Seven Keys to a Positive Attitude

Great attitude isn’t something that magically happens. Rather, it involves a choice people make in advance about how they’re going to deal with life’s events. The following are seven keys to a great, positive mental attitude.

1. Decide your attitude in advance. You, and only you, have the complete ability to control your attitude. And there’s a big difference between a bad attitude and a bad mood. Moods are temporary. Attitude are permanent. Whatever the situation, it’s the attitude that makes it good or bad. So the next time you think there’s going to be bad traffic, or whatever the situation may be, push your advanced decision button and decide to have a good attitude about it. You’ll be surprised at the outcome.
2. Visualize success. Keep in mind that what we visualize often becomes true. Why do you think those diet companies suggest you put a picture of yourself at an ideal weight on the refrigerator? Right! They want you to visualize success. Lance Armstrong, seven-time winner of the Tour de France, always saw himself crossing the finish line first. Visualize success.
3. Be a whatever-it-takes person. Be a problem solver. Not a problem giver. There’s an old, old, saying, “Whether you say you can, or you can’t, you’re right.” Think of ways to get things done. Don’t think of ways it can’t be done.
4. Resist negative tendencies. Ever have lunch or a meeting with Mr. or Mrs. Negative? They love to wallow in the negative. What went wrong, who failed, why it didn’t work, and so on. Mr. and Mrs. Negative love to have your ear, hoping they can bring you down. Keep away from these types of people – the ones who complain all of the time. They’re out to have you play on their team. Avoid negative people and tendencies.
5. Embrace change. Change is the one thing we can count on. and in most, not all, but most cases, change is better. The great thing about change is that if we don’t like it, we can “change” our mind and try something else. See change is a good thing. It’s fun, It’s challenging. It’s needed in so many cases.
6. Humor, energy and enthusiasm. Life without these three best friends would be pointless, or at least much more difficult. Surround yourself with individuals who have these three characteristics. Make sure you have the ability to laugh at yourself. The energy you bring to your profession or life is critical to the success of everything you do. Energy creates enthusiasm. So, thee three elements are critical to having a positive mental attitude.
7. Be grateful for what you have. A genuine, positive mental attitude has no room for jealousy. Others may have more possessions, but positive people are always grateful for what they have right now. And in some cases it may not seem as though we have enough to be grateful for, but ask yourself if you lost what you have, what would you ultimately be left with? What are you most grateful for?