I have to say up front that I have a bit of an advantage over most people when it comes to the subject matter at hand. At the risk of bragging, I really don’t have to work at being negative. I’ve never had to train my mind to take on a negative bent. Negative thoughts just seem to come naturally to me.

I guess you could say, “I’m naturally negative.” It just sounds so arrogant of me to say it out loud. Anyway, if you’re struggling with positivity let me encourage you. You can change. You can become a poster boy (or girl) for negativity if you follow my simple 4 step program.

1. Think Negative Thoughts
If you find it difficult to conjure up negative thoughts then you’re probably not watching enough news, or you’re just not trying hard enough. We can learn what not to do from the life of Joseph as recorded in Genesis. He kept a positive attitude despite the negatives that had occurred in his life. His brothers planned to kill him. But they eventually settled for selling him as a slave. Then he was falsely accused of sexually assaulting his bosses wife. Even though it was really the bosses wife who was trying to seduce him, he still wound up in prison. Yet, Joseph refused to focus on the negatives. Instead, he made the tragic mistake of staying positive by keeping His eyes fixed on God and by continuing to serve Him. Which brings us to the next step.

2. Speak Negative Words.
Again, Joseph is a terrible example in this regard. Despite the bumpy road that marked the journey of his life the scriptures do not record a single negative word that proceeded from his mouth. Obviously Joseph had not been properly instructed in the power of negativity. Perhaps his father Jacob spent too much time talking about God. The problem with God is well stated by the Apostle John: “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5) If you get too close to God you run the risk of eliminating darkness from your life. And that darkness would certainly include negative thought patterns that lead to negative conversation.

As Proverbs 18:21 says: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” According to this saying of Solomon you will eat the fruit of whatever you love most, whether it be life or death. If you want death then you must speak death. You must love death. Which brings us to the third point.

3. Read the Bible Less and Pray Less.
If you read the bible too much you’re going to come across men like the one discussed above. Don’t let the seemingly negative stuff of scripture fool you. The book is actually the most positive piece of literature on the planet. It brings life instead of death. And don’t be fooled about prayer either. Consistent pray-ers have been known to experience drops in anxiety and depression levels along with corresponding spikes in peace and joy. Reading the bible increases the risk of believing it. And if you believe its message you might actually wind up in heaven one day. Is that what you really want? Wouldn’t you rather spend eternity in the most negative place in the universe?

4. Hang-out with Negative People.
It’s difficult to overstate the importance of this step. Negativity is like a contagious disease. You can catch it just by spending time in the company of people infected by it. Spending an inordinate amount of time around them allows you to bask under the shadow of the dark cloud that follows them everywhere they go.

Scripture bears this out. “Evil company corrupts good habits.” So says the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:33. So what are you waiting for? Go and get yourself some evil company. Put down the bible and start binge watching netflix. Get up off your knees and start hopping down the broad road that leads to destruction. Pollute the atmosphere of your home with verbal filth. Fill your mind with all things dark and dreary. In short, commit moral and spiritual suicide.

Then and only then will you truly know the power of negativity.