a speech on positive attitude

Short Speech on Positive Attitude in English

Respected Principal, teachers, and friends. Very good morning to all of you. On this occasion of the annual day, I would like to speak on the topic – Positive Attitude. I would like to spread some positive vibes with the help of my speech.

A positive attitude is a thought process or a mindset based on positive thinking. It is that kind of attitude that focusses on the bright side of life. It can be easily recognized in a person’s speech as such people use terms like ‘it’s possible’, ‘I can’, etc.

Why is it important to have a positive attitude? Have you ever thought about it?

A positive attitude is very important to stay happy in life. We become what we think. If we have a positive attitude, we can handle difficult situations in life. Our road to success will be easy as a positive attitude helps to get motivation. It takes a positive attitude to achieve positive results in life.

The opposite of a positive attitude is a negative attitude. The negative attitude is very harmful to us. It affects our thought process badly. It can lead to diseases like anxiety, stress, depression and even high blood pressure due to negative thinking.

A positive attitude is not easy to achieve. But it is not impossible. It takes some effort. You cannot simply stop being negative. The first step is to replace your negative thoughts with positive ones. Another step is to write down the things you are grateful for in life. One should do this exercise daily.

We all should be grateful for the things we have. There is always something to be grateful for. For example, the food we eat, the beautiful sunrise, the shelter over our head, good clothes we wear, etc.

I would request you all to be positive and spread positivity around.

Have a positive and happy day.

Table of Contents

Question on Positive Attitude

What is a positive attitude in english.

A positive attitude is a thought process or a mindset based on positive thinking. It is that kind of attitude that focusses on the bright side of life.

What is another word for positive attitude?

Optimistic, hopeful, confident, positive, cheerful, cheery, are words that describe a positive attitude.

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Speech about Positive Attitude [1,2,3,5 Minutes]

1 minute speech about positive attitude.

The attitude of an individual is a result of the sum of their experiences, thoughts, and emotions. It is what makes them who they are.

The attitude of an individual is a result of the sum of their experiences, thoughts, and emotions. It is what makes them who they are. The same thing goes for brands too – it’s not just about the products or services that they offer; it’s also about how they present themselves and how they interact with their customers.

A positive attitude is a key factor in success. It is an attitude that one has to keep up with even in the most challenging times.

Positive Attitude:

-The ability to maintain a positive outlook in the face of adversity and difficult challenges.

-The ability to maintain an optimistic view of life, despite setbacks and obstacles.

-A state of mind characterized by hope, optimism, and confidence.

There is a lot of research that shows that a positive attitude can help you in many ways. It can help improve your health, make you more productive, and even increase your income.

A positive attitude has been shown to:

– Increase productivity by 10%

– Improve health by 10%

– Increase income by 8%

2 Minute Speech About Positive Attitude

Attitude is the way in which an individual perceives, interprets, and responds to life. It is a mental state that reflects the totality of an individual’s conscious and unconscious thoughts and feelings about him- or herself, as well as others. The attitude is composed of one’s beliefs, expectations, motives, and emotions.

The attitudes are divided into two groups: positive attitudes are those that lead to a feeling of well-being while negative attitudes lead to a feeling of unhappiness or dissatisfaction.

The most important thing is to have a positive attitude. It will help you in achieving your goals and maintain a healthy life.

The term “positive attitude” is often used as an expression of positivity or optimism, but it actually originated from the idea that the mind has an influence on what the body can do. People who have a positive mindset tend to be more optimistic, less anxious and more likely to take action than those with negative mindsets.

A positive Attitude can also be seen as having faith in something or someone without requiring proof.

A positive attitude can help you achieve your goals and live a happy life. It will help you to be more productive, creative, successful and overall happier.

Positive Attitude is one of the most important factors that contribute to success in life. It helps you in achieving your goals and gaining success.

“Positive Attitude is a key ingredient for success.” – Dr. Tony Robbins

3 Minute Speech About Positive Attitude

In a world where everything is changing, it is important to have an attitude that can help us survive. In this article, we will look at the importance of having an attitude and how to cultivate one.

The most important thing in life is not what you are given but how you handle what you have been given. This is a lesson we learn as children, and it applies to all aspects of life.

Having an attitude that can help us survive in the future will be crucial for anyone who wants to make a difference in our society or even just their own lives.

It is important to have a positive attitude toward life because it makes things a lot easier. It also helps you to focus on the positive aspects of your life and not get caught up in the negativity that can be found in the world.

A positive Attitude is an attitude of being optimistic, hopeful, and determined. It is characterized by a belief that things will work out well despite any challenges or setbacks.

A positive Attitude has been found to be associated with better mental health, as well as improved physical health outcomes.

A positive attitude is a powerful force that can change your life and the lives of others.  It helps you to be more productive and successful in all aspects of life.

A positive Attitude is a mindset that helps you to achieve your goals and focus on the good things in life. It helps you to be more resilient, persistent, and optimistic.

Positivity has been proven to help people in many different ways. Research has shown that it can increase productivity, reduce anxiety, and even help you gain more insight into yourself.

5 Minute Speech About Positive Attitude

A positive attitude is important for success. It can help you in achieving your goals and it can also make you a more pleasant person to be around.

If you are feeling down, it is time to change your mood. Here are some tips on how to do just that:

– Take a break from social media- . Social media is a great way to stay connected with friends and family, but sometimes it can be overwhelming and leave you feeling sad or lonely. It’s best to take a break from social media for at least one day every week.

A positive Attitude is a necessary life skill that can be used in many ways. It helps us to deal with life’s challenges and provides relief to those who are going through tough times. It also helps us live a better, more fulfilling life and make the most out of every day.

There are two ways in which Positive Attitude can help people live a better, more fulfilling life:

-It gives you hope. Hope can be defined as “a feeling of confidence and trust that things will work out for the best”

-It gives you peace of mind. This means that it allows you to focus on what’s important instead of worrying about what could go wrong or what could happen next.

A positive Attitude is a very important attribute for all of us. It helps us to achieve success and happiness in our lives. We need to have a positive attitude in order to be successful in life.

Positive Attitude can help you achieve success and happiness in your life

It’s important to have a positive attitude when it comes to your work or career, which can help you stay motivated and productive throughout the day.

A positive attitude leads to success, be it in personal or professional life. It is important to have a positive outlook on life and not to worry about the things that happen.

Positive Attitude leads to success:

– Personal life: People who are optimistic and confident are more likely to succeed in their personal life. They will be happier, healthier, and more successful at work too.

– Professional life: People with a positive attitude will be more successful in their professional lives too. They will perform better than people with a negative attitude, they will have more energy, they’ll make fewer mistakes and they’ll get more done faster.

A positive attitude is a key factor in achieving success. It can be manifested in various forms such as being optimistic, having a strong work ethic, and having the ability to see the bright side of things.

It’s important to stay positive because it can help you persevere through difficult times and it will also help you avoid burnout that often comes with long hours of work.

Examples of sentences that can be used in starting of this speech

Examples of sentences that can be used in closing of this speech, speeches in english.

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The Power of Positive Thinking

Positive Mindset: How to Develop a Positive Mental Attitude

Positivity doesn’t always refer to simply smiling and looking cheerful, however—positivity is more about one’s overall perspective on life and their tendency to focus on all that is good in life.

In this piece, we’ll cover the basics of positivity within positive psychology, identify some of the many benefits of approaching life from a positive point of view, and explore some tips and techniques for cultivating a positive mindset.

This piece is a long one, so settle in and get comfortable. Let’s get started.

Before you read on, we thought you might like to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free . These science-based exercises will explore fundamental aspects of positive psychology including strengths, values and self-compassion and will give you the tools to enhance the wellbeing of your clients, students or employees.

This Article Contains:

What is a positive mindset and attitude a definition, characteristics and traits of a positive mindset: 6 examples, a list of positive attitudes, why is a positive attitude considered the key to success, the outcomes of a positive attitude, 33 tips on how to have & keep a positive mindset in life and at work, helping students to develop a positive attitude towards learning and school, 46 activities and games to develop positive mindset skills (incl. group exercises), 10 worksheets for training a positive mindset (pdf), 32 quotes and affirmations on positive mindset/attitude, inspiring speeches and videos, recommended books, a take-home message.

You probably have an idea of what a positive mindset or positive attitude is already, but it’s always helpful to start with a definition.

This definition from Remez Sasson (n.d.) is a good general description:

“Positive thinking is a mental and emotional attitude that focuses on the bright side of life and expects positive results.”

Another, more comprehensive definition comes from Kendra Cherry at Very Well Mind (2017B):

“[P]ositive thinking actually means approaching life’s challenges with a positive outlook. It does not necessarily mean avoiding or ignoring the bad things; instead, it involves making the most of the potentially bad situations, trying to see the best in other people, and viewing yourself and your abilities in a positive light.”

We can extrapolate from these definitions and come up with a good description of a positive mindset as the tendency to focus on the bright side, expect positive results, and approach challenges with a positive outlook.

Having a positive mindset means making positive thinking a habit, continually searching for the silver lining and making the best out of any situation you find yourself in.

So, now we know what a positive mindset is, we can dive into the next important question: What does it look like?

