“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference” -Winston Churchill
Attitude is basically the way we respond to situations and people. We can either respond in a positive or negative way. Our attitude determines to a great degree how happy or successful we are. A positive attitude will attract people and resources to you. A positive attitude will make it easier to deal with the inevitable challenges that life will throw at you.
You are likely to live longer and happier life if you have a positive and optimistic outlook about life. A person with a positive attitude exudes confidence, expects to succeed, is motivated, solves problems, and has high self-esteem. On the other hand, a negative attitude leads to pessimism, expectation of failure and the worst, malaise, complaints, and low self-esteem.
Unfortunately, it appears much easier to lapse into negative thinking than positive thinking. This thinking process repeated over time becomes a habit and difficult to break. The good news is that we can change our thoughts and therefore our attitude.
“I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul” —- Henry Ford.
We are indeed the masters of our attitude. Some people are fortunate and are naturally optimistic. I have worked with people like that. They seem to be able to smile no matter how difficult a day they are having. You may know someone like that in your life.
If you are not one those lucky to be positive no matter what is happening in your life, try the following tips for creating and maintaining a positive outlook in life:
·Focus on your opportunities not your problems
·Show gratitude for what you have
·Focus on what is working not what is lacking in your life
·Do your best and don’t look back
·Learn from adversity and move on. Don’t dwell on negative events in life
·Win or learn
·If you catch yourself thinking a negative thought, stop and replace immediately with a positive one
·Relax and laugh for in the end all is well. If it is not well, it just means it is not the end
·Never give up
Ife Ojugbeli, MD, MBA.