How to Have a Positive Mental Attitude

Life can be challenging at times, especially if finances are strapped, health is suffering or relationships are rocky. Having a positive attitude is crucial to creating happiness and success in your career and personal life. A positive attitude is contagious---not only will it affect you, it will affect all of those around you.

_{A positive mental attitude can make almost anything better. image source}

Step 1

Recognize where negativity is coming from. Negativity can run through your life like an undercurrent with no specific source. Awareness is key. The more aware you are of your stressors, mind sets and belief systems, the better off you will be. If you find yourself struggling in one area or another take time to assess the source of your negativity.

Step 2

Process your thoughts, feelings and stressors with a friend, counselor or life coach. Don't underestimate the power of voicing how you feel. This will assist you in releasing negative emotion and energy from your mind, body and spirit---as well as allow you to gain new perspective via your conversations.

Step 3

Decide to make "having a positive attitude" your priority. You can choose your emotions and attitudes. If you are feeling negative about money for example, you can choose to shift your thought. Imagine saying, "My finances will improve" or perhaps, "It's nice to believe that my finances will improve." Your entire attitude will soon follow.

Step 4

Focus on what's working, and be consciously appreciative. Your attitude is a manifestation of your thoughts and focus---so take control of your focus. A simple exercise would be to get out a sheet of paper, and at the top write "What's Working" and list what is good in your life, what's working out. Review this list and stand in appreciation for what is working for you. You'll feel your attitude shift immediately.

Step 5

Take positive action. It's easy to sit and wonder whether you are "doing the right thing" to be successful. Too much deliberation over that can be dangerous, as it can cause you to continually second guess yourself and your intuition. Taking positive action is about listening to your intuition and what feels right, doing it---and knowing it was the best choice at the time. Forward movement follows.

Step 6

Laugh at life. Life can become very serious if you are not careful. Holistic Online states that laughter activates the immune system, aids in muscle relaxation and--most important to developing a positive mental attitude--it decreases stress hormones. The website also states that "the biggest benefit of laughter is that it is free and has no known negative side effects."

Sources:

• http://holisticonline.com/Humor_Therapy/humor_therapy_benefits.htm
• https://books.google.com/books?id=6cOWE-YjksMC&pg=PA42&lpg=PA42&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false