A POSITIVE ATTITUDE Mind is everything, muscles (are merely) pieces of rubber. All that I am I am because of my mind. Paaua Hohannes Nurmi (The Flying Finn) Winner of Nine Olympic Gold Medals and Creator of Twelve World Record Definition of a Positive Attitude The Oxford English Dictionary defines the word positive as “marked by presence, not absence, of qualities; tending in the direction regarded as that of increase or progress.” The Dictionary also describes a positive person as one who is ”confident, assured, and given to constructive action.” Hence a positive attitude is one that is confident of progress and achievement. The Importance of a Positive Attitude A positive attitude helps to make a difficult task easier. Mental and emotional attitudes influence your ability to perform, to do work. It may seem difficult to understand but your mind and your thinking can help you to do well or do badly. As Marcus Aurelius said, “Our life is what our thoughts make of it.” Therefore when faced with a task, it does not help to complain or make excuses. Any exercise, assignment or task is easier if you approach it with a positive attitude. Daily challenges are viewed as opportunities. With a positive attitude you are calm and full of courage to achieve. As Norman Vincent Peale said, “Change your thoughts and you change your world.” When you look for what is good, right and positive about people, about life, in general, you will live a more satisfying and enjoyable life. In fact it was Ralph Waldo Emerson, the American poet who wrote, “The true worth of mental health is the ability to see positive everywhere.” Benefits of Having a Positive Attitude People with a positive attitude enjoy good physical and mental health. They have peace of mind. They tend to live longer and they experience a more balanced life. Perhaps this is what Gautama Buddha meant when he said,” Mind is everything. We become what we think.” Positive people have been said to enjoy longer-lasting relationships. A positive attitude contributes to how successful you will be in life. We need to work with others in order to become successful, so if we have a positive attitude, particularly towards people, it helps. When you have a positive attitude you also acquire a sense of confidence in what you do and what you are. This puts you in good stead to meet the challenges of life. As someone once said, “Each of us is a sculptor with the power and ability to shape our own life.” Positive people tend to be successful, powerful and empowering. Their enthusiasm is infectious. People with positive attitudes realize that life has its ups and downs and that it provides lessons for all of us. They are people with courage because they are willing to face whatever challenges come their way. They are also always seeking possibilities. Positive people are always on the lookout for ideas, for answers to problems, for new ways of doing things. They do not allow problems to control them. Positive people look at what they can change, develop and influence. They do not dwell too long on what has happened. They are creative people who view difficulties as challenges and who see opportunities in problems. Positive people are keen to develop strong relationships with others. They do not care for or depend upon issues like money or status. YOU have that choice – to be a positive or negative thinker. Ways To Develop A Positive Attitude " Find a Role Model you can emulate. It could be someone you know personally or a leader you have read about. It could be someone in the present or some one in the past. Perform an act of kindness each day. Make someone feel good and feel better. It need be just a small, simple act, like calling the person on the phone or smiling and talking to the person. Keep yourself occupied and busy. You will have no time then to think negative thoughts and to behave negatively. Do not allow others to make you feel angry, frightened, insecure or useless. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “ No one can make us feel inferior without our permission.” Look at happenings and experiences constructively. Try and find some good in all of this. Be happy and speak of cheerful matters. Use positive empowering language. Cultivate a sense of humour and laugh often. Do not compare your life with that of others and constantly wish for what they have. Avoid thinking that you are badly off. Be humble. There is no need to be arrogant and to blow your own trumpet! Be grateful for the good things in your life. Learn to reach out to others and to give love. When you give love you will definitely receive it. Love helps to develop a positive attitude. Cultivate good will all the time. When confronted with something difficult or awful, regard it instead as an opportunity for work, as opportunity for a challenge. Be resilient so you can cope and survive hardships, tragedies and problems. Be enthusiastic. Use Visualization and affirmations often. Visualize your successes always. Believe in Yourself. Believe that you can…! Say it to yourself repeatedly, when you wake up, before you go to bed and at other times. Keep healthy physically by avoiding pessimism and keeping the mind active and healthy. Have hope all the time as this helps us to plan for the future The Power of Can Did is a word of achievement, Won’t is a word of retreat, Might is a word of bereavement, Can’t is a word of defeat, Ought is a word of duty, Try is a word each hour, Will is a word of beauty, Can is a word of Power.