There are many traits and characteristics associated with a positive mindset, including:

• Optimism : a willingness to make an effort and take a chance instead of assuming your efforts won’t pay off.
• Acceptance : acknowledging that things don’t always turn out how you want them to, but learning from your mistakes.
• Resilience : bouncing back from adversity, disappointment, and failure instead of giving up.
• Gratitude : actively, continuously appreciating the good things in your life (Blank, 2017).
• Consciousness/Mindfulness : dedicating the mind to conscious awareness and enhancing the ability to focus.
• Integrity : the trait of being honorable, righteous, and straightforward, instead of deceitful and self-serving (Power of Positivity, n.d.).

Not only are these characteristics of a positive mindset, but they may also work in the other direction—actively adopting optimism, acceptance, resilience, gratitude, mindfulness, and integrity in your life will help you develop and maintain a positive mindset.

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If you found the list above still too vague, there are many more specific examples of a positive attitude in action.

For example, positive attitudes can include:

• It is looking adversity in the eye… and laughing.
• Getting what you get, and not pitching a fit.
• Enjoying the unexpected, even when it’s not what you wanted originally.
• Motivating those around you with a positive word.
• Using the power of a smile to reverse the tone of a situation.
• Being friendly to those you don’t know.
• It’s getting back up when you fall down. (No matter how many times you fall down.)
• Being a source of energy that lifts those around you.
• Understanding that relationships are more important than material things.
• Being happy even when you have little.
• Having a good time even when you are losing.
• Being happy for someone else’s success.
• Having a positive future vision, no matter how bad your current circumstances.
• Paying a compliment, even to a total stranger.
• Tell someone you know that they did a great job. (And mean it.)
• Making someone’s day. (Not just a child’s… adult’s like to have their day be special, too!)
• It’s not complaining no matter how unfair things appear to be. (It is a waste of time… instead, do something!)
• Not letting other people’s negativity bring you down.
• Giving more than you expect to get in return.
• Being true to yourself… always (Jarrow, 2012).

Now we know a little bit more about what a positive mindset looks like, we can turn to one of the biggest questions of all: What’s the deal with having a positive attitude?

What is it about having a positive mindset that is so important, so impactful, so life-changing?

Well, the traits and characteristics listed above give us a hint; if you comb through the literature, you’ll see a plethora of benefits linked to optimism, resilience, and mindfulness.

You’ll see that awareness and integrity are linked to better quality of life , and acceptance and gratitude can take you from the “okay life” to the “good life.”

The Importance of Developing the Right Thoughts

Developing a truly positive mindset and gaining these benefits is a function of the thoughts you cultivate.

Don’t worry—this piece isn’t about the kind of positive thinking that is all positive, all the time. We don’t claim that just “thinking happy thoughts” will bring you all the success you desire in life, and we certainly don’t believe that optimism is warranted in every situation, every minute of the day.

Developing the right thoughts is not about being constantly happy or cheerful, and it’s not about ignoring anything negative or unpleasant in your life. It’s about incorporating both the positive and negative into your perspective and choosing to still be generally optimistic.

It’s about acknowledging that you will not always be happy and learning to accept bad moods and difficult emotions when they come.

Above all, it’s about increasing your control over your own attitude in the face of whatever comes your way. You cannot control your mood , and you cannot always control the thoughts that pop into your head, but you can choose how you handle them.

When you choose to give in to the negativity, pessimism, and doom-and-gloom view of the world, you are not only submitting to a loss of control and potentially wallowing in unhappiness—you are missing out on an important opportunity for growth and development.

According to positive psychologist Barbara Fredrickson, negative thinking, and negative emotions have their place: they allow you to sharpen your focus on dangers, threats, and vulnerabilities. This is vital for survival, although perhaps not as much as it was for our ancestors.

On the other hand, positive thinking and positive emotions “ broaden and build ” our resources and skills, and open us up to possibilities (Fredrickson, 2004).

Building a positive framework for your thoughts is not about being bubbly and annoyingly cheerful, but making an investment in yourself and your future. It’s okay to feel down or think pessimistically sometimes, but choosing to respond with optimism, resilience, and gratitude will benefit you far more in the long run.

According to Seligman (2006), optimism can be cultivated by challenging the negative stories we create in our minds. This “learned optimism” can be beneficial to feel happier and healthier, to release stress, and to increase performance and motivation.

The ABC Model, originally developed by Albert Ellis and later adapted by Martin Seligman, is an approach to help us think more optimistically. This model can be used for yourself or with your clients. Often, this technique can be found in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) as the approach results in restructuring beliefs through self-awareness.

This technique can be used in daily life situations – An obstacle in your way reflects Adversity . The way you think about Adversity turns into your Beliefs , which impact how you react (Consequence). The Consequences are not inevitable since you can challenge the way you think about them (Seligman, 2006).

Seligman added the components “Disputation” and “Energization” to the original ABC model in order to not only be aware of your thinking patterns but to be able to overcome pessimistic thinking and cultivate a more optimistic outlook.

To be optimistic, you have to change what you believe about yourself and the situation you are encountering. Positive beliefs result in a more positive consequence, which then leads to a more positive outlook.

Aside from enhancing your skills and personal resources, there are many other benefits of cultivating a positive mindset, including better overall health, better ability to cope with stress , and greater well-being (Cherry, 2017A).

According to the experts at the Mayo Clinic, positive thinking can increase your lifespan, reduce rates of depression and levels of distress , give you greater resistance to the common cold, improve your overall psychological and physical well-being , improve your cardiovascular health and protect you from cardiovascular disease, and help you build coping skills to keep you afloat during challenging times (2017).

You’ve probably heard of all these generic benefits before, so we’ll get more specific and explore the benefits of a positive mindset in several different contexts:

• The workplace
• Dealing with disability (for both those with a disability and those around them)
• Nursing and healthcare
• Recovery from cancer

10 Benefits of a Positive Mental Attitude in the Workplace

No construct better captures the essence of a positive attitude in the workplace quite like psychological capital (or PsyCap for short). This multicomponent construct is made up of four psychological resources:

PsyCap was first conceptualized as “positive psychological capital” by renowned management and leadership researchers Luthans and Youssef in 2004. The concept quickly took off among positive organizational psychologists, and by 2011 there were already hundreds of citations of PsyCap in the literature.

The first meta-analysis of all the research on PsyCap was conducted in 2011, and it outlined some of the many benefits of PsyCap in the workplace:

• PsyCap was positively related to job satisfaction , organizational commitment, and psychological well-being.
• PsyCap was also positively related to organizational citizenship (desirable employee behaviors) and multiple measures of performance (self-rated, supervisor evaluations, and objective measures).
• PsyCap was negatively related to cynicism, turnover intentions, job stress, and anxiety .
• PsyCap was also negatively related to negative employee deviance (bad employee behaviors; Avey, Reichard, Luthans, & Mhatre, 2011).

It seems pretty straightforward that positive attitudes like optimism and resilience lead to positive outcomes for the organization and for the employees!

Another study by a few of the giants in the field of positive psychology (Sonja Lyubomirsky, Laura King, and Ed Diener, 2005) investigated the relationship between happiness and benefits to employees. They showed that positive attitudes in the workplace also benefit the employee in addition to the organization:

• Happier employees are more productive than other employees.
• Happy salespeople have higher sales than other salespeople.
• Happy employees are more creative than other employees.
• Happy employees are evaluated more positively by their supervisors.
• Happy employees are less likely to show job withdrawal (absenteeism, turnover, job burnout, and retaliatory behaviors).
• Happy employees make more money than other employees.

So, a positive attitude can have great benefits for the organization as a whole and for all of its employees.

It turns out that a positive attitude can also result in benefits for leaders and their followers (as well as spreading positivity throughout the organization).

The Importance of a Positive Mindset for Leadership

As important as a positive mindset is for the rank-and-file, it’s easy to see why it is vital for those in a position of leadership.

Researchers Hannah, Woolfolk, and Lord (2009) outlined a framework for positive leadership that rests on the idea that leaders with a positive self-concept (a positive idea of who they are and a habit of thinking positively about themselves) are more able to bring the “right stuff” to their leadership role.

In their theory, a leader with a positive mindset is not only more likely to be actively engaged and to perform at a high level, he or she is also more able to influence followers toward a more positive mindset through role modeling and normative influence.

A study completed around the same time provides support for the relationship between leader and follower positivity; trust in management influenced positive PsyCap, which had a big impact on performance for leaders and followers (Clapp-Smith, Vogegesang, & Avey, 2008).

Further, trust in management was linked to positive leadership and performance. While trust in management isn’t necessarily indicative of a positive mindset in both leader and follower, it is certainly a likely outcome of a generally positive attitude in the workplace.

Forbes writer Victor Lipman (2017) puts findings like these in simpler terms:

“It’s always easier to follow someone with a positive outlook.”

In other words, positive attitudes in a leader will draw followers and encourage motivation and engagement in subordinates. Lipman also notes that having a positive outlook and being resilient is vital in leadership positions because there is a lot of stress involved in managing and leading others.

Leaders must always be “on” and spend much of their time “performing” as a strong, confident leader and perhaps even a public face. This role is a tiring one, and being optimistic and resilient will help leaders stay sane and healthy in challenging contexts.

