Is your cup half full or half empty? Many say your answer to this age-old question determines whether you are an optimist or a pessimist. According to Webster’s Dictionary, optimists are individuals who expect the best possible outcomes and pessimists have a tendency to take the least hopeful view. Which are you? When you are faced with challenges in your life, is your first thought,“ I can figure this out,” or “I can’t handle this”? If your first thought is often negative, you are most likely considered a pessimist.
Did you know that the way you think determines your attitude? Think about it. Do you know someone who has a bad attitude on most days? When reflecting on conversations you have had with this individual, you will notice that during most conversations he or she was complaining or making negative statements. You may even recall occasions with this individual.
Unfortunately it is true, thinking negatively can cause you to have a bad attitude and others won’t enjoy being in your presence. Most people enjoy being around positive thinkers because they seem to be happy and full of life on most days. This does not mean that all positive thinkers are born this way. Many of them make conscious efforts to think positively.
Let’s be honest. Some people do wake-up in the morning with cheerful attitudes, but many of us work hard at thinking positively. The fact is, if it is not natural for you to think positively, developing positive thinking skills will be challenging. Don’t let the challenge be the reason you give up without making a conscious effort toward positive thinking. A positive mindset is an essential skill to possess if you want to be successful in the workplace and also live a healthier life. Are you ready to be a positive thinker?
Practice Positive Thinking
First, you must make the commitment to counteract negative thoughts with positive thoughts. This can be easy if you make a game out of it. The game begins when you wake up in the morning and lasts until you go to sleep at night. Whenever a negative thought enters your mind or you begin to make a negative statement, stop yourself and replace the thought with something positive. The following chart from www.mayoclinic.com provides great examples to get you started.
Negative Thoughts
I’ve never done this before
It’s too complicated
There’s not enough time
There’s no way it will work
It’s too radical a change
No one bothers to communicate with me
I’m not going to get any better at this
Positive Thoughts
It’s an opportunity to learn something new
I’ll tackle it from a different angle
Let’s re-evaluate some priorities
I can try to make it work
Let’s take a chance
I’ll see it I can open the channels of communication
I’ll give it another try
Concentrate on Solutions
Next, you must concentrate on finding solutions to problems. If you read each question in the chart closely, you will notice that positive thinkers concentrate on solutions instead of focusing on problems. Many times, negative thinkers have a difficult time moving past the problems at hand. To become a positive thinker, you must rationalize your thinking. It is fine to acknowledge a problem exists, but it is not healthy to dwell on the problem. When a problem occurs, take out a sheet of paper, not the problem and begin writing down possible, take the initiative to ask foe help or clarity. In utilizing these techniques, you will experience a positive attitude, enjoy your job and begin to feel better about yourself.
Don’t Be a Victim of Negative Thoughts
Many of us have been victims of negative thoughts most of our lives. Although no one can change their thought process overnight, it is important to work on improving it every day. When people allow themselves to become victims of negative thinking, they feel insecure, don’t enjoy their jobs and sometimes make efforts to entice in the workplace, encourage co-workers to join you in the challenge of conquering negative thoughts.
Don’t allow negative thoughts to give you a bad attitude, create negative morale in the workplace or leave you felling defeated. You are not a victim. You must make the choice to challenge yourself to think positively. Before long, you won’t think the cup is half empty or half full, but you will begin to realize it is overflowing with possibilities.
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