Are you one of those that struggle to see the positive things in people, topics, and matters?
Do you classify yourself as someone who sees the "glass half full" or the "glass half empty"?
While all the motivational speakers online and in TED talks urge everyone to see the bright side of everyday life and to maintain a positive attitude, not many pinpoint how an average person could do that.
In this article, we'll discuss why a positive attitude matters, its benefits, and some strategies to develop it.
Why Does a Good Attitude in the Workplace Matters?
Let's face it,
Attitude is a "make it" or "break it" aspect in corporate and life success.
Taking responsibility for your work performance begins with taking responsibility for your attitude.
All facets of an organization's performance hinge on its employees having a good attitude. A positive attitude at work effects:
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Job performance
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Meeting quality standards
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Possibility of generating sales
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Supporting and serving customers
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Team spirit
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Boss/employee relations
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Coworker support
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Stakeholder expectations
What is a Positive Attitude?
A positive attitude is a mental condition that lets you imagine and anticipate happy outcomes. It does not mean that you live in denial of the unpleasant circumstances that surround you.
Optimistic thought is the foundation of our positive attitude about anything. Positive thinking might even be considered a mental attitude. It makes it easier for us to anticipate positive outcomes.
As said by William James:
“The greatest discovery of any generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude.”
Benefits of a Positive Attitude
Here are some proven benefits of having a positive mindset:
1. Better heart health
Our thoughts and attitudes, whether positive or bad, have the potential to affect our hearts.
According to the findings of one study,
“People with heart disease may benefit from adopting a more positive outlook.”
The study's findings showed that individuals who used positive mental models to frame their treatment plans had an improved heart health.
Reduced hospitalization and mortality rate was another advantage for these people.
We can see that optimism was a crucial construct in this study.
2. A curious, lively mind
When we approach life with a positive attitude, we open ourselves up to fresh knowledge. We also like to take risks and try new things with no preconceived notions of success.
This notion was tested on a group of students by two Australian psychologists. They looked at self-belief - a positive attitude - in their research. They looked at which children in the sample would be motivated to learn.
Furthermore,
Who would face difficulties?
They measured pupils' attitudes about their education before evaluating their intellectual capacity.
An optimistic attitude, just like the pupils in this group, will help you handle difficult activities more effectively. You can also combat negative emotions by fighting them with your self-confidence as they arise.
3. Boosted workplace productivity
Researchers have discovered that those who have a positive attitude are more productive than those who have a negative attitude. They positively reinforce themselves as they tackle a new (or previously failed) job. As a result, their self-assurance and chances of success will improve.
Individuals aren't the only ones who benefit from this strategy. We can also consider its function at work.
For Example,
Companies that place a strong emphasis on positivity will see higher results from their employees.
Naturally, as humans, we prefer to be exposed to pleasant experiences. The advantages of having a good attitude may be seen in all domains of work and life. These aspects include:
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Cognitive
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Psychological
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Emotional
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Social
4. Better social life and interactions
We all want to be in healthy relationships, whether it's in friendships or dating. Knowing this, we look for people with whom we may form healthy, constructive bonds.
Positive people are more likely to have psychological resilience built in. This resilience enables people to respond more effectively in the face of adversity.
As a result, they will be better able to establish healthy conflict resolution strategies. And, more often than not, more appropriate ones.
Humor, creativity, relaxation, and optimistic thinking are all used by positive people. Each of these characteristics can aid in resolving conflicts. In general, having a good attitude makes you a better friend, family member, or spouse.
Tips to improve social life |
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| 1 | Believing in yourself | |
| 2 | Keeping it short and brief | |
| 3 | Knowing the difference between quality gathering and a waste of time | |
| 4 | Keeping minimal expectations | |
| 5 | Stay in touch online | |
5. Improved recovery time
Physiotherapy and mental therapy, for example, necessitate a great deal of dedication and hard effort. Therapists like to build their clients' resilience to better discover and harness their strengths.
