Opting out of negativity

As someone who has survived deep depression with the help of professionals and peers, I've learned to limit my time with negativity.  Obviously there is so much cynicism and jaded reasoning in the world, as well as precise mean-spiritedness.  That's no big news to anyone.  When I delve into the underlying reasons why it's there for some reason through genuine conversation and listening, I have learned to separate the negativity from the person just a tad bit.

I've found that people who go through tremendously rough things in their lives, whether they are classified as traumas or not, respond with either introspection or indifference.  The introspection and mindfulness practices become a way of life.  The indifference can often lead to general pointing fingers at everyone else's mistakes, where the negativity and blame becomes the essence of each day.

I wish these two extremes could find common ground.  While criticism is essential to our growth, it's really destructive when we don't connect thosereasons for constant criticism and opinion with our abilities to contribute something a bit more positive.

Collaborating.  Why is it so hard for certain people?

Anger, resentment, disgust, mistrust.  I've been driven by those things at certain moments.  But what I have found to be a better solution, at least in my own journey through life, is to take the empathic road.

Nothing at all to do with self-awareness, but just Awareness in general.