Having a positive attitude is a
process of finding something positive in every situation, even the bleakest.
Looking at the positive side will usually allow you the clarity of thought to
find new ways to move out of bad situations into better ones, and eventually to
good or great situations. However, looking at the negative side of a situation
blocks creativity and thought, and generally leads to more negative situations.
Having a positive attitude helps us
to cope more easily with the daily affairs of life. It brings optimism into our
lives, and makes it easier to avoid worry and negative thinking. If we adopt it
as a way of life, it will bring constructive changes into our lives, and makes
us happier, brighter and more successful. With a positive attitude you see the
bright side of life, become optimistic and expect the best to happen. It is
certainly a state of mind that is well worth developing and strengthening. Your
thoughts and emotions, day in day out, affect all aspects of your life.
Learning to be mindful of your “internal dialogue” will help you recognise
thought patterns and how they may be affecting the way you handle the situations
of daily living.
Have you ever heard the expression,
“it’s all in how you look at it”? Research conducted by Martin Seligman a
psychologist, of the University of Pennsylvania revealed that optimistic people
are happier, healthier and more successful than those with a negative outlook
on life. It’s important to be positive because we tend to get what we expect
and so, if we expect the best and believe that we deserve it, we have a better
chance of getting it.
Tips for being positive
Value yourself; don’t depend on
others to evaluate your self-worth
Have realistic expectations, nobody
is perfect!
Learn to say no to things you don’t
really want to do
Be true to yourself and don’t act
just to please others
Surround yourself with positive,
supportive people
Talk to others about your feelings;
this helps you to feel less alone
Stop engaging in self-pity – put
away your violin
Think about and take stock of your
positive qualities
Think about happy memories and try
not to dwell on the sad ones
Start a gratitude journal and, each
day, make note of at least one thing that makes you happy or appreciative (e.g.
the feeling of the sun on your face, your playful pet, the smell of a favourite
flower)
Replace your negative thoughts with
positive ones
If someone says something negative
about you, refuse to accept it and think of something positive about yourself
(people who criticize others tend to do so to counteract their own feelings of
insecurity)
Think about what you want, not what
you don’t want
Develop positive affirmations and
repeat them to yourself (e.g. I am kind, I am generous, I love myself just the
way I am, I am a person of high integrity and sincere purpose)
Try not to act out your negative
moods on those around you; find another way to express your feelings such as
writing, talking, drawing, or going for a walk.
Divide one or more sheets of paper
into two columns and, for a few days, jot down in the left column all the
negative thoughts that come into your head. Rewrite each thought in a positive
way in the second column. Practice doing this in your mind until it becomes a
habit. (For example, “I’ll never get this finished by the end of the day!”
could become, “I will probably get most of this finished by the end of the
day.”)
Changing your mindset
Even if you have been a negative
thinker for many years, it’s not too late to change your way of thinking and
reap the benefits of a positive attitude. Changing bad habits is not that easy.
You have to change thought processes, patterns, actions and ideas that you have
been using for years, maybe even decades. Once you make the effort to strip
away the years of negative thoughts you will see the real you, the one that you
can now build onto positive thoughts and actions.
To
schedule a confidential appointment, contact The Employee Assistance Programme
at 949-9559.
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