How to achieve a positive attitude towards life

What is the positive attitude?

We can all choose how to live our lives, how to feel about the things that happen to
us every day, the way we face events can cause them to develop in one way or
another.

In short, the attitude we have will greatly influence how these events will affect us.

That is why it is very important that we walk through life with a good positive
attitude. If we decide to maintain a positive attitude, we will breathe more optimism
into our lives, we will face worries more easily and we can eliminate negative
thoughts from our lives. In other words, we will achieve very positive changes in
our lives.

Benefits that can be achieved by developing and maintaining a positive attitude

Having a good positive attitude can help us to walk the path of happiness and
success, to always see the good side of things. If we manage to live with this
positive energy, not only will we benefit, we can also influence the people around
us, we can infect them with that positive way of going through life.

These are some of the benefits that a good positive attitude can help us
achieve:

 Be happier
 Perform our daily tasks with more energy.
 Have a great inner strength.
 It can help us achieve the goals we set for ourselves.
 Help others feel more motivated
 Feel that life is worth living.
 Get the respect of other people.

What qualities do people with a good positive attitude share?

People who are able to maintain a positive attitude have qualities that differentiate
them from others:

 They always see the best in other people: being positive helps us to see
what is good in other people, to treat them positively. By doing so, we get to
receive the same from them towards us.
 Knowing how to see the opportunities: having a good positive attitude will
help us see opportunities even where others believe they do not exist. Being
positive helps us to banish the No of our lives.
 Believe in yourself: the positive attitude towards life helps us to have faith in
our possibilities. It is much easier to achieve success if we believe in ourselves,
we must convey a positive and secure image.
 They think about solutions: on many occasions we have problems that we do
not know how to solve, we do not see any way out. The positive person always
thinks "a problem, a solution" and manages to resolve the situation much more
easily.
 Be responsible for their actions: people with a positive attitude are very clear
that they should be responsible for all their actions and their thoughts. Live life
honestly.
 They are generous: a positive attitude towards life makes us more
generous. Positive people like to share and are always willing to help.
 They are persistent: maintaining a positive attitude makes people more
persistent when it comes to pursuing and achieving their goals. The challenges
are stimulating.
 10 Simple Habits To Grow A Positive Attitud
The Challenge: Having a negative attitude keeps us from being happy and
impacts the people we interact with.
The Science: Science tells us that having a positive attitude has a direct
connection with happiness and success.
The Solution: Make positivity a habit by making these small adjustments to your
daily life and mindset!

Our life is a reflection of our attitude. Without even noticing it, it can be easy to
become negative and cynical towards the world as we are continuously exposed
to tragedy and injustice in the media and as we experience our own heartache and
distress.
Not only is a negative attitude preventing you from fully enjoying your life, it can
have a significant impact on your environment. The energy a person brings with
them is contagious. One of the best things you can offer your family, organization
or community is your positive attitude.

In the wise words of Michael Jackson, “If you want to make the world a better
place, take a look at yourself and make a change.” As creatures of habit, by
making small adjustments to your daily life and mindset, positive habits can be
formed to make yourself and everyone you interact with happier. Here is a list of
10 habits that can turn a gloomy outlook into an effortlessly optimistic attitude.

1. Keep a gratitude journal.

Sometimes one single event can ruin an entire day and an unpleasant interaction
or experience at night can overshadow the enjoyable parts of our day. With this
awareness that our mind tends to cling to the negative, we can intentionally focus
on the good parts of our day to offset this imbalance. Try writing down 5 things that
you feel grateful for every day and see how your attitude changes. Science has
found that gratitude can significantly increase your happiness, and protect you from
stress, negativity, anxiety and depression. Check out this list of 13 ways gratitude
will significantly improve your life.

2. Reframe your challenges.

There are no dead ends, only re-directions. Although we might try, there are very
few things in life that we have complete control over. We should not let
uncontrollable occurrences from the outside turn our inner to mush. What we can
control is the effort that we put in and when we give our full effort, there is no
reason for regret. Have fun with challenges, embrace them as adventures instead
of attempting to resist an experience for growth. “Sometimes you win and
sometimes you learn.” – Robert Kiyosaki
3. Get good at being rejected.

Rejection is a skill. Chalk every broken heart and failed job interview as practice
because no one gets to slide through life without being rejected. Don’t let it harden
you and don’t expect the worse. If you wait for bad things to happen, chances are it
will or you’ll narrow in on the bad in the midst of the may good things you’ve
missed along the way. When there are cracks in your heart, they let the sun in.

4. Use positive words to describe your life.

The words that we use have a lot more power than we think. How you talk about
your life is how your life will be. Your mind hears what you say. If you describe your
life as boring, busy, mundane, chaotic, that is how you will percieve it and you will
feel the effects in your body and mind. If you use the words simple, involved,
familiar or lively, you will see your life in a whole different light and find more
enjoyment in the way you chose to shape your life.

A study from US data suggests that having a positive attitude is not only has a
direct effect on your happiness, it is also correlated with your earning wage.

