How I Turned Negativity into Inspiration

Ok, this is a difficult task for me as it is still a bit raw, but I want to share it with you just in case at least one person finds it inspirational. If you have had a similar experience, let me know in the comments.

At the start of this year, I re-established my old business as a coach/facilitator in order to get contracts from large organisations in the UK, which I had done previously. I did this because I felt that my brain needed to be kept active. And of course, the money would come in handy. So, I created a website to get some exposure, I included in it a page for small business support too through virtual coaching.

I also created a blog in which I wrote some useful business posts to help small businesses, not for profit, but just to be a bit of support for them to succeed. My blogs were free. I posted the links to the posts on local Facebook pages. They were being very well-received and I got some really positive feedback. The purpose of doing this was only to help small business owners.

Then it happened!

Overly negative comments from a minority of people had the effect of shutting down all of the really enthusiastic and positive comments from others. But blocking them only served to stir it up even more. The negativity continued the next day on the same local Facebook page, and again, there was a subsequent pile-on of hurtful comments. This new post only served as a conduit for the trolls to damage my reputation and to ruin any chance of helping any locals.

To say this affected me would be an understatement. I had never been in this position before. All engagement on my posts stopped. The enthusiasm had gone. The positivity had disappeared. The trolling had got to me.

But…. even though I believe the damage to my reputation locally is irreparable because of the trolling, I am moving forward.

I have mentally challenged the accuracy of the situation. It was a handful of negative comments made by even fewer people.  It was a minority. Perspective is everything.

I have cultivated a positive mindset by regularly focusing on what I’m grateful for, it shifted my focus from negative to positive experiences. I spoke kindly to myself to counter the harsh, and unwarranted criticism that I had received.

I surrounded myself with positivity: I spent time with positive, uplifting people who offered good vibes and encouragement.

I played more golf because exercise and sport are excellent ways to reduce the impact of negativity.

And I tried something new that has been truly inspiring.

I started to think hard about what I was doing, how this damage had resulted in being unable to help small businesses with face to face or virtual coaching.

My reach had been local and not for profit, so looking at a bigger picture, I realised that I could coach globally by writing skills guides for small businesses and employees of larger enterprises.

I took my blogs and structured them into four pocket guides and they are now available to buy. Across the world! Doing this was a powerful way to rewire my brain for more positive thinking. 

I am now inspired to write more. This time for profit! My blogs are now limited in volume and nature as I am investing my time into writing guides.

The guides might prove to be both successful and profitable. Time will tell. This is as a result of coming through being trolled.

I absolutely avoid negative people and excessive negative news and I set myself positive goals which provide me with direction and are a focus for positive action. 

I managed to turn negativity into inspiration. If I can do it, anyone can! As for the negative people, be warned, your trolling might just backfire and have an effect you did not anticipate.