Years ago I was a pessimist. I was cynical and bitter about many things in my life. However, I began to realize that radically successful people had a positive life attitude. This led me to study all I could about positive thinking and living as an optimist. Today my score is a +3. Every day I wake up and strive to create a more positive life attitude. To make radical and lasting change, I had to analyze every thought, attitude, feeling and action. This article will spell out the methods I personally used to go from a
-3 to a +3 (and reaching higher!).

Step #1: Accept responsibility.

Your life is your responsibility. Your life is the outcome of thousands, if not millions, of choices you’ve made. In order to develop a positive life attitude, you must first understand and accept that your successes and failures are your responsibility. External factors influence your life but you ultimately determine your response. In the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey says that between the stimulus and response, there is choice.

Continue reading…

I’d like to introduce the Life Attitude Thermometer. It is a useful tool you can use to determine your current life attitude. Imagine a thermometer that ranges from -10 to +10 where -10 is the most negative and +10 is the most positive. While some people live in the extreme ends of the attitude scale, most range in attitude from -3 to +3.

You don’t need a fancy test to determine your life attitude. Simply look at the descriptions below to see where you fall on the thermometer.

+10 – You are positive about all things and all people. You believe that no life event directs your happiness. Sure, tragedy happens but you see tragedy as part of life and never lose hope. A loss of a love one causes you to celebrate their life. People often say that you have a “positive energy” or that when you walk into a room “the whole room lights up”. You don’t try to be positive, you are positive. You love life and would do so in the worse of circumstances. People would say you are uplifting to be around.

Continue reading…

A few weeks back I was speaking to quite an amazing and successful person I’ll call James. James had a love for life that was palpable. I enjoyed speaking with him and being around him. He seemed to emanate“energy” of likeability. At first it seemed magical. However, I soon began to realize that this magic he possessed was a positive life attitude. After playing through the conversation in my head I realized that his body posture, his voice inflections and even the way he spoke were all positive. This energy was nothing more than my subconscious paying attention to positive verbal and non-verbal cues.

We respond better and enjoy being around positive people. Most of us are attracted to those who are optimistic and have a vest for life. Though gossip and negative chit-chat can keep conversations going for hours, it eventually tears us down. Have you ever gone to lunch with someone who only complains, criticizes and talks ill of others? Afterwards you’re drained. Compare that to someone who shows genuine interest in your well being, gives positive yet realistic feedback and talks about others in a good light. You feel rejuvenated.

Continue reading…