From Beginners to Experts – How to Conquer a Positive Attitude

"Ugh… I just can’t stand the thought of having to write another article. What’s the point, it’s not going to work – it’s not like people care." Wow – what kind of impression did that start you off with? I bet you thought I was negative, depressing and had no consideration for what others think. Hmm… well than I guess I got your attention and I’ve definitely made my point.

Having a positive attitude has a major impact, not only on yourself but also on those around you. From the situation I just put you into, you can tell I merely made the situation of writing this article impossible and negative from the start. If I continued on with such negativity, I’m sure I wouldn’t be able to finish it. Also, not only did I start myself off with a negative attitude, I also made you feel like the article wasn’t going to be worth your time, let alone valuable or positive.

Right from the start, as you sought advice or content on a positive attitude, you were probably wondering how this article would pertain. Of course, you wanted to leave instantly – no one wants to be around someone who is constantly negative and wears them down. If you want to be happy, if you want to build relationships, and if you want people to listen and trust in what you are saying – you need to have a positive attitude.

So, now that I’ve made my point, let’s expand on the process of obtaining a positive attitude that leaves a lasting impression, not one that makes people run.

Getting Started

Being positive isn’t always easy, especially for those who have been holding a negative cloud over their heads for a long time. You may feel as if the world is always pouring on you and the sun is never shining. You can change this though. It starts with a commitment. Each day you need to wake up and tell yourself that today will be a good day. Repeat in the mirror "I will not allow things to get in my way, I will not let others bring me down, no matter what life throws at me, I will take each stride with a positive attitude and a belief that I am strong and able to get through anything." If you have a natural tendency towards sarcasm it’s going to be difficult at first, but keep at it. Day by day, you’ll be retraining yourself to believe in a more positive you.

Avoiding the Negative

Okay, so maybe you’re already a pretty positive person but, from time to time, you fall off the bandwagon for what seems like absolutely no reason. Well, those unexplained reasons may be more obvious than you think. Did you ever take a look at the people you surround yourself with? If they tend to me negative, "mouthy" or even sarcastic, this can have a toll on you – negativity is contagious, so watch out.

Let’s look at some pretty common proof.

We all know what "water cooler talk is" – your sitting around at work, deciding you need a break, so you venture towards the water cooler. Before you arrived, you were feeling tired, but at the same time determined to make it through the day because you actually enjoy the project you are working on. By the end of the "cooler talk" you find your anticipation has disappeared and you’re thinking of going home "sick" – you think to yourself how this company doesn’t care for you anyways, they just gave Sally the pink slip the other day for absolutely no reason.

First of all, Sally was probably one of those people that used to hang out at the water cooler 75% of the day. She may have been always telling people about how she got her first warning, how they always stick her with the boring projects and how Tim – the newbie, got a promotion over her. While she continued to suck in those around her with negativity, her managers were watching from afar as she started to infect the company. Of course they didn’t fire her for absolutely no reason, she fired herself because of her negativity.

Whether it’s water cooler talk that has you boggled from time to time, or just a simple case of needing to feel blue, you can quickly recover by finding the little things in life that make you feel positive and by focusing on them; whether it’s spending time with your children, enjoying nature at its best, or even dining out with a friend – enjoying your favorite cuisine. Remember, it’s always much easier to be positive when you take the time to let positive influences into your life. And when "water cooler talk" has you feeling down, remember that your company hasn’t done anything to make you regret what you are doing – let others dwell on their negativity, not you.

Being Confident in Yourself

Apart from negative people, or being negative yourself, your own self evaluation can have a major impact on your attitude. Do you ever find yourself carrying on a conversation with a friend, only to leave it with a sense of sarcasm or hate towards yourself, almost as if you have left it in offensive terms? Or maybe you’ve felt as if a conversation has led to a disagreement amongst all other parties and a sense of blame on yourself? These sorts of thoughts, or doubt in yourself and the conversations you hold, are having a huge impact on your positive attitude. Out of all of those situations, you likely leave down, discouraged and feeling negative. Although you entered the situation with complete confidence, you were able to bring yourself down.

First, you need to stop blaming yourself. You can’t regret the conversation you had or the feeling you laid out on the line. Things happened that way for a reason and you need to stop blaming yourself or thinking that you have done something wrong. Stay positive and reinforce yourself that the problems will be left in the conversation and things will carry on – don’t dwell on the past. And when a friend throws out a sarcastic comment, don’t take it personally. If they were downright rude to you, leave the conversation with a grin and remind yourself that you are the better person because you were able to walk away.

No matter what happens, through conversation or just self esteem, remind yourself that it is only that person’s opinion and not reflective of you as a person. Whenever someone upsets you, let it go and walk away.

Making it Last

For beginners and experts, everyone needs to be aware that a positive attitude doesn’t happen overnight and can be broken at anytime. The situations life throws at us makes it hard for us to stay positive. But, the real challenge is not the situations, it’s being able to pull your best foot forward, stay positive and walk through them like they don’t exist. While no one can maintain a positive attitude 100% of the time, it is important to let negative thoughts go, to surround yourself with positive influences and to just try to enjoy your life. Remember, it’s the little things that matter. Take a time out each day to write down 5 good things that have happened with the past 24 hours. Practicing this will surely have you feeling better in no time.

Every day that you maintain a positive attitude is a step in the right direction. With practice, you can keep making those steps that will take you on a lifetime journey of positive thinking and behavior. And remember, don’t do what I did at the start of this article, rather do the opposite; approach each situation with a positive outlook and believe that only the positive will occur!

Gary Gzik is a Corporate Trainer and CEO of the business consulting company BizXcel, Inc. which owns and operates Getting to Someday, a place where people go to achieve their goals and dreams. Gary also wrote "A Journey towards Your Dreams", a book that inspires people to achieve their dreams through a positive attitude – claim your free copy today at http://gettingtosomeday.com/positive-attitude-secret.

Also, stop by today to read Gary’s other articles at http://www.gettingtosomeday.com/article. And, don’t forget to sign up for his Free Bi-Weekly Newsletter full of inspiring stories!

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