The Promotion of Positive Attitudes Towards Disability

Having a positive attitude is also a boon for those educating, interacting with, and caring for a disabled student, loved one, or patient.

A positive attitude toward disability facilitates disabled students’ education and helps them assimilate into postsecondary education (Rao, 2004).

This makes it even more troubling to learn that, according to a 2012 study on UK primary schools, only 38% of them had a Disability Equality Scheme in place and only 30% had included a plan to “promote positive attitudes towards disabled people” (Beckett & Buckner). Further, 76% of schools reported that their staff had not received any training in the promotion of positive attitudes towards students with disabilities.

With so many resources available for promoting positive attitudes toward disability, there is ample opportunity to rectify this lack; for example, research by The Children’s Society in the UK identified several ways to promote positivity:

• An inclusive ethos within the school.
• Staff teams who are knowledgeable, skilled, and committed.
• Better training, guidance, and support for teachers, including Disability Equality training and ongoing INSET for all staff.
• High levels of awareness across the whole school community.
• Disability equality teaching being part of a wider strategy and included across the curriculum and not just within subjects such as PSHE, Citizenship and Religious education.
• A designated member of staff to coordinate teaching across the curriculum
• A better understanding of why promoting disability awareness and equality is important.
• Links with disabled people within the school community and beyond, as well as links with special schools.
• The availability of good resources.
• Awareness of, and the challenging of, stereotypes.
• A critical approach to the use of ‘disablist’ language which reinforces discriminatory attitudes and negative stereotypes.
• Promotion of the social model of disability.
• The inclusion of positive and diverse images in all materials used within the school and undertaking an audit of existing materials and resources to ensure they promote positive attitudes (More information on these suggestions can be found here ).

A 2009 study also established that formal instruction in disability awareness combined with hands-on fieldwork experiences with people who have a disability can have a significant impact on the positive attitudes toward those with disability (Campbell, Gilmore, & Cuskelly).

The research found that teachers-in-training who participated in a one-semester course involving direct work with students who had Down syndrome greatly improved their knowledge of the syndrome as well as their attitudes toward those with Down syndrome.

All of these findings show that having a positive attitude towards those with a disability is not only the right thing to work toward, but it also has a significant positive influence on both those with disability and those around them.

Unsurprisingly, it’s also important for nurses and other health professionals to cultivate a positive attitude towards their patients with a disability—something that nurses sometimes struggle with (Tervo & Palmer, 2004).

Positive Attitude in Nursing and Health Care

On the subject of nursing and healthcare, this is another context where having a positive mindset (towards oneself and one’s patients—disabled or otherwise) can have a positive impact.

In fact, having a positive attitude is so important for nursing, expert Jean Watson describes nursing as the “Caring Science” (2009). Indeed, positivity and caring are ingrained in the field; just take a look at the five core nursing values:

• Human dignity
• Social justice (Fahrenwald et al., 2005)

These five values lay the foundation for a caring, positive mindset that is the hallmark of good nursing practice. Nurses who embrace these core values and adopt a positive mindset toward themselves, their work, and their patients can help them find the meaning and fulfillment that likely prompted them to enter the field in the first place.

Having a positive mindset in health care not only acts as a facilitator of meaning and purpose in the lives of healthcare professionals but it also:

• Improves the professional’s performance and helps patients find healing and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
• Reduces the frequency of accidents by enhancing focus.
• Helps the professional build a good reputation and advance in their career (Swanson, n.d.).

Luckily, there are evidence-backed ways for nurses to implement a more positive outlook, including:

• The “Three Good Things” exercise, in which the nursing staff maintains a “three good things” sheet that gets passed around all the nurses at the end of their shift; each staff member writes down at least one good thing that happened that day, and the charge nurse selects three of these positive things to share with the oncoming-shift nurses to help them start their day with positivity.
• Increasing social connections with patients by placing a “getting to know you” board in each patient room; on admission, nurses can encourage the patient to share something about themselves (not their illness or hospitalization, but about who you are).
• Encouraging random acts of kindness by nurses—a practice which has the potential to spread to patients and other healthcare professionals as well.
• Enhancing gratitude through a staff peer recognition board.
• Practicing loving-kindness meditation at staff meetings.
• Identifying and applying one’s Signature Strengths (Roberts & Strauss, 2015).

Speaking of the importance of positivity in health care, the benefits can extend to the patients as well.

Positive Attitude and Cancer Recovery

You’ve probably heard the common phrases and encouragements used when discussing someone’s cancer diagnosis.

A cancer patient will likely be told at least a few times that “You have to stay positive!” and “You can fight this if you maintain a positive attitude.”

This idea that being positive will help cancer patients to fight the disease is a common one, although the literature is a bit iffy on whether this phenomenon is real (Coyne & Tennen, 2010; O’Baugh, Wilkes, Luke, & George, 2003).

Although it is unclear whether simply cultivating a positive mindset will help a patient beat cancer, there’s no doubt that getting support, focusing on a healthy mental state, and maintaining a positive attitude will help patients reduce their tension, anxiety, fatigue, and depression, and improve their overall quality of life (Spiegel et al., 2007).

Cancer Treatment Centers of America expert Katherine Puckett agrees that positivity can be helpful for patients being treated for cancer, but clarifies that other emotions are perfectly acceptable as well.

“So often I have heard a loved one say to a cancer patient who is crying, ‘Stop crying. You know you have to be positive’… However, when we make space for people to express all of their feelings, rather than bottling them up inside, it is then easier for them to be optimistic. It is okay to allow tears to flow—these can be a healthy release.” (Katherine Puckett, as reported in Fischer, 2016).

This indicates that the most important factor regarding positivity in cancer recovery is that it is authentic . False smiles and superficial cheerfulness will likely do nothing for the cancer patient, but working on cultivating an authentically positive mindset and focusing on the activities and techniques that build well-being can have a significant impact on a cancer patient’s quality of life and—possibly—their chances of beating cancer.

Do a quick Google search on how to cultivate a more positive mindset, and you’ll see that there are tons of suggestions out there! We’ve gathered some of the most popular and most evidence-backed methods here, but don’t hesitate to search for more if you need them.

Larry Alton (2018) from Success.com lists 7 practical tips to help you get more positive:

• Start the day with positive affirmations (scroll down to see some example affirmations).
• Focus on the good things, however small they are.
• Find humor in bad situations.
• Turn failures into lessons—and learn from them!
• Transform negative self-talk into positive self-talk.
• Focus on the present instead of getting mired in the past or losing your way in the future.
• Find positive friends, mentors, and co-workers to support and encourage you.

A successful author, speaker, and coach Brian Tracy (n.d.) echoes some of these tips and adds a couple more:

• Remember that it’s your response that determines the outcome of a situation.
• Use positive affirmations or phrases to chase off negative thoughts.
• Find inspirational quotes and messages to bolster your positivity.
• Decide to be happy by being grateful and assuming the people around you have the best of intentions.
• Challenge yourself to maintain a positive attitude when something goes wrong—show the world how resilient and positive you are!

For a more specific list of habits and actions you can take to develop a more positive mindset, try these 10 suggestions from Megan Wycklendt (2014) of Fulfillment Daily:

• Keep a gratitude journal .
• Reframe your challenges as opportunities for growth .
• Get good at being rejected—it happens to everyone!
• Use positive words to describe your life.
• Replace have with get (e.g., I have to go to work → I get to go to work).
• Don’t let yourself get dragged down into other people’s complaints.
• Breathe—consciously, purposefully, and mindfully.
• Notice the righteous and good in times of tragedy and violence.
• Have solutions ready when you point out problems.
• Make someone else smile.

Finally, these 11 techniques from Dr. Tchiki Davis (2018) can also help you adopt a more positive attitude:

• Ask yourself, “Do I think positively?” Take a test or quiz on positivity to see where you stand.
• Strengthen your memory for positive information by using positive words more often.
• Strengthen your brain’s ability to work with positive information with exercises that involve positive words.
• Strengthen your brain’s ability to pay attention to the positive by routinely redirecting your focus away from the negative to the positive.
• Condition yourself to experience random moments of positivity (use classical conditioning on yourself to build positive associations).
• Think positive—but not too much—and think negative when you need to; sometimes we need to grieve, think about the negative consequences, and use negative emotions to motivate and engage us.
• Practice gratitude (perhaps with a gratitude journal).
• Savor the good moments (stop to “smell the roses” and celebrate the positive).
• Generate positive emotions by watching funny videos
• Stop minimizing your successes and acknowledge the efforts you put in.
• Stop all-or-nothing thinking; this cognitive distortion is not in line with reality since things are very rarely “all good” or “all bad.”

To pass along the benefits of developing a positive mindset to students, you can encourage them to try the techniques listed above.

However, there are some methods for improving students’ attitude towards learning and school that may be even more effective.

