10 tips to cultivate a positive mental attitude
Tempo Team
When life presents a challenge, people approach it with one of three states of mind. Some crumble at the first sight of hardship. Others shrug their shoulders and get on with things while cursing their miserable luck. Then, there’s the third category, those who wake up to face trials and tribulations with optimism and a smile.
People with a rosy worldview aren’t necessarily naive about their circumstances. They’ve honed a positive mental attitude (PMA) that builds resilience and shields their physical and psychological well-being.
No one magically wakes up with a positive mindset. It takes work and practice. If you’re ready to curb negative thoughts and foster an improved perspective, we have tips to help you develop a life-changing, positive outlook.
What is a positive mental attitude?
A positive mental attitude isn’t just positive thinking. It doesn’t mean you ignore life’s adversity and disappointments. You cry, mourn, and sometimes rage, but once you release those emotions, you look to find the silver linings hidden in dark circumstances.
That’s what PMA is all about – acknowledging hardship while seeking the good and finding opportunities in life’s challenges.
Author Napoleon Hill introduced the concept of a positive mental attitude in his 1937 self-help book Think and Grow Rich. In the book and its follow-up, Success Through A Positive Mental Attitude, Hill explains that a positive outlook attracts opportunities that increase one’s chances of success. He asserts that health and happiness are dependent on your worldview.
A positive mindset is a choice to live with hope, optimism, courage, and kindness. It means you’ve decided to respond to negative situations with positive emotions and constructive acts. You make the most of difficult circumstances to create a caring, nurturing reality.
Why is a positive mental attitude important?
There are many benefits of positive thinking that will improve your quality of life at home and work, making it well worth the effort.
Studies show that mindset impacts every aspect of our existence – health, physical and mental performance, and relationships. For example, a Stanford University study of 240 children found that a positive mindset increased engagement of the hippocampal learning-memory system, contributing to academic achievement.
A positive mental attitude also helps you navigate uncertainty and deal with stressful situations. It builds resilience, adaptability, and mental fitness, so you bounce back from disappointment and overcome difficulties faster and easier.
People are drawn to a positive attitude. Those who value small joys are more personable and uplifting. The belief that you’re doing well and experiencing a good quality of life draws others with similar outlooks, quickly building rapport and establishing stronger relationships that leave you feeling happy and fulfilled.
Not only does PMA impact mental health, but studies have also linked it to better physical health, including reduced risk of cardiovascular events, increased immune system response, and better pain management.
Overall, a positive attitude results in a long life you want to live.
Characteristics of a positive mindset
The first step in developing a positive mental attitude is learning what it looks like. People with an optimistic worldview share the following traits:
1. Resilience
Building resilience as part of a positive mental outlook prevents people from giving in to negative emotions during hard times. They recover from stress and challenges faster, thriving despite their difficulties.
2. Courage
Fear of failure and other anxieties can hold people back from pursuing the life they want. People with a positive attitude don’t dwell on wasted potential. Instead, they courageously embrace risk and failure as learning opportunities.
3. Optimism
Optimism is the central pillar of a positive mindset. It challenges negative thinking, reframing it into a positive state of being.
Research has tied this perspective to improved health. For example, a study found optimism is linked to increased survival rates for women with serious illnesses.
4. Gratitude
People with a positive attitude celebrate life’s smallest joys, making them happier and healthier than those who don’t. By appreciating every aspect of their lives – a good meal, a walk in the woods, even a rainy day – they live a happier, healthier life.
5. Acceptance
A positive mental attitude won’t prevent all adverse outcomes. Instead of getting hung up on unfairness, an optimistic mindset allows people to accept a situation without judgment. Acceptance helps people identify the best course of action and move forward freely.
10 tips and activities for maintaining a positive mental attitude
Positive psychology isn’t everyone’s natural mental state, but you can work on it like any other skill. These tips will help you acquire and maintain a positive attitude:
1. Use positive affirmations
Start your morning with positive self-talk to set the tone for the day. Looking in the mirror and speaking affirmations puts you in a mindset to handle anything thrown your way. Here are some examples:
I am open to new and wonderful changes.
I grow stronger with every experience, good or bad.
I am in charge of how I live my day.
I have the skills necessary to succeed today.
2. Learn from failure
Don’t shy away from failure. Risks grant new opportunities for success. Even when things go wrong, you’ve learned a valuable lesson: what doesn’t work.
3. Let the future care for itself
Stay in the here and now rather than worrying about the future. Being present allows you to appreciate the great things in life. They may not be around tomorrow, so don’t miss them.
4. Surround yourself with positivity
Smile and laugh with friends, family, coworkers, and mentors. This doesn’t mean you should avoid people who need support; we all go through tough times. However, you don’t want the focus of your relationship to be their complaints.
5. Act, don’t react
Your response determines a situation’s outcome, so focus on rational problem-solving instead of catastrophizing. This response puts you on the right footing to produce a positive outcome.
6. Practice gratitude
A gratitude journal helps you focus on the positive aspects of life. Once a day, write down everyday things that make you feel thankful. When you feel depressed, review your journal entries to remind yourself of the good times
7. Take time to breathe
Meditation and breathing exercises release stress that builds up in your body throughout the day, providing relaxation and improving overall mood.
8. Find the helpers
Fred Rogers said it best: In times of tragedy, “always look for the helpers. There will always be helpers.” Observing selfless acts in times of crisis focuses your thoughts on the good in the world rather than falling into darkness. If you can’t find helpers, take it as a sign that you should step in and become one.
9. Don’t minimize success
You’ve worked hard for your success; acknowledge it. Toot your own horn. Taking time to celebrate wins will encourage you to keep racking them up. Besides, you deserve it.
10. Harness negativity
Positive thinking has its place, but you should make room for negative feelings. They are a necessary part of life. Let yourself feel them, but don’t dwell on them. Negative thoughts and emotions can motivate you to pick up and start again.
Sign up for a demo
RegisterInspirational quotes for a positive mindset
Here are some wise words from great minds that can provide inspiration:
“Try to be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.” – Maya Angelou
“Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg
“Once you replace negative thoughts with positive ones, you’ll start having positive results.” – Willie Nelson
“Success is a result of a mental attitude, and the right mental attitude will bring success in everything you undertake.” – Elbert Hubbard
“A sunny disposition is worth more than fortune. Young people should know that it can be cultivated; that the mind like the body can be moved from the shade into sunshine.” – Andrew Carnegie
“Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes.” — Maggie Kuhn
“You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” — A.A. Milne
Transform your outlook with Tempo’s resources
Tempo has the tools project managers need to foster optimism and positivity among their teams. Strategic Roadmaps illustrates project plans, allowing stakeholders to identify and plan for potential challenges ahead of time, reducing stress. Portfolio Manager helps predict project outcomes with near-perfect accuracy. Meanwhile, Structure PPM monitors progress toward project goals, encouraging team members to keep going. Finally, Timesheets tracks task assignment and completion so project managers can avoid overwhelming team members and protect their work-life balance.
Give Tempo a try and plan for a better future.