5. Replace have with get.

Do you ever notice how many times we say that we have to do

something? I have to go to work. I have to go grocery shopping. I have to pay my
rent. Now change this one little word to get and see what happens. I get to go to
work. I get to go grocery shopping. Even, I get to pay my rent. Your attitude quickly
changes from needing to fulfill obligations to being grateful for the things that we
become accustomed to having: a job to support you and your family, food on the
table, and a roof over your head. Try to make this change when you are thinking to
yourself and you may feel and appear happier and less stressed.

6. Don’t let yourself get dragged into other people’s complaints.

Your day was going pretty well and then you get to work and your co-worker can’t
stop complaining about the cold weather. You didn’t really think about it before
he/she brought it up and now you find yourself agreeing and joining in on the
complaint-fest of how sick you are of this cold weather. In a month you’ll be pulled
into complaints about how it’s too hot. Don’t fall into the trap. A study done at the
Warsaw School of Social Psychology shows that complaining leads to lower
moods and negative emotions, decreased life satisfaction and optimism, and
emotional and motivational deficits. You might find that your co-worker will
complain less without the validation of someone else having the same complaint.
7. Breathe.

Our breath is directly connected to our emotions. Have you noticed we hold our
breath sometimes when we are concentrating on something? Can you feel your
breath change when you are angry or anxious? Our breath changes depending on
how we feel. The great news is that the connection goes the other way too. We can
also change how we feel using our breath! Check out this infographic on the
scientific benefits of breathing.

8. Notice the righteous in times of tragedy.

It’s hard to have hope and stay positive when hate and violence is all over the
media. What we don’t see as much is that in every instance of natural disasters,
war, traumatic experience, you will find people rising up, reaching out to each other
and showing raw compassion and love. Hold onto the stories of modern day
heroes and selflessness in the times of fear and devastation.

9. Have solutions when pointing out problems.

Being positive doesn’t mean that you have to be oblivious to problems. Positive
people have constructive criticisms to improve conditions. If you are going to point
out problems in people or situations, place just as much effort into suggesting
solutions. Instead of pointing out all of the things that are wrong, offer ways to
make it better.

10. Make someone else smile.

Who do you think about most of the time? If we answered honestly, most of us
would say themselves. It’s good to hold ourselves accountable, take responsibility
for our life roles, hygiene, food, etc. but set a goal for each day to make someone
else smile. Think about someone else’s happiness and it will help us to realize our
immense impact that our attitude and expression has on the people around us.
 How to Develop a Positive Attitude Toward Life

A positive attitude can go a long way to make you happier overall. To develop a
positive attitude, you need to learn to control it. You may also want to spend some
time learning to value yourself and your time, as that can contribute to a more
positive outlook on life. Another way to increase your positive attitude is to find
ways to deal with stress, as stress encourages you to think more negatively.

Learning to Control Your Attitude

Understand how your attitude affects your life. Your attitude towards life
determines how happy or unhappy your are. You can't always change what
happens to you, but you can change how you react to what happens to you. [1] You
make a choice each time you are faced with a situation.[2]
 For instance, say you get a flat tire. Nobody likes dealing with a flat, but you have
options for how you react to the situation. You can get mad and throw a fit,
elevating your blood pressure, and then go get your tire changed. If you get mad,
you'll spend some time very unhappy.
 On the other hand, you can chock it up to a normal part of life, take a deep breath,
and go get your tire fixed. By not reacting, you won't spend that time angry. In fact,
you can turn it into something positive. Maybe while you're fixing your tire, you can
catch up on a good book you haven't had a chance to read in awhile. [3]

Frame events in a positive way. The way you talk about events can affect your
attitude. For instance, if you talk or think about an event in a negative way, you'll
continue to think about it in a negative light. However, if you talk about it positively,
you'll begin to change your attitude about it.[4]
 For example, say you get an upsetting email early in the morning. You could think,
"Well, that means this day is going to be awful." On the other hand, you could
think, "Well, that was bad, but my day can only go up from here." The event
remains the same, but how you think about it moving forward can affect your
attitude.
 Change your language. Words such as "I can't do that" encourage you to think
that way. If you say something is impossible, you'll likely believe it. Instead, use
positive language, such as, "I can do this if I take it step by step." [5]

Be proactive instead of reactive. In every situation, you have another choice: you
can complain, or you can do something about your problem. Complaining makes
you unhappy, but taking action will almost always make you feel better about the
situation. It makes you feel productive and like you are actually getting something
done because you are.[6]

Enjoy the small things. Like most people, you may focus on your big goals all the
time, always looking forward to the next vacation or next holiday. While looking
forward isn't inherently bad, it can sometimes cause you to overlook the joy in your
everyday life. A piece of cake or a walk with a friend is a simple, everyday pleasure
that you may not value if you're only thinking about what's ahead. Instead, try to be
in the moment, and take joy in what you're doing.[7]
 For instance, if you find your mind racing to your next vacation while having a chat
with your friend, pull yourself back to the moment. Truly listen to what your friend is
saying instead of letting your mind wander.
Practice gratitude. Gratitude is essential for a good attitude because it helps you
appreciate the good things you have in your life. Instead of focusing on what's
going wrong, practicing gratitude teaches you to focus on the good things. [8]
 Take time each time to think about what you are thankful for. Maybe you can come
up with three things each day that you appreciate, and write them in a journal. [9]