Elliot Seif from the ASCD’s Edge website outlines 13 ways you can help students cultivate this mindset:

• “Reduce the emphasis on traditional testing as the key assessment tool, and focus on more “natural” and diverse assessment approaches such as essays and papers, reflective journals, oral presentations, and other demonstrations of their learning.
• Create the expectation that effort makes a difference in learning. Help students understand that when someone works hard, they are more likely to succeed. Give students more opportunities to put effort into areas that interest them and that they enjoy.
• Include narratives on report cards that focus on individual strengths and interests.
• Where possible, instead of or in addition to reading textbooks, find and have students read and choose books that are interesting to them, that opens them up to the world around them, that makes them think!
• Focus primarily on student strengths and student success. For each student, consider “ the glass as half full ” rather than “the glass as half empty”. Encourage students as much as possible. Understand that not all students will be strong in all areas and that it is important to help each student find his or her strengths and interests and to build on them. Also, see “failure” as an opportunity for student growth. Make it clear to students that not doing well is a cause for looking inside yourself to see how you can do something better (and that you will do the same). Give students more specific feedback, along with opportunities to redo their work and improve it. Provide mentors and tutors and other help and support for students who need it.
• Be willing to “slow down the learning process”. Focus learning on what you think is important. Figure out ways to teach an idea differently, and work on something for a longer period than you normally do if your students are not “getting it”. Figure out alternative ways to teach something if your approach isn’t working.
• Focus a good deal of your teaching on “learning how to learn” skill development. Read up on how to teach study skills, learning to learn skills, research skills, inquiry skills. Make sure that your students grow both in terms of content they learn and the “learning to learn” skills they need to develop in order to learn well in the future.
• Make “asking questions” central to your teaching and to your learning environment and school culture. Write course descriptions around key questions. Use essential questions to focus units, or have students develop essential questions as the focus for learning. As you teach, encourage students to ask clarifying and elaborative questions. Make it clear to students that no question is too small or too silly. Build open time for students to ask questions on the topics they are studying. Use “wait time” when you are asking for questions. Teach students study strategies such as SQ3R[i] that encourage students to turn statements (such as text headings) into questions.
• Give students more choices and options – in the classroom, by offering many electives, through multiple extra-curricular options. Choices/options should give students opportunities to develop and expand their interests, see connections and relevance in what they are learning, and expand their talents.
• Use inquiry strategies, research skill-building activities, interactive learning and projects as critical parts of teaching. Incorporate more interest-based projects into your curriculum.
• Where possible, make learning experiences more “authentic”. For example, consider how learning about the American Revolution might be tied to a current event happening in the world. Visit the area surrounding the school to demonstrate how math might be used for everyday activity. Through surveys, encourage students to provide feedback on whether they feel that their learning is interesting, motivating, and relevant and whether they are being encouraged to develop their talents and interests. Conduct student surveys to determine what types of school and classroom activities are most motivating and interesting. Create activities and experiences that enable students to get outside the school and learn from the outside world and perform community service.
• Create more ways to integrate learning across the curriculum and consider ways to redesign the curriculum. Use themes to create more interdisciplinary units. Connect separate subject areas, such as by teaching American history and literature in tandem so that history topics and specific literature that touch on similar time periods or themes are taught at the same time. When redesigning or renewing the curriculum, examine whether curriculum materials or programs have a significant component built around developing curiosity, motivation, relevance, and interest.
• See yourself as helping students build “pathways to adult success”. How can your subject, your grade level, your school contribute to making these pathways smoother? How can you provide students with a concrete understanding of their future options? Can you take field trips to different places of business? Colleges and universities? Bring in speakers?” (Seif, 2013)

However, these techniques are not always within a teacher’s (or parent’s) realm of control. If you these techniques are too overwhelming or the scope is out of your control, try these 7 strategies that you will likely have the power to implement:

• Be an example. Model a positive, encouraging attitude in all that you say, do and believe.
• Create a positive learning space for your student.
• Help your student visualize a positive outcome from every scenario before starting.
• Eliminate negative verbiage from your students’ dialogue (e.g., respond to “I can’t do it” with “Why can’t you do it? What’s holding you back? How can I help?”).
• Help your students change negative thinking patterns (encourage them to replace the negative thoughts with positive ones).
• Play the role of your students’ biggest fan (encourage them and help them develop self-confidence ).
• Incorporate a rewards system to encourage positivity at all times (Werrell, 2016).

For more tips and suggestions from the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, check out their excellent resource on instilling positive attitudes and perceptions about learning here .

There are many positive thinking exercises and games that can give you a boost.

Some of the most popular ones are listed here, but feel free to search for more if none of them align with your interests—there are a lot to choose from out there!

Zdravko Lukovski from the Enlightenment Portal website has 10 exercises and activities that you can implement in your own life or encourage your clients to try in order to think more positively:

• Listen to your favorite music—it’s that easy! Music has a fairly unique ability to put you in a positive state of mind, so take advantage of that fact.
• Express your thankfulness and gratitude for all the good things in your life. Appreciate them, and write them down to help you remember.
• Remember to breathe. Breathe deeply, slowly, and mindfully to transport your mind to a positive, calm place.
• Don’t live according to a label—labels come from others, not from yourself, and you are so much more than a simple label could ever represent. Be authentic, and it will be much easier to be positive.
• Check your internal dialogue, and challenge that critical inner voice to make room for happiness.
• Engage in positive activities like meditation , yoga , hiking, playing a sport, or whatever other activity you enjoy.
• Take back control of the things you can change—and put in the effort required to actually change—but learn to accept the things you cannot change.
• Go easy on yourself. Don’t kick yourself when you’re down; everyone fails, and it doesn’t mean you’re not good enough.
• Pay attention to your diet, and ensure that you eat healthy food that will contribute to a healthy and positive mind.
• Embrace change—it’s happening whether we want it to or not, so it’s best to embrace it. Make an effort to step outside of your comfort zone (2015).

This list from Thought Catalog’s Kathy Mitchell (2017) has some of the same ideas as Lukovski, but she adds a few more activities as well:

• Listen to upbeat music.
• Have sex (that can certainly be an engaging and life-affirming activity!).
• Travel, even if it’s not very far—the point is to interact with different people and get to know other cultures.
• Eat healthy foods.
• Be thankful and cultivate gratitude.
• Journal and/or use a notebook to write things down—especially positive things.
• Breathe mindfully and deeply.
• Use positive words and avoid phrases like “I can’t” and “I won’t.”
• Practice positive affirmations or mantras.
• Try the Best Possible Self exercise (imagine yourself in your best possible future, and write about it).
• Volunteer and commit your time and efforts to helping others.
• Take control of the things you can, and accept the things you can’t.
• Remind yourself “Never a failure, always a lesson;” make every failure a learning opportunity.
• Try the mirror technique—say something positive about yourself (and truly mean it) every time you see yourself in the mirror.
• Socialize and spend time with others, including family, friends, your spouse or significant other, and new friends or acquaintances.

If you’re more interested in games you can play to boost positive thinking, try these suggested games from Mary Osborne (2017) at Live Strong.

Recognizing Positive Behavior

Gather your team (or family, friends, etc.) and review a list of a generic individual’s positive behaviors (like giving credit to others, smiling, saying thank you, and listening nonjudgmentally).

Next, ask players to identify their reactions to positive behaviors like these.

When everyone has listed their responses to these behaviors, talk about them as a group to show that engaging in positive behaviors like these will attract clients, customers, and coworkers rather than repel them.

The “Glad” Game

This game comes from the Disney movie Pollyanna, in which the main character actively cultivates positive thinking.

Have one person bring up a negative event, like losing a job or breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend.

The other players are challenged to turn the first person’s thoughts to the positive; for example, they can say something like, “ But now that I’ve lost my job, I’ll have more time to _______ .” The first person must come up with a word or phrase that fits the blank.

This game will encourage you to find the silver lining and look for opportunities instead of wallowing in despair.

Egg-Balancing Game

The egg-balancing game can be frustrating, but it can impart an important lesson in staying optimistic and open-minded.

Give your player(s) a raw egg and a flat, somewhat textured tabletop (use a tablecloth or placemat if you need to). Tell them to find a way to balance the egg in an upright position on the table. They might say it’s not possible, but assure them that it is!

Let them try for a while—they might actually be able to do it—but give them a small mound of salt to balance the egg in if they are struggling for too long. If you use the salt, remind them that this is an important thing to remember: sometimes things that seem impossible actually are possible when you think outside the box!

Hunt for Happiness

This game is described as a “positive-thinking scavenger game” and it can be used with both children and adults.

Have the players make a list of things that they feel make life worth living or, for younger children, things that make them smile.

Once everyone has a list ready, send them off on a scavenger hunt to collect as many items on the list as possible. If it’s too big to collect and bring back, you can mark your “collection” of it on the list.

You’ll have to get creative to check off everything on the list, especially abstract things like “love,” but that’s part of the challenge. As a bonus, it will also help you boost your creative thinking in addition to your positive thinking.

To read more about these games, click here .

For Children

There are even more games and activities to help children develop a positive mindset. If you’re a teacher, parent, coach, or anyone else who interacts with kids, give these activities a try.

