subject: How to Be Positive? [print this page] How to Be Positive? How to Be Positive?
Is the glass half empty or half full for you? Do you wake up in the morning looking forward to the new day or do you start the day from imagining all the possible disaster scenarios? Is the personal attitude something we are born with or can it be consciously trained? I often hear this question from my clients. Sometimes I even hear that I was "simply born with the sunny disposition and they weren't, and that's that"!
I agree, the personality (and the genetic make-up) of each one of us are bound to have an impact on our disposition. Our upbringing, especially in the early childhood until perhaps the age of 6 or 7 will also have an impact on our general life attitude and on our disposition. However, having said all that I am still convinced that it is possible to influence our life attitude, providing that one really wants to.
The most important rule when doing so is to remember that "Where ever we focus our attention, this will get larger or stronger!"
It's the classic proverbial self-fulfilling prophecy: if I wake up in the morning thinking about all the things that I don't want to happen today, they will happen! If I start thinking about the problems in the office as soon as I wake up, I am bound to get there already stressed out. If I constantly think about the things that I can't afford, I am going to feel even poorer. If I see only my problem zones in the mirror, they most likely become more problematic.
So how can you learn to see the glass as half full? Here are a few examples (of how to "always look on the bright side of life"):
When it rains, don't get upset about the rain but appreciate the fact that you won't have to water the garden! Alternatively, think how the humidity will hydrate your skin making you look younger.
When you wake up, think about at least three things to look forward to. It can be the first cup of coffee, a warm shower or somebody that you are looking forward to meeting this day. It can be simply the sunny day or the extra three minutes in bed that you truly and consciously enjoy. See this as a gift to yourself and appreciate it. This way you will start the day on a positive note.
Life always has two sides, the positive and the negative, like Ying and Yang. It is always up to you to decide where your focus will turn: to the positive or the negative. This is a matter of practice and can be definitely trained!
Desiree Steinmann is a Professional Life and Career Coach and Master Trainer. She helps her clients to see all the possibilities and motivates them to take ownership and action. She offers one on one coaching, telephone coaching, group coaching, workshops and can also be booked as a speaker. Take a look at her unique workshop "Back to Basics - returning to what really matters" or her free "Reflections of the Week"
For more info: http://www.steinmann-international.com/home-en.html