One of the strengths considered by therapists is a patient's attitude toward their rehabilitation process. Your therapist knows one thing, whether you're attempting to regain use of your limbs or recover from emotional trauma. Maintaining a good attitude will aid your therapy's development.
One of the pioneers of the Positive Psychology movement, Martin Seligman, describes it this way:
"If we want to build and maintain well-being, we must, on one hand, lessen our misery; but on the contrary, we must have a positive meaning, emotion, accomplishment, and positive relationships."
How to have more positive attitude |
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| 1 | Create a list of things you’re thankful for | |
| 2 | Unplug from social media for two hours a day | |
| 3 | Befriend people with a positive mindset | |
| 4 | Always point out the good things in people | |
| 5 | Ask yourself optimistic questions | |
Strategies for Developing a Positive Mental Attitude
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
- Eleanor Roosevelt
Keeping the above saying in mind, we have gathered five strategies for developing a positive mental attitude. Let’s look at them.
1. Keep in mind how strong you are
We have no notion what we're supposed to be doing or who we're supposed to be mimicking most of the time. By identifying with "things" that end up defining who we think we are, we play parts and hide our genuine selves.
I'm a doctor, a salesperson, a secretary, or a lawyer; I'm depressed, joyful, lonely, or wretched. I'm enraged, furious, and terrified, and I can't stop myself.
- It's who I am.
But the truth is that,
We aren't any of those things.
We aren't our emotions.
We aren't defined by our circumstances.
We aren't even our thoughts.
What we are is far more powerful, magnificent, significant, and mysterious than our conceptual mind can comprehend.
This is why we have far more power than we believe.
2. Decide to live life to the fullest
When we choose to complain about things rather than try to change them, life becomes difficult and unjust. Wake up to the fact that life isn't a dress rehearsal.
Allow yourself to relax and enjoy the present moment, regardless of whether it involves a challenge or an opportunity. Stop obsessing over minor details and start focusing on what matters most to you.
Follow these points to live life to the fullest:
How to live life to the fullest |
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| 1 | Quit complaining | |
| 2 | Don’t think about how you could've done something different in the past, think about how you’ll do it in the future | |
| 3 | Discover your life’s purpose | |
| 4 | Create a bucket list and work on your dreams and goals | |
| 5 | Spend time with people that you feel good with the ones that promote healthy, positive vibes | |
3. Recognize that you are in charge of your reactions
The thoughts and opinions we hold about life in general help to shape our external world.
What we believe in our inner world manifests in our outer world, not the other way around.
All of us face difficulties from time to time, and we are frequently put to the test due to events beyond our control. While you may not be able to influence what happens around you, you do have complete power over how you respond to it.
We are powerful because the influence we allow the outside world (effect) to have on us is influenced by our inner world (cause).
So the next time someone says something to the effect of "you have a lot of personal power," know that they are true.
You're in a lot more control than you think.
4. Believe in yourself and know that you are more than enough
Things you have may not satisfy your needs and you may feel ungrateful for what you've got. You might think that you'll be content if you get something more than what you have right now.
That means you'll need more in the future, and you won't be able to stop at just one.
This loop will continue indefinitely as long as your mind holds on to the belief that it is true. If you concentrate on what you do have rather than what you don't, you will always have enough because you are enough.
5. Love yourself
You've arrived. You'll find everything you need right here.
Cut off the noise.
Open your eyes.
See that you already have everything you need to be happy, loved, and fulfilled.
Don't try to be someone you're not.
Accept yourself as you are and love yourself unconditionally.
Let’s learn how to love yourself.
How to Love Yourself |
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| 1 | Don’t worry about other people’s opinions | |
| 2 | Realize that you’ll only be successful if you fail and make mistakes | |
| 3 | Don’t compare yourself with others, compare yourself with your past | |
| 4 | Process your fears | |
| 5 | Say “no” when you need to | |
How to Maintain a Positive Attitude at Work
A positive mindset is more than just a cheery disposition. It has lasting effects.