Big Life Journal has a great infographic that lists the ways you can help children develop a positive attitude. You can find the whole blog post here , but we’ll outline the 7 activities they describe:

• Engage your child in loving-kindness meditation. You can teach him or her the four traditional phrases directed towards loved ones if you’d like: “May you feel safe. May you feel happy. May you feel healthy. May you live with ease.”
• Encourage your child to help others, whether that takes the form of assisting an elderly neighbor with yard work or chores, helping a friend with homework, or participating in a canned food, clothing, or toy drive.
• Have your child create and write in an “Awe Journal.” Tell them to write down any sights or moments from their daily life that they find beautiful, extraordinary, awesome, or just all-around wonderful.
• Encourage your child to set goals, visualize their path forward, and plan for obstacles before they come face-to-face with them (this is the WOOP approach: Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan).
• Share your own positive experiences with your child. Laugh with them, hug them, and set aside quality time to simply be together.
• Identify your child’s strengths and encourage him or her to put them to good use and develop them further with productive, fun activities.
• Guide your child through the process of coming up with positive affirmations like, “I am kind. I am enough. I am loving. I am good.” (Cullins, 2018).

Another collection of activities that can help children (and the whole family) develop and maintain a positive mindset comes from Sharon Harding at the Rediscovered Families website:

• Keep “Quote Books,” or notebooks for your children to write in. Every week, choose a positive quote to share with your kids and encourage them to write it down along with their thoughts, drawings that correspond to the quote, or insights from a family discussion or activities based on the quote.
• Try the “Success of the Day” activity, in which each family member is encouraged to talk about a success they had that day, like helping someone, standing up for a peer, finishing a project, or committing (or receiving) a random act of kindness. Your children can keep a journal of their successes to look back on and draw inspiration from.
• Create Warm Fuzzy Jars for each of your children; whenever they do something kind or helpful, they can place a pom-pom ball in their jar to represent the warm fuzzy feeling they gave to another person. When their jar is full, they get to choose a special or fun activity to do—with either parent, both parents, their sibling, or the whole family.
• Write Morning Love Notes (sweet notes for them to read in the morning and get a good start to their day) for your children, and encourage them to write them for their siblings.
• Choose an Act of Kindness to help your kids understand the impact a simple kindness can have. Try something like shoveling a neighbor’s walkway when it snows, bringing a meal to a family in need, or volunteering.
• Creating art that helps them to manage their feelings and turn their mind towards the positive (more info here ).
• Have each family member create a Slinky Character Trait Person. Encourage each family member to identify some positive character traits in each other and write them on the slinky person. You can find more detailed instructions here .
• Help each child make a vision board to share their hopes, dreams, goals, and aspirations with each other.
• Complete the Buggy and Buddy motivational art activity to help your children boost their creative confidence and self-esteem .
• Make gratitude stones and encourage your children to practice gratitude every day. All you’ll need is a small, smooth stone and some paint to create a heart on the stone. Tell your children to carry them around and use them as a reminder to think about the things they are grateful for. You can also use them in other ways, detailed here .

If games and activities aren’t really your “thing,” there are lots of other ways to cultivate a positive attitude.

One effective technique is completing worksheets designed to help you develop a positive mindset.

A few of the many worksheets on this topic are described below.

Strengths Exploration

Becoming more positive can start with a fun and uplifting exercise—identifying your strengths.

This worksheet lists 36 individual strengths, with room to add 4 more, that you can use to pick out which strengths you embody. You can choose as many as you like, but try to keep the list to those traits that you think are your biggest strengths .

Once you have your strengths identified, move on to the rest of the worksheet: learning about your strengths in specific areas, how you apply them now, and how you can use them more often.

The second page concerns your relationships—romantic relationships, family relationships, and relationships with friends. There are three questions to guide you here:

• List the strengths you possess that help you in your relationships.
• Describe a specific time your strengths were able to help you in a relationship.
• Describe two new ways you could use your strengths in relationships.

On the third page, you will answer the same questions but with your profession in mind instead of relationships.

The fourth page repeats these questions but with a focus on personal fulfillment (hobbies, interests, pleasurable activities).

You can find this worksheet here .

Gratitude Journal

Cultivating a regular practice of gratitude will help you to become more positive, and this worksheet will guide you in establishing your practice.

First, the instructions for the sheet are as follows: “Two times a week, write a detailed entry about one thing you are grateful for. This could be a person, a job, a great meal with friends, or anything else that comes to mind.”

Next, the worksheet includes some tips for effective journaling, like:

• Don’t rush to write down the first things that come to your mind. Take time to truly think about what you’re grateful for. Expect each entry to take between 10-20 minutes.
• Writing about the people who you’re grateful for tends to be more powerful than writing about things.

To help get you started, you can use one of the journaling prompts listed in the worksheet, including:

• Someone whose company I enjoy…
• A fun experience I had…
• A reason to be excited about the future…
• An unexpected good thing that happened…

The next two pages provide you space to write up to four entries. It’s best if you get a journal specifically for this purpose, but this space can get you started until you obtain a journal.

Click here to download this worksheet .

Positive Journal

Similar to the gratitude journal, a positive journal is an effective way to use journaling to improve your mindset.

The worksheet encourages you to make a point of recognizing positive experiences throughout your day, however big or small. At the end of each day, use the worksheet to record three positive things that happened.

It’s good to have an actual journal for your positive entries (either the same journal you use for recording the things you are grateful for or a separate one), but this worksheet includes space for entering three positive things for 7 days to help you get started.

Click here to read the instructions in more detail.

Protective Factors

The Protective Factors worksheet will get you thinking about all of the positive traits, attributes, and skills that contribute to your resilience and overall mental health. Identifying these factors is essential to knowing when and how to use them.

The instructions are to review each of the protective factors listed and marking where you are on the scale (from weak to strong). These factors include:

• Social Support
• Coping Skills
• Physical Health
• Sense of Purpose
• Self-Esteem
• Healthy Thinking

Once you have given thought to each protective factor, the next page poses some questions about them:

• Which protective factor has been the most valuable to you during difficult times?
• Specifically, how have you used this protective factor to your advantage in the past?
• What are the two protective factors that you would like to improve?
• Describe how things might be different if you able to improve these protective factors.
• List specific steps or actions that might help to make these goals a reality.

To download this worksheet and learn about your own protective factors, click here .

Looking Back, Looking Forward

This worksheet will help you to identify times in your life when things have gone well, when you got things right, and when you thrived.

First, for the “Looking Back” portion, you will be instructed to choose a timeframe to reflect on (for example, “the past year” or “since starting my new job”).

Next, you will answer several questions about the positive events and accomplishments from this time period, including:

• List your accomplishments from this timeframe, even if they seem minor.
• Describe a great day from this timeframe. What made this day special?
• How have you grown, or what lessons did you learn, during this timeframe?
• What are you grateful for from this timeframe? Try to list at least three examples.
• What was a challenge that you overcame during this timeframe?

For the “Looking Forward” portion, you will complete a similar exercise but with a future time period in mind.

Instead of the questions above, you will answer these five questions:

• What would you like to achieve during this timeframe?
• What are you looking forward to during this timeframe? Try to list at least three examples.
• What relationships would you like to strengthen during this timeframe?
• What can you do to help others during this timeframe?
• Ideally, how will your life be different at the end of this timeframe? Give specifics.

Once you have completed this worksheet, you will have a list of good things and accomplishments already behind you, and a list of good things you have to look forward to and work towards. Click here to get started.

Why I’m Grateful

This is a great worksheet for cultivating gratitude, and it can be used with children or adults.

It lists six prompts for you to complete that will help you focus on the good things in your life:

• I am grateful for my family because…
• Something good that happened this week…
• I am grateful for my friendship with… because…
• I am grateful for who I am because…
• Something silly that I am grateful for…
• Something else I am grateful for…

To start thinking about all the things you have to be grateful for, click here .

Positive Activities for Behavioral Activation

This worksheet is focused on the therapeutic technique of behavioral activation—encouraging the patient to get more active, engage in positive activities, and gain the rewards inherent in these activities.

It instructs you to create a list of activities that you find personally rewarding and leaves space for you to do so.

Next, it instructs you to rate the ease of each activity on a scale from 1 (difficult) to 10 (easy) and the reward you get from each activity on a scale from 1 (not at all rewarding) to 10 (very rewarding).

Completing this worksheet will leave you with a list of activities that you can refer to whenever you need a quick boost, and help you learn about what you enjoy most.

Click here to download this worksheet.

Positive Experiences

The Positive Experiences worksheet is a simple one in theory, but it can be difficult to actually complete. The difficulty comes with an equivalent reward though; you can get a great boost in your mood, self-esteem, and self-confidence from completing it.

The only instruction is to consider each of the positive traits listed and write briefly about times when you have displayed each of them.

The positive traits include:

• Selflessness
• Determination

If you’re feeling particularly down, you may be tempted to skip one or two, but fight this urge! You have definitely displayed each of these traits at one time or another—don’t sell yourself short!

Positive Steps to Wellbeing

This resource is actually a handout, but you can certainly make it interactive by taking notes or using check marks to indicate what you have tried, or what you would like to try.

It lists 12 things you can do to improve your wellbeing. These 12 activities include:

• Being kind to yourself
• Exercise regularly
• Take up a hobby and/or learn a new skill
• Have some fun and/or be creative
• Help others
• Eat healthily
• Balance sleep
• Connect with others
• Beware drink and drugs
• See the bigger picture
• Accepting: “It is as it is”

To read more about how each of these activities contributes to your wellbeing, download the handout here .

