Make the world better in 10 minutes or less

The more smiles, the better / photo courtesy flickr user Jason Hargrove

(MoneyWatch) COMMENTARY On my post the other day on how to be happier at work, a few people left comments noting the sheer misery of their offices. You may want to be happier at work, but at least one negative soul in the office wants everyone else to be unhappy at work. What can you do to flee the clutches of this black hole?

You probably won't convince this person to change. One commenter described a gentleman who'd kept a list -- an actual, physical list! -- of grudges going back 20 years.

But you can minimize the impact by reminding yourself that your world is not the same world that person is seeing. And indeed, you can keep making your world better -- even in little bits of time. Here are some ways to strike a blow against the dark side:

*Go to GlobalGiving.org and donate $15 to a non-profit that inspires you. Care about education? DonorsChoose.org is another option.

*Write a thank-you letter to someone who's made a difference in your life. Feel free to send it as an email -- it's more immediate (if not quite as nice as stationery).

*Go for a walk and pick up any trash you see.

*Schedule a 10 minute chat with anyone who asks you for career advice.

*Invite the new hire in your department to lunch -- the office can sometimes bear an uncanny resemblance to the middle school cafeteria

*Say a proper "hello" and "thank you" to anyone you interact with through the day. If you don't know their names, learn them.

*Keep a list of compliments, favors you've experienced, and the names of anyone who's saved you from making stupid mistakes -- going back 20 years if you'd like.

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How do you combat negativity at the office?

Photo courtesy flickr user Jason Hargrove

[JessicaEB]

Ooh, I love this! Especially #5, because as a temp, I am often the new person in the office trying to work out who everyone is and what is going on.

I would add that having a positive attitude yourself can be a great way to quash negativity. If things get too bad around me, I'll often confront it head on, politely, of course. I really can't stand being around negativity!

[Jim_Schwartz_85]

Unless you are in HR or management or the "morale officer", I found that it is practically impossible to combat negativity, other than not encouraging it. Change the subject when someone else wants to complain to you. Eventually, the complainers will start their own clique.

I think it is best to just try to rise above it. I remember the Hindu analogy of a lotus flower, which symbolizes transcendence: 1) the lotus flower and leaves rise above the (sometimes stagnant) water; 2) the flower and leaves repel water... any water falling on them "beads up" and falls off; 3) the lotus flower can grow in muck and muddy water, but it's beauty in untouched by these substances.