According to research, having a genuinely positive attitude to life broadens your perspective on life and makes it seem full of opportunities. If you choose this viewpoint, you will naturally be exposed to new experiences and talents as a result.
Here are a few tips to maintain a positive attitude at work, whether it comes naturally to you or not:
1. Keep a positive group of people around you
You can look at the classic adage "birds of a feather flock together" in two ways.
Either people with similar characteristics naturally discover each other or people in a group become more similar over time.
Keep a positive group of people around you. Connect with people who are passionate about what they do, who are open to new ideas, and who are interested in a wide range of topics besides work. It'll improve your attitude on life as a whole.
While you may not be able to choose your coworkers, you can be selective about how much time and in what setting you spend with them.
2. Infuse your brain with uplifting stimuli
What you feed your thoughts have the same effect as being around individuals who transform you to be more like them.
Listen to cheerful music on your headphones to boost your mood. While commuting to work, put on inspirational audiobooks.
Read novels that will make you feel better. Listen to podcasts and watch videos that will help you learn something new.
When it comes to your physical health, you are what you consume. The same holds for the health of your mind.
3. Use tools to make your work simplified and to keep your mind positive
Another great way is to use online tools or softwares that help people stay on top of their goals, keeping a positive attitude in this case. The Wondershare PDFelement Cloud is one such tool.
The PDFelement Cloud is a cloud-based management tool that helps you ease your daily tasks. You get up to 100GB of storage, the option to sign electronically as well as collaborate with your colleagues on a document by adding annotations and comments in real-time.
While this doesn’t seem to directly link with our topic, what you need to know is that the use of easy tools to help people stay on top of their daily tasks is one way of maintaining a positive attitude. With a sense of accomplishment on a daily basis, you’ll know things are going as they should be.
4. Make a daily schedule
Unfortunately, routines have earned a poor reputation.
It's tempting to believe that if you have a work schedule, you're trapped in a rut or not "flexible." Routines, on the other hand, give us a solid foundation to fall back on.
A morning routine is particularly beneficial for many people because the morning is both the time when we are most alert and awake, yet sometimes unable to buckle down and get started.
Prepare for the next day by creating a pattern that allows you to do the most critical tasks first, take breaks when they are needed, and save the last hour or two of the day for less strenuous work and planning.
Tips to Make a daily schedule |
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| 1 | Prioritize your tasks and optimize them | |
| 2 | Cluster smaller tasks | |
| 3 | Note frequencies of tasks | |
| 4 | Know that being flexible is key to getting things done | |
| 5 | Define when you’d sleep and wake up | |
5. Be considerate to others
Being kind to others makes you feel good.
According to a study published in the Journal of Social Psychology, being kind to others has the same effect on one's happiness as attempting something new and interesting.
If you make it a habit to be kind to others, you'll start a chain reaction of generosity and happiness that makes you feel good and makes those around you feel good, too.
Recognizing and appreciating coworkers can make your day a lot better.
6. Take charge of the situation and decide how you want to respond
You can instantly kill a positive outlook by refusing to accept responsibility for your actions and situation or by refusing to take control over how you respond.
Refusing to accept responsibility for something that happens implies you can't alter your behavior and it will happen again. You also set yourself up for a victim mentality in which things happen to you because you're the victim.
You'll have a better outlook on life if you think of it as something you can direct rather than something that is out of your control.
Think of it as a mathematical equation: E + R = O. Even when events are beyond your control, your response has an impact on the outcome.
Wrapping Up
Having a positive attitude has numerous advantages that extend far beyond the occasional high. Your mindset is the foundation around which all of your experiences and successes are built. Those who tackle obstacles with confidence and self-belief are far more successful than those who shy away from them.
Besides, as long as you have a positive attitude towards life and work, you can recover from any situation and pursue new adventures.