Positive Self-Talk/Coping Thoughts Worksheet

The positive self-talk/coping thoughts worksheet is a great way to turn your focus from the negative to the positive and come up with positive statements you can use to cope in future stressful or difficult situations.

Example coping thoughts and positive statements listed on the worksheet include:

• Stop, and breathe, I can do this.
• This will pass.
• This feels bad, and feelings are very often wrong.
• I can feel bad and still choose to take a new and healthy direction.
• I feel this way because of my past experiences, but I am safe right now.

After reading the example statements, the worksheet encourages you to write down some coping thoughts or positive statements for difficult or distressing situations in your life. You can write them directly on the worksheet, but it may be most helpful to copy them onto a note card and carry them with you.

While we’re on the subject of positive statements, we should also mention that quotes and affirmations can be an excellent way to encourage positive thinking.

Affirmations

If you’re interested in affirmations, try the Mind Tools Content Team’s (n.d.) list of positive thinking affirmations:

• I have plenty of creativity for this project.
• My work will be recognized in a positive way by my boss and colleagues.
• I can do this!
• My team respects and values my opinion.
• I am successful.
• I am honest in my life, and my work.
• I like completing tasks and projects on time.
• I’m grateful for the job I have.
• I enjoy working with my team.
• I’m bringing a positive attitude to work every day.
• I am excellent at what I do.
• I am generous.
• I am happy.
• I will be a leader in my organization.

If none of these appeal to you on a deep level, refer to their tips on developing your own personal affirmations:

• Think about the areas of your life that you’d like to change.
• Write affirmations that are credible and achievable (based on reality).
• Use your affirmations to turn negative into positive (note a persistent negative thought and choose an affirmation that is the opposite).
• Write your affirmations in the present tense—affirm yourself in the here and now, not a vague future version of yourself.
• Say it with feeling! Your affirmations should be personally meaningful to you (Mind Tools Content Team, n.d.).

If you’re having trouble coming up with your affirmations or you just like to hear a different perspective on positive thinking, you might find some quotes helpful.

Lydia Sweatt (2017) from Success.com shares 13 great quotes on optimism and having a positive attitude.

“Optimism doesn’t wait on facts. It deals with prospects.”

Norman Cousins

“Be fanatically positive and militantly optimistic. If something is not to your liking, change your liking.”

Rick Steves

“No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit.”

Helen Keller

“Optimism is a strategy for making a better future. Because unless you believe that the future can be better, you are unlikely to step up and take responsibility for making it so.”

Noam Chomsky

“One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn’t pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself.”

Lucille Ball

“An optimist understands that life can be a bumpy road, but at least it is leading somewhere. They learn from mistakes and failures, and are not afraid to fail again.”

Harvey Mackay

“Optimism is a kind of heart stimulant―the digitalis of failure.”

Elbert Hubbard

“Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.”

John Wooden

“Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.”

Benjamin Franklin

“Optimism refuses to believe that the road ends without options.”

Robert H. Schuller

“What is hope but a feeling of optimism, a thought that says things will improve, it won’t always be bleak [and] there’s a way to rise above the present circumstances.”

Wayne W. Dyer

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”

Winston Churchill

“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.”

Martin Luther

Quotes can be fantastic motivators, but you probably agree that a rousing speech or inspiring video can be even more effective.

Check out these TED Talks and YouTube videos on positive thinking when you need a boost.

Jim Rohn’s A Positive Attitude Attracts Success

Brendon Burchard’s How to Reprogram Your Mind (for Positive Thinking)

Carol Dweck’s TED Talk The Power of Believing That You Can Improve

Shawn Achor’s TED Talk The Happy Secret to Better Work

If you’re more of a fan of books than videos, never fear—we’ve got book recommendations too!

Here are just a few of the many books on developing a positive mindset:

• Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment by Martin E. P. Seligman ( Amazon )
• Attitude: Your Most Priceless Possession by Elwood N. Chapman ( Amazon )
• The Happiness Advantage: How a Positive Brain Fuels Success in Work and Life by Shawn Achor ( Amazon )
• Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck ( Amazon )
• Getting Back to Happy: Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Reality, and Turn Your Trials into Triumphs by March Chernoff and Angel Chernoff ( Amazon )
• Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life by Martin E. P. Seligman ( Amazon )
• Mindset: How Positive Thinking Will Set You Free & Help You Achieve Massive Success in Life by Benjamin Smith ( Amazon )
• Hard Optimism: How to Succeed in a World Where Positive Wins by Price Pritchett ( Amazon )

17 Top-Rated Positive Psychology Exercises for Practitioners

Expand your arsenal and impact with these 17 Positive Psychology Exercises [PDF] , scientifically designed to promote human flourishing, meaning, and wellbeing.

Created by Experts. 100% Science-based.

If you’re still with me after this very long read, thanks for sticking with it! I hope you will find that the time invested in reading this piece was worth the information you gleaned from it.

The one takeaway from this piece that I really hope sticks with you is this: Positive thinking is a powerful tool that can result in a lot of benefits for you and those around you; however, thinking positive 100% of the time is unrealistic and could even be disastrous.

We have a lot of different emotions and thoughts, and we have such a wide variety for a reason. There are times when being a bit pessimistic can help us, and it is a good idea to let out the negative emotions you experience once in a while (especially if the alternative is bottling them up).

If you’re an optimist by nature, cultivate gratitude for your inherent positivity, but make sure you don’t push aside the negative feelings that crop up. They’re part of life too.

If you’re a pessimist by nature, don’t despair of ever thinking positively. Try a few of the techniques that seem most applicable and give yourself a break if it takes some time. Remember, the goal is not to become a “ Pollyanna ,” but to become the best version of yourself that you can be and maintain a healthy and happy mental state.

How do you feel about the positivity movement? Are you naturally optimistic, pessimistic, or somewhere in between? Do you have any thoughts about how to cultivate a positive mindset? Let us know in the comments section below!

Thanks for reading, and best of luck in developing a positive mindset!

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free .

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How (and why) to cultivate a positive mental attitude

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What is a positive mental attitude?

Why is it so important to have a positive mental attitude?

5 characteristics of a positive mindset

5 examples of positive attitudes

How can a positive mental attitude help you at work?

4 tips to have and maintain a positive mental attitude

A smile is contagious. 

People with a positive mental attitude have an infectious way about them that compels others to gravitate in their direction. They’re optimistic , uplifting, and don’t give in to hopelessness even in the worst of times. 

But what’s their secret? Can anyone develop a positive mindset, or are you born with it? 

The truth is, everyone can adopt a more positive mental attitude. And while a positive attitude doesn't guarantee business success, developing a more positive orientation can improve your mood, relationships, and job and life satisfaction. Research has found that a positive outlook has a real impact on your physical health, too.

All of that combines to make a strong argument for the power of a positive mental attitude on your performance, too. 

Let’s look at how to adopt a positive mindset and how it can enhance your work and your life.

What is a positive mental attitude? 

Positive thinking is not the same as smiling, being cheerful, or forcing positivity. 

A positive mental attitude (PMA) means approaching every situation and challenge in life with optimism. 

Author Napoleon Hill first introduced this concept in his 1937 self-help book “Think And Grow Rich .” Throughout the book, he explains that the right mindset attracts positive circumstances and increases your chances of success . 

He later expanded on the subject by publishing a separate book — “Success Through A Positive Mental Attitude.” This bestseller teaches readers that health , happiness , and success depend on mindset and attitude. 

According to the positive mental attitude philosophy, a positive mindset is synonymous with hope, optimism, courage , and kindness. It also means not giving in to negativity and hopelessness even in difficult situations. When the going gets tough, someone with a positive mental attitude deals with their emotions in a positive and constructive way . 

A positive mindset is a choice. It promises that when you choose to look on the bright side of life and make the best out of any situation, you’ll create a better reality for yourself. 

Why is it so important to have a positive mental attitude? 

Your mind is a powerful tool. A positive mindset helps you unlock your full potential and achieve your goals . Someone with a positive mental attitude sets ambitious goals, is confident in reaching them, and sees challenges as opportunities. 

The mind is so powerful that your mindset can affect your health, your performance on cognitive and physical challenges, your ability to relate to others and how they perceive you, and ultimately your life outcomes. 

Napolean Hill may have overstated it when he wrote, “ Whatever your mind can conceive and can believe, it can achieve.” It has sometimes been misinterpreted to mean that success comes through positive thinking and visualizing alone rather than in combination with work and planning. The more damaging corollary, that people facing difficulties just haven't had the right attitude, isn't helpful. Yet the core of that compelling statement holds true. 

A Stanford University study of 240 school children concluded that a positive mindset influences academic success . The children’s positive attitude improved memory and problem-solving skills . This contributed to achievement as much as IQ. 

A positive mental attitude also strengthens your ability to navigate uncertainty and deal with stress . By making a conscious choice to have a positive outlook, you become more resilient and strengthen your mental fitness . This mentality allows you to be more adaptable and overcome difficult situations with ease.

A person with a positive outlook interprets things optimistically. In contrast, someone with a negative outlook sees their glass half empty. Subjective well-being , or thinking and feeling that your life is going very well, increases the quality of your life. 

It also makes you more enjoyable to be around. People naturally gravitate toward people who find the small joys in life and uplift others. 

