, circumstances, situations, people, places, things, even the Apple Watch that holds the positive promise to MAKE you want to eat healthier and workout more, into a broader perspective, one that puts you in the driver’s seat of reactions. You can’t control the traffic, the weather, the boss, the rock that hit your windshield, but you do have control over the most important lever in life—your thoughts about those events…and your thoughts about the Apple Watch. Mind racing ahead of your? Shout “STOP” as loud as you can, catch your breath and your thoughts, give yourself a moment to challenge those thoughts, and move forward with changed, healthier, more positive thinking. For as Charles Glassman noted, “Believing in negative thoughts is the single greatest obstruction to success.”

3. “To be of good quality, you have to excuse yourself from the presence of shallow and callow minded individuals.” – Michael Bassey Johnson
Ahhh, negative neighbors, co-workers, friends, teammates…can it get any worse than this? These are the life-sucking, downward draggers who emphasize your stumbling blocks instead of the thrusters and lifters in life that point you towards your stepping-stones. Be honest about it…you don’t like hearing the negativity from these people who turn rainbows gray, do you? Without anger, without trying to change them, without guilt, without feeling stuck, simply release yourself and walk away. Nicely. As someone once noted, “Goodbye” is the best ever gift that you can receive from worse friends. Never hesitate to wave it back...”