I am going to ask you to do several things before reading further into this article. First, I want you to listen to your thoughts and then make a note of what thoughts fill your head? Would you label them as positive, or negative? Now let's say you are walking down the street with these thoughts. Do you think anyone who would meet you would be able to tell you what’s on your mind?

The answer to number one is up to you. But, the answer to number two can be somewhat broad. Although people will not be able to tell you exactly what you think, they will have some sense of your feelings and your emotions.

Here's another question. When you enter an environment filled with friends, do they all fall silent as if something terrible had happened? Or does everybody there perk up as if waiting for something exciting to happen? I must say for me my friends usually liven up when I walk into the room or their homes. No matter what is going on in life, its best to stay positive in the presence of others. Who wants to be a part of some pity party in which they had nothing to do with or may not be able to change?

You know what? The answer to all these depends on your frame of mind.

Thoughts are very powerful. They affect your overall attitude. The attitude you carry reflects on your appearance, too – unless, of course, you are mindful of your thinking. You must make the effort to control your thoughts and not allow them to control you.

Your attitude can also affect people around you. The vibes you give out is usually what comes back to you. Your outward display of frustration, sadness, anger, rudeness has a way of dictating how others respond to you. On the other hand, a display of happiness, high energy, joy, and can-do attitude can also make a difference.  With a positive attitude, you will be in a better position to control the outcome of your encounter with others.

The type of attitude you carry depends on you. It can be either positive or negative.

Positive thoughts have a big effect. They are somewhat stimulating. Plus, the people around the person carrying positive thoughts are usually energized by this type of attitude.  If you are married, a parent, or manager at work, it’s very important to be constantly aware of your thoughts and attitude daily.  Your thoughts and attitude will have a direct impact on your ability to establish effective relationships with your spouse, children, and co-workers. You want to create an environment that is warm, energized and uplifting that inspires them to be their best.

Negative thoughts, on the other hand, have a sapping effect on other people. Aside from making you look gloomy and sad, negative thoughts can turn a festive gathering into a funeral wake. Don’t we all know people like this, even ourselves if we don’t remain conscious of our thoughts? Unfortunately, negative thoughts can overtake us before we know it. If you’re like me, we must constantly empty the trash can of negative thoughts.

A positive attitude attracts people, while a negative attitude repels them. People tend to shy away from those who carry a negative attitude. I am certain you have heard the saying that “you attract more flies with honey than vinegar”. Same principles apply here.

We can also define attitude as the way of looking at the world. If you choose to focus on the negative things in the world, you tend to have a negative attitude brewing up. However, if you choose to focus on the positive things, you are more likely carry a positive attitude. I am amazed at the negative view that many people have of the world. If you listen to them nothing is going right. Everything is gloom and doom based on a few negative events or past experiences they have been unable to shake off. From my perspective, there is far more positive going on than negative. Make a habit of looking at the world through positive lens.

You have much to gain from a very positive attitude. For one, studies have shown that a positive attitude promotes better health. Those with this kind of attitude also have more friends. projecting a positive attitude also helps one to handle stress and problems better than those who have a negative attitude.

A positive attitude begins with a healthy self-image. If you love the way you are and are satisfied, confident, and self-assured, you tend to make others around you feel the same way. How and where you see your self will dictate your interactions with others. You must first appreciate you to appreciate others. Don’t allow anyone to deter you from having a positive self-image.

A negative attitude, on the other hand, has, of course, an opposite effect. So, carrying a negative attitude has a twofold drawback. You feel bad about yourself, and you make others feel the same way.

If you want to have a positive attitude, you must feature healthy thoughts. This is somewhat hard to do nowadays since, all around us, the media feeds us nothing but negative thoughts. A study shows that for every 14 things a parent says to his or her child, only one is positive. This is truly a saddening thought. However, these are actions that can be controlled if we are mindful of actions. For instance, turn the tv off and refuse to watch or listen to those negative media stories over and over again. Make it a habit to say positive things to your children and others around you throughout the day.

If you want a better outlook in life, you need to think happy thoughts, and you should hear positive things as well. So, what can you do? Well, for starters, you could see a funny movie, you could play with children, spend some time telling jokes with friends. Also, listen to positive music and podcasts that uplift your well-being. All these activities fill you with positive stimuli, which in turn promotes a positive attitude.

Although it is impossible to keep ourselves from the negative things around us, you can still carry a positive attitude by focusing on the good things, the positive things in life. There is always a positive lesson to be learned from every negative situation. Your challenge is to ask the question of “What is the lesson to be learned here?”.

Your positive attitude can also be of benefit to other people. Sometimes when other people feel down, the thing people mostly do is try to give them advice when we really don’t have an answer. But sometimes, all they need is somebody to sit by them and listen to them. If you have a positive attitude you may be able to cheer them up without even having to say anything. 

If having a positive attitude is so great, why do people choose to adopt a negative attitude instead? They call it life and it changes just like the four seasons. There will be both joy and pain, happiness and sadness, and laughter and anger throughout this journey. They are just opposite side of the coins and we must learn to master both.  There is nothing wrong with feeling sad, angry, or gloomy. But dwelling on these thoughts for far too long is non-productive. I agree there is a time to mourn, but then let it go and move on.  I know it’s easier said than done for some of us.

When immersed in troubles, even in your darkest hour, focus on the good things in life, you will maintain a sense of hope. For example, if you are experiencing the loss of a loved one or friend, focus your thoughts on the best of times. Relive the positive experiences in your mind to offset the current negative thoughts of dealing with a loss. Problems become something you can overcome.

You have much to gain by adopting a healthy, positive attitude. Studies show that such an attitude slows down the aging process, makes you healthier, enables you to better handle stress, and has a very positive effect on the people within your circle of influence. So, what's not to like about a positive attitude? Adopt one today.

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