5 characteristics of a positive mindset 

What does having a positive mindset look like exactly? Let’s explore five traits people with a positive mental attitude embody.

1. Resilience 

In positive psychology, resilience is being able to recover from stressful and challenging life events. Resilient people face difficult situations with ease and don’t give in to negative emotions during hard times. 

Take the Covid-19 pandemic as an example. Those who thrived during the uncertainty and stress of the pandemic had a consistently positive outlook and quickly adapted to their new environment. 

2. Courage 

Courage allows you to go after what you want without fearing failure, rejection, and other mind-made fears. Instead of fearing failure, courageous individuals embrace it as an opportunity to learn.

This positive mindset helps you reach your goals more easily and grow personally and professionally. 

3. Optimism

Optimism is the main pillar of a positive mental attitude. 

It’s important to note that optimism isn’t always thinking happy thoughts and dismissing problems. It’s about challenging negative thought patterns and reframing them into positive ones . 

A Harvard study found that optimism increased women’s survival rates from serious illnesses by 30% . An optimistic outlook is proven to improve health and well-being . 

4. Gratitude

People who feel thankful even for the smallest joys in life are happier and healthier. They show and feel an appreciation for the good things in their lives like family, good health, or even a sunny day. 

Practicing gratitude by keeping a gratitude journal is a common habit among those with a positive mindset. 

5. Acceptance

We’re naturally inclined to judge a situation in our life as good or bad. 

But what if we stop judging it as positive or negative and just allow it to be? 

This is the concept behind radical acceptance — accepting things as they are. This mindset allows you to take the best course of action in any situation because you don’t have a negative attitude when things go south.

5 examples of positive attitudes 

We can cultivate a positive mentality through the way we think and act. Here are some examples of a positive attitude in action: 

1. Changing your perspective 

Your perspective has a powerful influence on your life and happiness. Ordinary things you do day to day can either be an opportunity or a burden.

Let’s say you’re cooking dinner for your family tonight. At first, this may seem like a chore. You think to yourself, “I have to make dinner.” But what if you reframed that thought? Instead of saying “I have to,” start saying “ I get to.”

In other words, think of this moment as a privilege worth cherishing. You have a family that you get to spend time with. 

2. Smiling and being kind to others 

Positive people typically make friends and get along with others easily. People are drawn to them because of their consistently friendly demeanor and integrity. 

For example, a leader with a positive mental attitude smiles and treats their employees with respect even if they’ve had a bad day. Their kindness to others is independent of the circumstances they currently find themselves in. 

3. Practicing self-compassion

Being kind to yourself is just as important as showing others kindness. 

Engaging in self-care practices that enhance your holistic well-being is how you take care of yourself. For example, start practicing positive self-talk each morning using positive affirmations. Phrases like “ I am confident” or “I am proud of myself” build your self-esteem and influence your subconscious mind. 

4. Not taking things personally 

Having a positive attitude means not taking things personally. Other people’s words and actions are only a reflection of who they are. As soon as you take something to heart, you give that person power over you. 

As Eleanor Roosevelt elegantly put it, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

For instance, let’s say you greet a colleague in the office, and you’re met with a hostile attitude . Instead of being offended and holding a grudge, you decide not to take it personally. Maybe your colleague was having a bad day or received some bad news. Their attitude was simply a reflection of how they were feeling. 

5. Being happy for others’ success 

Someone with a positive mindset isn’t in competition with other people. They understand that they’re on their own unique journey, and someone else’s success doesn’t undermine their own. 

For example, if your friend found their dream job before you, celebrate their accomplishment in a sincere way. Their win should make you feel motivated, not jealous.

How can a positive mental attitude help you at work? 

Why is it important to leave negativity at the door and bring a positive mental attitude to work? Your performance and well-being in the workplace depend on it. Let’s explore why approaching each day at the office with a positive attitude matters. 

Increases engagement and performance 

Optimistic employees with a positive outlook are more likely to be successful and engaged in their work . 

Senior Scholar Dr. Beth Cabrera explains that there is a strong correlation between optimism and performance at work. Another recent study found that employees are more likely to give their best effort toward a task and feel happier at work when they adopt an optimistic mindset. 

Allows you to build stronger relationships 

Positivity is infectious. Smiling, bringing your whole self to work , and uplifting your teammates or employees will help you build stronger connections and foster an inclusive work environment .

Good work relationships increase job satisfaction and contribute to a stronger company culture . 

Helps you overcome challenges with ease 

Work can be stressful and challenging.

Positive employees make stress work for them and are in control of their circumstances. For example, studies show that employees with a positive stress mindset know how to cope with a high workload. Their resilience and optimism increase their performance and stamina. This is especially true during high-pressure situations. 

4 tips to have and maintain a positive mental attitude 

As previously mentioned, anyone can harness the power of a positive mental attitude. Here are a few tips to help you develop and maintain a positive outlook. 

1. Surround yourself with other positive people

Your friends have a big influence on your mindset . Would you rather be around people with a negative attitude who love to complain? Or would you rather be surrounded by vibrant, happy people who lift you up? 

Positive people’s emotions rub off on you and inspire you to maintain a positive attitude and become a better version of yourself. 

2. Do the Inner Work™

To maintain a positive mental attitude, you have to do the work —  Inner Work™, that is . Inner Work™ means reflecting on your inner world so you can relate to the outer world better. This can be achieved through breathing exercises , journaling, or reflecting on your actions. 

Looking inward has many benefits. Better relationships with colleagues, increased confidence, and better decision-making are only a few. 

3. Practice visualization

A positive mindset attracts positive circumstances. Visualization is a powerful technique that helps you achieve your goals using only your mind. 

All you need to do is imagine the best possible outcome in any situation and feel the positive emotion of having achieved it. Successful athletes like LeBron James and Katie Ledecky use this technique to achieve their athletic goals. 

4. Meditate

To develop and maintain a positive state of mind, you need to learn how to keep your negative thoughts from controlling you. 

Daily meditation helps you let go of negative emotions like worry, fear, and anxiety , and it trains your mind to be grounded in the present moment. 

Start cultivating a positive mental attitude

Your success and well-being depend on your mindset. 

A positive mental attitude at work can bring out the best in you. It can supercharge your performance, work relationships, and resilience. The good news is that a positive mental attitude can be cultivated. 

If you recognize that you need a change in mindset but are not sure where to start, you’re not alone. BetterUp offers personalized coaching that gives you the guidance you need to develop the right mindset for personal and career growth.

Cultivate a growth mindset

Ignite your motivation and build a growth mindset. Our coaches give you the tools to overcome challenges and achieve your goals.

Elizabeth Perry, ACC

Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

Try a positive mindset for success and well-being

Improve your life with a new outlook: 10 benefits of positive thinking, learn how to stay positive with these 15 tips, how to navigate the effects of peer pressure at work, self-esteem isn't everything, but these 5 tips can give you a boost, stop comparing yourself to others: do these 10 things instead, learn how to cope: 6 factors that promote resilience, is poor mental health and well-being contagious, q&a with dr. judith mangelsdorf: germany's 1st positive psych professor, similar articles, what is the law of attraction and how do you use it, job search depression is real: here’s how to overcome it, learned optimism can change your life. here's how, what is mental load recognize the burden of invisible labor, emotional goals: 20 examples and how to reach them, how to be optimistic, stay connected with betterup, get our newsletter, event invites, plus product insights and research..

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Speech On Attitude [1,2,3 Minutes]

Your attitude is a decisive factor in how is your life going to be. If you have a positive attitude, you find positives in any aspect of life. On the contrary, if you have a negative attitude, you will face negativities in life. Hence, it is very necessary to build a positive attitude.

In this article, we shared some examples of speech on attitude with a time duration of 1 to 3 minutes. You will get to know why attitude is important and how it can change the way you look at life.

Short Speech on Attitude

Good morning and welcome all of you gathered here. I am here to present a speech on attitude.

How you deal with obstacles, how you handle your achievements and what you think about a particular aspect of life. All of these are results of your attitude. Thus, Attitude is the name of your behaviour towards every aspect of life.

Attitude is considered one of the vital factors to accomplish goals. Having a negative or loose attitude can’t help you enough. For example, If Thomas Edison would have had a negative attitude, He would have given up after some failures and we can not get the light bulb.

Your attitude can make your life like heaven. Nevertheless, it can also make your life like hell. It all depends on you how you develop your attitude. So, build a positive attitude towards life and show your resistance to the obstacles of life. Thank you!

2-Minute Speech Example

Welcome honourable principal, respected teacher, loved parents and dear friends. Today, we are gathered here for this special occasion of… I am here to speak a few words about attitude.

All motivational speakers in the world have a single purpose of helping their audience to develop a positive attitude. They make them recall some phrases such as “ Never give up “, “ It’s possible ” and “ You can do it “. Most importantly, their audience is no one but people just like me and you.

Why do we need motivational speakers? Because we have a loose attitude. We don’t develop a strong positive attitude towards life. Consequently, when we face obstacles in life, we lose hope. A strong positive attitude changes the way you look at obstacles in life.

Developing a positive attitude helps us persevere during the tough phases of life. When you inculcate this behaviour in your life, you develop a rigid personality and build a notable identity in society. You no longer have to recall the phrases “ Never give up “, “ It’s possible ” and “ I can do it “.

