8 Ways to Boost Your Attitude Toward Work and Life

“Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.” – Albert Einstein

One of the most important steps you can take to increase your chance of success in your work, relationships, and every area of life is to develop a positive mental attitude. Each of us, at one time or another, has encountered that person for whom life holds nothing but the promise of good and they look forward to all of it with eager anticipation.

Every task is met with a “can-do” attitude, and even the setbacks aren’t nearly as crushing as they are to the rest of us. What’s their secret? What kind of magical elixir are these upbeat people taking? And, more importantly, how can you get some of that positivity potion?

The Not-So-Secret “Secret”

It’s all about cultivating a positive attitude. The term “positive thinking” has grown so cliché over the past several decades that it’s lost some of its validity. It’s a worn-out phrase uttered by someone who’s read too many of “those” books. The fact of the matter is, overused as it may be, many successful men and women have seen the emotional and physical benefits of positivity in their daily lives.

The practice of positive thinking improves your mood and diminishes stress, which in turn, reduces your risk for such stress-related conditions as hypertension, IBS, and depression. Sounds awesome, doesn’t it?

But what’s involved in positive thinking? Positive thinking means approaching life’s hurdles with a positive outlook. It doesn’t mean ignoring the bad things; instead, it involves making the most out of tough situations and seeing the best in others. Even though you may not be able to see the good in all of life’s hurdles, you learn to meet them with grace, and reflect on them, seeking the lesson at some point.

Inherently Positive

Most of us aren’t born looking for the worst in situations. We don’t naturally seek out the negative. We’re all born with a sense of well-being and a positive outlook on life. You can develop your positive attitude, even if you don’t feel exactly optimistic most of the time. By incorporating certain practices into your everyday lives, you can begin to redefine positivity for yourself and see that you can, in fact, uncover and unleash the upbeat attitude that’s inside you.

True freedom lies in choice, and this is one of the core insights in the writings of Viktor Frankl, a psychiatrist who was imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp. Frankl reminds us all that,

It’s important to know that we always have a choice of how to respond to life’s circumstances.

Put Adversity in Perspective

Ever notice how tough challenges stops some people from trying again, while others bounce back from adversity stronger than before? Unfortunately, bad things happen to good people. Everyone experiences unexpected and painful events in life, but people with positive mental attitudes find a way to use this discomfort to grow stronger and become better.

Individuals with positive mental attitudes ask themselves, “What did I gain from this?” so they can learn from misfortune. Rather than merely tolerate the pain, they turn it into an opportunity for self-growth. Learn to use adversity as an opportunity to move forward with more wisdom.

Cultivate a Positive Friend Base

Gather a group of individuals together and watch as one constant pessimist in the bunch casts a cloud of doom and gloom over the entire group. Are you hanging out with people who have negative attitudes? Do you have big gripe sessions where everyone complains? Do your friends gossip about others and put people down? This is how negativity can work, and it can undo all the work you’ve put into boosting your positive attitude.

Positive people tend to be more successful, and that winning attitude rubs off on those around them. It’s a fact that we tend to mimic the people we spend the most time with. The more frequently you spend time with positive thinking people, the more likely it is that you will begin to think and act in a similar way. Surround yourself with those who encourage you in your pursuit of the positive.

Learn to Let Go of Resentment

Grudges do no one any good and, as the saying goes, resentment is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. It erodes your spirit and renders you seemingly void of any control over your own life. Learning to let go of resentment is like putting down a 100-pound backpack. Only then can you begin to let go of the weight of assigning blame to others and start to see the benefit of being the captain of your ship. Stop trying to ignore, fighting through, or pretending you don’t have resentments. Instead, do your best to face them, feel them, and heal from them. What resentments are holding you back? Why not deal with them today?

Share the Love

When you feel good, the whole world looks more promising, right? Well, you can share that feeling by complimenting and expressing appreciation to others, at least one person each day. Not only will that person, or those people, feel lifted by your compliment, but you’ll feel better for giving them a boost in their day.

Those feelings become exponential, and suddenly you see your world as a much better place. Just make sure you’re sincere in your compliments. Say what you mean and mean what you say! Positivity is a precious commodity in this busy, chaotic, and disconnected world. Those who cultivate positivity regularly end up better off.

Get Excited

Enthusiasm is infectious. You may not always feel that sort of enthusiasm about what it is you’re doing, but act the part anyway. As noted self-improvement icon Dale Carnegie once said, “When you act enthusiastic, you will be enthusiastic.” If you’re going to spend eight hours a day at work, why not make it more than just bearable.

Let your enthusiasm show, and you’ll be amazed by how others respond in kind. Your excitement can become a ripple of enthusiasm.

Let Go of Negativity

Many of the most successful people have learned to let go of negativity. It might sound complicated at first, but finding and embracing the positive things in nearly every situation is possible. If you haven’t done so already, begin a gratitude journal. The act of uncovering just three items a day for which you feel grateful opens up a discipline to find the good in your life. Broadening your network of friends can also help you to see things from another point of view, and uncover the positive attributes in your family, friends, and others.

Get Busy Living

As I’ve learned from one of my all-time favorite movies, Shawshank Redemption, starring Morgan Freeman, it comes down to a simple choice really: “Get busy living, or Get busy dying.” You decide your fate. Nobody is going to bail you out, nobody is going to feel bad for you and give you everything you want, nobody is going to drop your dream job/life on your lap. It’s on you to earn it.

This world is going to throw you some curve balls. No one gets out of here without having to stare down a few giants, but by cultivating your positive attitude you can equip yourself with a tremendous ability to weather the storm. Implement these five actions into your life, and you’ll be amazed how quickly your attitude turns around. What do you think? Are you ready to improve your attitude? Use these tips, you will be well on your way to a new, resilient, and happier you!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Tim Crowley Motivational Keynote Speaker, Leadership and Resilience Expert

Dr. Tim Crowley’s passion is working with people to help them live better, work smarter, and enjoy life more. His services have touched the lives of leaders in some of the most recognizable companies in the world. Including AT&T, Boehringer – Ingelheim, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Ernst & Young, Hallmark, Johnson & Johnson, Lockheed Martin, Marriot, Microsoft, Nestle-Purina, along with numerous organizations, universities, state and federal agencies.

When not keynoting, leading workshops, and blogging he looks for inspiration mountain biking and making memories with his family and friends. drtimcrowley.com