About Us

Since you found this site and are considering being part of the “Staying Positive Society,” I know that one or more of the following is true:

1. You (or those around you) are a little freaked-out (wigged out, crazed, scared, unsure, etc.) 
   
   
2. You (or your friends, colleagues, or family members) could be feeling crushed under the weight of so much to do, so much to learn, and/or so much for which to be responsible.
   
   
3. You (or some of the people around you) may be feeling despondent and depressed. 
   
   
4. You (or those you know) may feel frightened about the future (and possibly, the present). 
   
   And here is something else that may explain why you sought out this website:
   
   
5. You know that these feelings of being freaked-out, worried, frantic, &/or super-stressed are neither your normal way of being, feeling, or thinking nor the way you want to experience your life.  It is this fact that could be exacerbating your feelings of angst. 

The people that you and I know aren't likely to take advantage of the Staying Positive Society experience are:

1. People who are perennially negative.  You probably know some people who always think everything is terrible.
   
   
2. People who are hardcore cynics; i.e., they can’t see the good in anything; they never have and seemingly never will). 
   
   
3. People who are of the 'glass half-empty' (or completely empty) mindset and have never seen a glass that was half-full
   (let alone completely full).
   
   People who are in the categories listed above could be considered freaked-out right now, but that is not unusual for them. They are always negative and mad. The concept of the Staying Positive Society wouldn't resonate with them...and so they won't be joining us (although we would welcome them if they were ready for a change!)

With that being said, you are seeking ways of “Staying Positive in a Freaked-Out World” because you are usually (or know you want to be) upbeat.  You are usually—or know you want to be—positive about life. And I'm just like you in that way...

A Bit About Meggin McIntosh, Founder
of the Staying Positive Society and Creator of the Staying Positive Personal Workshop Program

I see myself as upbeat person and positive.  I was raised by optimistic parents and it's the way I've viewed most of life most of the time. I tend to look at the bright side of things.  Some people would even say that I look at the world through rose-colored glasses, and that may or may not be true.  Believe me - I’ve heard this more than once in my 54 years of life.

Given what I do as speaker and consultant, I have the opportunity to interact with many different people each week, month, and year.  I listen and learn from professors; teachers; administrators; small business owners; those who work in the government, financial sector, and in non-profit agencies; coaches; fellow speakers; as well as neighbors, friends, and those in my mentoring groups.  It's a privilege - and quite instructive - to touch base with such a variety of folks. 

Based on these myriad conversations, especially over the last year, I have been thinking about how distressed and crazed people are.  I was talking with one of the women I mentor, sharing the idea with her, i.e., saying, “People are just freaked-out and it’s very difficult to stay positive.”  She said, “I think you should do a class and that’s what you ought to call it.”  Once again, Sherry – You’re brilliant.  And that’s really where the name of the first class ("Staying Positive in a Freaked-Out World") came from.

Lately, maybe you have been wondering, “Is it just me, or are things weirder than usual?” If you are feeling that way, I want to go ahead and acknowledge the ‘increased weirdness’ and here's why: 

It is necessary to notice and accept that it may be taking you more energy to maintain your own status quo, i.e., your even keel, than it has in the past.  It is not that there’s something wrong with you.  There really is more negativity, 'franticness,' and stress around that you consciously and deliberately have to ward off.  And it takes energy to do just that. 

I want to help you and the other members of the Staying Positive Society protect and expand that positive energy and provide strategies to stay that way.  My first intention is to support YOU in what you need to do as an individual to help yourself stay positive (even if other people around you are kind of going berserk).  Ultimately, you may decide that you want to help those around you who are freaked out, but first of all you need to help yourself.  You cannot change or affect those around you until you FIRST get yourself squared away.

"Paws," (short for 'Pawsitivity') is our mascot.  PAWS is also an acronym*:

    P - practical
    A - affirming
    W - words of
    S - support

One of Paws' tips for all of us is to 'pause.'  Honestly, as I wrote that sentence, I stopped, reached my arm out and petted my morning kitty companion, Furby, who is in a basket right next to where I'm working.  He appreciated it and it gave me a moment to reflect.  So, Paws' tip of the day....Pause. 

Note:  Paws, of course, has been neutered, so although I won't usually use the pronoun, 'it,' just know that I do believe in keeping the feline population under control. 

* Thanks for the acronym suggestion to a member of the R & D team, Marcia L (who is very clever, by the way).