Swami Beyondananda Humor

DEAR SWAMI
by Swami Beyondananda

"Where Swami Answers Your Questions - and You Will Question His Answers"

Dear Swami:

People tell me all the time that I'm too negative, and I tell them in no uncertain terms, "I am NOT!" But lately, I've been getting the feeling that maybe I do have a bit of a negative edge, and this might be keeping away some good stuff.

On the other hand, I don't want to seem like some naïve Pollyanna. Is there some way I can still be negative from time to time, yet get positive results?

Maybe I can be twice as negative. After all, two negatives make a positive, right?

Mae Krong, Eden Prairie, Minnesota

Dear Mae:

It's true a lot of spiritual teachers are telling us not to be negative, and then there's that "Just say NO to negativity!" campaign those Positively Positive folks have launched.
But I say, if you positively must be negative you might as well enjoy it. Go ahead and be miserable. Whatever makes you happy. Say YES to your negativity, because if you can at least feel positive about your negativity, that's a start in the right direction.

But don't overdo it. Sure, two negatives make a positive-- but do you know what two positives make? Something twice as positive as that one positive you got by doubling your negativity. Hey, do the math.

Being positive is a plus that adds to your life, while the negative just takes away. The secret to happiness is simple. All you have to do is subtract the negative and multiply the positive and you'll be basking in the aftermath.