Stop reaching for the next big thing. If you're always on the lookout for the next
TV, the next smartphone, the next nice car, you won't appreciate what you have.
You are placing your happiness in what you don't have instead of what you do
have, which means you'll feel like you’re always searching for something that will
make you happy.[10]
 In other words, instead of thinking, "I have to have that awesome new phone," try
instead to think, "You know, this phone I have is really amazing. A phone 10 years
ago wouldn't have done nearly this much."
 Combine fantasizing about goals with realism. Popular belief states that if you
can imagine yourself achieving a goal, it helps you get there. However, studies
have shown that if you only imagine the end goal and happiness, it may actually
slow down your progress.[11]
 Instead, take a few minutes to imagine the end goal. However, you should also
spend some time thinking about the obstacles in your way, as it balances out the
fantasy.[12]

Valuing Yourself
Talk nicely to yourself. Like everyone else, you have an inner critic that wants to
tell you when you've done something wrong. However, that critic can start making
you devalue yourself. If you can turn your inner critic into a positive voice, you'll
begin to value yourself more.[13]
 One way to see how often you talk badly about yourself is to take a simple tally
over the course of a day. Every time a negative thought enters your head, make a
note on a piece of paper or your phone. That process will increase your awareness
of how often you are criticizing yourself.[14]
 Once you've established how often you are talking badly, start trying to change
those negative thoughts into positive thoughts. For instance, if you are thinking, "I
hate my hips," try instead to think a positive thought about that body part, such as
"I may not like the way my hips look, but they are strong hips that helped me
produce a baby."[15]

Surround yourself with positive people. The people you socialize with affect
your mental attitude. You deserve to be around people who try to be happy, as that
will encourage you to be happier. Pick positive people for your life, and try to cut
out people who encourage your negative side.[16]
 In the same vein, skip media and news stories that bring you down. They can
impact you just as much as the people you surround yourself with.

Find inspiration. Find books, podcasts, or radio programs that inspire you to be
your true self. Every day, take time to listen or read from one of these motivational
programs. That way, every day you'll get a jolt of positivity, and you'll be inspired to
go out there with a positive attitude.[17]
 Value your own opinion of yourself. Other people will try to make your feel bad
about yourself. Maybe they'll judge you on your appearance or how you drive a car.
The truth is, the only opinion that matters is your own. Most of the time, what
people are saying about you is not really about you, anyway; it's about them trying
to make themselves feel better by putting you down.[18]
 As an example, if someone makes a comment about the sweater you're wearing,
don't let it get to you. Instead, remember why you loved the sweater in the first
place, and respond in kind: "Well, I'm sorry you don't like it, but I really love this
orange. It makes me happy to wear it."
Help other people. By helping other people, you are making a positive difference,
which makes you feel better about yourself, and encourages you to develop a
positive attitude. In addition, it can help develop your sense of gratitude at what
you do have in your life. [19]
 If you're not sure where to volunteer, try asking at your local food bank, a homeless
shelter, a nearby school, or a library. All of them are sure to have an opportunity for
you to volunteer.

Relieving Your Stress

Focus on your breathing. When you feel your stress level rising, one way to calm
yourself is to take some time to focus on breathing. By simply closing your eyes
and letting your breathing fill up your mind, you will slowly start to calm down. Try
to breathe slowly and deeply, letting each breath push out other thoughts. [20]

Sleep on a schedule. How much sleep you get can seriously affect your stress
level and your attitude. If you aren't getting enough, your stress level can rise more
easily, and you are more likely to develop a negative attitude. Sticking to a
schedule every night will help you get enough sleep so that you waked up
refreshed and happier.[21]
 One way to make sure you stick to a schedule is to set an alarm for bedtime just
like you set an alarm for waking up. Set it 30 minutes to an hour before you want to
go to bed to remind you it's time to wind down.
 Stretch out your tension. If you find yourself really tense at work, take a moment
to stretch to help relieve it. A simple stretch can help take your mind off work, plus
it can loosen muscles tightened by stress.[22]
 One simple stretch you can employ is moving from cow pose to cat pose. In a
chair, lean forward with your hands on your knees. Arch your back outward. Move
to cat pose by arching your back inwards.[23]
 Move on to stretching your arms straight above your head, leaning to each side as
you stretch.[24]
 You can also employ a twisting move. While sitting, keep your arms bent and twist
around one way and then the other.[25]

Try writing in a journal. Taking the time to write every day in a journal can be a to
release emotions. If you let your emotions build up over time, that can lead to a
more stressful life.[26]
 What's important is to let your emotion flow out on paper. Don't try to make it
grammatically correct or perfect or worry about what you should be writing
about.[27]

Try a hug. Hugs tell your body to release oxytocin. This hormone can relax you, as
well as push you to be more social, which can also be good for your stress level.[28]
 Try to get at least eight hugs a day. Don't just limit yourself to your friends and
family--pets count, too.[29]