Positive thinking - positive attitude at work

Positive thinking leads to positive attitude

Positive thinking helps form positive attitudes. Positive attitude is a quality that is second to none in a human being. Attitudes are what influences a person’s reaction to a situation in life. It sets the emotional undertone for a person to like or dislike a situation even before he is acquainted with it. Attitude decides how a person copes up with the day to day events of life.

We teach our children to say ‘thank you’ from the time they are little, we teach them to be grateful for everything received. We attach so much importance to this attitude of gratitude that when our children fail to thank some one, we insist that they do it. We expect this in return from others when we help them or give them a gift, however small. We call a person discourteous and rude when they do not say ‘thank you’. Though we attach so much importance to this attitude, as we grow into teenage and adult years we find ourselves becoming ungrateful or taking things for granted. We loose touch with the very same qualities that we instill in our children. We take for granted our life, our health, our families, the people in our lives, the things that our loved ones do for us to make our lives easier and things that we possess.

This ‘attitude of gratitude’ is not just another reaction but speaks a lot about a person. In this write up I would like to focus on the positive attitude of gratitude, about changing negative attitudes and making positive thinking an attitude and a habit.

Does having  positive thoughts influence our attitude and our lives?

I particularly liked this quote from an anonymous writer which sums up this attitude of gratitude so well - “gratitude consists of being more aware of what you have, than what you don’t.”

Thinking positively and a positive attitude helps us to appreciate and value ourselves, our potential and all that we have. It ensures that we do not take our abilities for granted. It makes us look at ourselves as special people with a special set of abilities and potential. It banishes the feelings of inadequacy and insecurity that arises from unfair comparisons with others. It helps us to appreciate people for who they are and not magnify what they are not and their little flaws. It drives away prejudice and makes us approach life with an open mind. It predisposes us to react to the daily events of life in a positive manner and help us to look at the brighter side of life. Make us optimistic. It gives hope and helps us look forward to life with anticipation.

Most importantly positive thinking takes the focus away from what we don’t have, to appreciating and making good use of what we have. It helps us get rid of bitterness, jealousy, envy, greed and promotes a healthy and nurturing attitude towards others, which in turn gets reciprocated. It is closely connected to our emotional well being and happiness. We feel loved and at peace with ourselves for a major part of our lives when we make this attitude ours.

How can you practice the art of positive thinking and the attitude of gratitude?

If you don't think every day is a good day, just try missing one - Cavett Robert

At the very outset, I would like to mention that a positive is not an attitude of being satisfied and content, that you never want to do anything, anymore. This is an attitude that makes you feel good about who you are, what you do, and what your potentials are. This attitude impels you to utilize all that you are endowed with as a person, to achieve the highest possible goals. When we have this attitude, we are able to work without any external pressure to perform but there is sufficient pressure and motivation from within.

The habit  of positive thinking is like any other habit, so we need to follow the routine of habit formation here as well.

Three step to positive thinking and positive attitude

Firstly, start with writing down all your positive qualities or attributes including your heath, your intellectual abilities, your emotional strengths, your potentials etc.

Write down all the positive qualities you appreciate in others with whom you interact every day, beginning with your spouse, children, colleagues, boss etc. Write down how they brighten up or make your life better. Imagine life without them and say why you cherish that relationship in your life.

Do not forget to list things like your job, school, college, office, the stuff that you possess that makes your life good like your home, your car, your garden etc.

Secondly Plan and implement this exercise with a capsule of fifteen minutes a day in the morning. Schedule it with your morning activities, this would mean that you have to start early so that you don’t lag behind in the rest of your morning routine. When you remind yourself each morning  about the good qualities in you, your talents, your strengths and you start your day feeling fresh, new and optimistic.

Thirdly spend five minutes meditating on how each person or situation or thing adds value to your life. Try to add a new positive point as frequently as you can to your list. Spend time thanking God for that particular attribute or person or thing in your life. Use the power of positive affirmation or power affirmation over self and others, by repeating the statements aloud.

Find ways and means of celebrating your positive attributes and attitudes. Do a good turn or a favor to others with whom you interact as a celebration of your relationship ( some fresh flowers can say it well). Take time to beautifying your house or clean and polish your car, it would no more be a chore but a pleasure giving activity. These activities train you to be positive and help you view every thing you do with a positive and energetic outlook.

This process helps you program your mind to be ever appreciative of all that is good in life.

Beware of resistance and negativity creeping in slowly

Another important element that one needs to keep in mind is that, as you start this new habit there will be resistance from inside, asking yourself if you are perfect will make you more appreciative of others.

Every time you find yourself thinking negative thoughts you need to reject them and fill your mind with positive ideas about that which you are thinking. This way you will change and control your thoughts and thought processes.

Negative thoughts do us so much more harm than good, so why entertain them? You can eradicate negative thinking by replacing it with positive thoughts. Any habit that is not in use dies a slow death so while you are focusing on positive thinking your negative thinking fades into oblivion over a period of time.

 Get positive thoughts and positive attitude to work in your life

It is not magic to make positive thoughts become positive attitudes - it needs persistence, commitment and alertness of mind to become a habit. It takes time, patience and consistent work to make positive attitude work for you. Once this is done, it will work for you without your knowledge.

You will win new friends and admirers without having to impress them or conform to the pressure of doing things their way. You will be bubbling with life and the joie de vivre. You will be rearing to go and accomplish all you can with your new found confidence.

The best part of adopting the ‘positive thinking  and a positive attitude of gratitude is that, you will be able to enjoy the smallest pleasures of nature with a heightened sense of satisfaction and awe. I can stand and watch a beautiful flower and carry that joy in my mind for future enjoyment. I can go back to work refreshed, I can use it as an object to meditate on when I feel stressed.

This attitude is what sets you apart from the rest of the people. They see your happiness and positive nature and wonder what makes you tick. They secretly desire that for themselves. No achievement is too small, no person is unworthy of admiration, no situation is bleak and beyond redemption when you have a positive attitude. I would like to end with this quote from Winston Churchill “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference”.