PERSPECTIVE                                                   

Positive Attitude

Attitude is defined as the way you dedicate yourself to the way you think. Think negative or think positive is a choice and a process. Negative is (unfortunately) an instinctive process. Positive is a learned self-discipline that must be studied and practiced every day.

Positive attitude helps to cope more easily with the daily affairs of life. It brings optimism into your life, and makes it easier to avoid worry and negative thinking. If you adopt it as a way of life, it will bring constructive changes into your life, and makes them happier, brighter and more successful. With a positive attitude you see the bright side of life, become optimstic and expect the best to happen. It is certainly a state of mind that is well worth developing and strengthening.

Positive attitude manifests in the following ways:

• Positive thinking.
• Constructive thinking.
• Creative thinking.
• Expecting success.
• Optimism.
• Motivation to accomplish your goals.
• Being inspired.
• Choosing happiness.
• Not giving up.
• Looking at failure and problems as blessings in disguise.
• Believing in yourself and in your abilities.
• Displaying self-esteem and confidence.
• Looking for solutions.
• Seeing opportunities.

A positive attitude leads to happiness and success and can change your whole life. If you look at the bright side of life, your whole life becomes filled with light. This light affects not only you and the way you look at the world, but also your whole environment and the people around you. If it is strong enough, it becomes contagious.

The benefits of a positive attitude:

• Helps achieving goals and attaining success.
• Success achieved faster and more easily.
• More happiness.
• More energy.
• Greater inner power and strength.
• The ability to inspire and motivate yourself and others.
• Fewer difficulties encountered along the way.
• The ability to surmount any difficulty.
• Life smiles at you.
• People respect you.

If you have been exhibiting a negative attitude and expecting failure and difficulties, it is now the time to change the way you think. It is time to get rid of negative thoughts and behavior and lead a happy and successful life. Why not start today? If you have tried and failed, it only means that you have not tried enough.

Developing a positive attitude that will lead you to happiness and success:

If your perspective seems focused on negative thoughts, try these tips:

1. Eliminate negative self-talk.

When we constantly tell ourselves what we ought to do, should have done, and cannot accomplish, we are filling ourselves with negative self-talk. This can make us feel unable to make positive changes. Turn negative self-talk into positive self-coaching. For example, instead of focusing on what you think you can not do, brainstorm about your strengths.

2. Stay flexible.

Change can be difficult. Often, we do not have control over the changes in our lives. Instead of concentrating on the way things were, focus on how you can make the best of the way things are. For example, if changes at work mean new challenges in your job, try to excel at your new duties instead of dwelling on the past.

3. Get involved.

Activities that provide a sense of accomplishment -- such as volunteering at a nursing home or homeless shelter -- can make a big difference in both your life and the lives of others. You will feel good about the work you do and help someone else in the process.

4. Speak up.

Learning to assert yourself at work and home is important in cultivating a positive attitude. When you express your ideas tactfully, you feel better about yourself and earn respect from others. Keeping things to yourself can lead to stress and frustration.

5. Be adventurous.

Encourage yourself to try new things -- take a class, begin an exercise program, try for that promotion. Challenge yourself to break out of your rut, and you will be rewarded by feeling better.

6. Avoid unhealthy responses to stress.

When times get tough, it is easy to let a negative outlook lead to destructive behavior. Smoking, drinking and substance abuse are typical methods people may use to distract themselves from difficult situations. These destructive habits can only make you feel worse.

7. Live for today.

Today's little pleasures and accomplishments are the events that make up our lives. Instead of reminiscing about the past or living life in anticipation of tomorrow, take time to enjoy and savor the special moments today brings.

by Chanchal Kukreja, MBA, IIITA.