Instead, you become an optimistic person who discovers all the positives of an aspect while others see only the negativities. Furthermore, a positive attitude helps you find solutions to a problem tougher than tough.

To sum it up, A positive attitude is important for every aspect of life. It gives a solution-oriented mindset that makes you fearless of any type of difficulty. Hence, it is said; “ attitude is everything “. Thank you!

3 Minute Speech Example

First of all, good morning to the honourable principal, respected teachers and loving friends and all of you present here today. I would like to say a few words about attitude in your special presence.

A positive attitude is a common attribute of great achievers. History is witness that a positive attitude is one of the most vital factors behind the achievements of great leaders and rulers. In contemporary times, Elon Musk is the best example of having a strong positive attitude.

Elon Musk faced many difficulties in his life but he never lose hope and eventually produced all the success he want. This shows how rigid the mindset he possesses is. For a person, this kind of behaviour toward the difficulties of life is called a positive attitude.

The opposite is a negative attitude. It is very harmful to us. It impacts our thought process badly. Also, a negative attitude leads to many mental and psychological problems such as depression and anxiety.

On the one hand, a positive attitude helps you discover positives in any negative circumstances. On the other hand, a negative attitude drives you to see only the negatives even in positive circumstances. Hence, we can conclude that a positive attitude makes a person optimistic and a negative attitude makes a person pessimistic.

Hence, it becomes very necessary for everyone to develop a positive attitude. It is not so easy but not so tough too. Some easy practices can help anyone build a positive attitude. Some of them are:

Spend time with positive people: Our personality is an average of five people around us. Hence, when we must surround ourselves with positive people to adopt a positive mindset.

Mind your words to yourself: What you say to yourself is a very important factor in developing your attitude. Pay attention to it and always try to think positively for yourself.

Practice gratitude: Gratitude is an act of showing thankfulness for each positive thing and event. This makes you aware of focusing positive side of life.

Read Books: Books relieve and calm your thoughts and give you a spike in your confidence. You can find many quotes inside books which can boost your motivation.

To sum it up, a positive attitude is a need to face difficult phases in life. And there are lots of ways you can develop a positive attitude and create resistance to all the obstacles of life.

This is what I think about Attitude. I hope my thoughts were helpful. Thank you!

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The Power of Positive Thinking

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Carly Snyder, MD is a reproductive and perinatal psychiatrist who combines traditional psychiatry with integrative medicine-based treatments.

Klaus Vedfelt / Getty Images

What Is Positive Thinking?

• Benefits of Positive Thinking

How to Practice Positive Thinking

Potential pitfalls of positive thinking, frequently asked questions.

Do you tend to see the glass as half empty or half full? You have probably heard that question plenty of times. Your answer relates directly to the concept of positive thinking and whether you have a positive or negative outlook on life. Positive thinking plays an important role in positive psychology , a subfield devoted to the study of what makes people happy and fulfilled.

Research has found that positive thinking can aid in stress management and even plays an important role in your overall health and well-being. It can help combat feelings of low self-esteem, improve physical health, and help brighten your overall outlook on life.

This article discusses what positive thinking is and the health benefits of being positive. It also explores some of the strategies you can use to become a more positive thinker.

Positive thinking means approaching life's challenges with a positive outlook. It doesn't mean seeing the world through rose-colored lenses by ignoring or glossing over the negative aspects of life.

Positive thinking does not necessarily mean avoiding difficult situations. Instead, positive thinking means making the most of potential obstacles, trying to see the best in other people, and viewing yourself and your abilities in a positive light.

Some researchers, including positive psychologist Martin Seligman , frame positive thinking in terms of explanatory style. Your explanatory style is how you explain why events happened.

• Optimistic explanatory style : People with an optimistic explanatory style tend to give themselves credit when good things happen and typically blame outside forces for bad outcomes. They also tend to see negative events as temporary and atypical.
• Pessimistic explanatory style : People with a pessimistic explanatory style often blame themselves when bad things happen, but fail to give themselves adequate credit for successful outcomes. They also have a tendency to view negative events as expected and lasting. As you can imagine, blaming yourself for events outside of your control or viewing these unfortunate events as a persistent part of your life can have a detrimental impact on your state of mind.

Positive thinkers are more apt to use an optimistic explanatory style, but the way in which people attribute events can also vary depending upon the exact situation. For example, a person who is generally a positive thinker might use a more pessimistic explanatory style in particularly challenging situations, such as at work or at school.

While there are many factors that determine whether a person has a positive outlook, the way that they explain the events of their life, known as their explanatory style, plays an important role.

Positive Psychology vs. Positive Thinking

While the terms "positive thinking" and "positive psychology" are sometimes used interchangeably, it is important to understand that they are not the same thing. Positive thinking is about looking at things from a positive point of view. It is a type of thinking that focuses on maintaining a positive, optimistic attitude. Positive psychology is a branch of psychology that studies the effects of optimism, what causes it, and when it is best utilized.

Health Benefits of Positive Thinking

In recent years, the so-called "power of positive thinking" has gained a great deal of attention thanks to self-help books such as "The Secret." While these pop-psychology books often tout positive thinking or philosophies like the law of attraction as a sort of psychological panacea, empirical research has found that there are many very real health benefits linked to positive thinking and optimistic attitudes.

Positive thinking is linked to a wide range of health benefits, including:

• Better stress management and coping skills
• Enhanced psychological health
• Greater resistance to the common cold
• Increased physical well-being
• Longer life span
• Lower rates of depression
• Reduced risk of cardiovascular disease-related death

One study of 1,558 older adults found that positive thinking could also reduce frailty during old age.

A 2018 study published in the Journal of Aging Research found that having a positive mental attitude was linked to decreased mortality over a 35-year period. People who had a more positive outlook were also more likely to get regular physical exercise, avoid smoking, eat a healthier diet, and get more quality sleep.

Clearly, there are many benefits of positive thinking . But why, exactly, does positive thinking have such a strong impact on physical and mental health ?

One theory is that people who think positively tend to be less affected by stress. Research suggests that having more positive automatic thoughts helps people become more resilient in the face of life's stressful events. People who had high levels of positive thinking were more likely to walk away from stressful life events with a higher sense of the meaningfulness of life.

Another possibility is that people who think positively tend to live healthier lives in general; they may exercise more, follow a more nutritious diet, and avoid unhealthy behaviors.

While you might be more prone to negative thinking, there are strategies that you can use to become a more positive thinker. Practicing these strategies regularly can help you get in the habit of maintaining a more positive outlook on life.

• Notice your thoughts : Start paying attention to the type of thoughts you have each day. If you notice that many of them are negative, make a conscious effort to reframe how you are thinking in a more positive way.
• Write in a gratitude journal : Practicing gratitude can have a range of positive benefits and it can help you learn to develop a better outlook. Experiencing grateful thoughts helps people to feel more optimistic.
• Use positive self-talk : How you talk to yourself can play an important role in shaping your outlook. Studies have shown that shifting to more positive self-talk can have a positive impact on your emotions and how you respond to stress.

While there are many benefits to thinking positively, there are actually times when more realistic thinking is more advantageous. For example, in some situations, negative thinking can actually lead to more accurate decisions and outcomes.

Some research has found that negative thinking and moods can actually help people make better, more accurate judgments.

However, research suggests that realistic optimism might be the ideal. The results of a 2020 study published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin revealed that people who have mistaken expectations, whether those expectations are optimistic or pessimistic, tend to fare worse in terms of mental health when compared to realists.  

The authors of the study suggest that the disappointment that optimists experience when their high hopes are not realized can have a negative impact on well-being. This doesn't mean that people should strive to be pessimistic thinkers. since studies indicate that people with a negative outlook tend to fare the worst. Instead, having a generally positive outlook that is focused on realistic expectations may be the best approach. 

In some cases, inappropriately applied positive thinking can cross the line into what is known as toxic positivity . This involves insisting on maintaining a positive mindset no matter how upsetting, dire, or damaging a situation might be. This type of excessive positivity can impede authentic communication and cause people to experience feelings of shame or guilt if they struggle to maintain such an overly positive outlook.

Positive thinking can have pitfalls at times. While it is important to have an overall positive outlook, unrealistically high expectations can lead to disappointment. Being unable to accept any negative emotions, known as toxic positivity, can also have a negative effect on mental well-being.

A Word From Verywell

Even if you are not a natural-born optimist, there are things you can do to learn how to think more positively and become a positive thinker . One of the first steps is to focus on your own inner monologue and to pay attention to your self-talk.

Strategies that can improve your positive thinking include noticing your thoughts and making a conscious effort to shift from negative thoughts to more positive one. Practicing positive self-talk and practicing gratitude can also be helpful ways to start having a more positive outlook.

Positive thinking is important because it can have a beneficial impact on both physical and mental well-being. People who maintain a more positive outlook on life cope better with stress, have better immunity, and have a lower risk of premature death. Positive thinking also helps promote greater feelings of happiness and overall satisfaction with life.

Positive thinking has been shown to help people live healthier, happier lives. When they have a positive outlook, they are more likely to engage in healthy behaviors such as exercising, eating healthy, and getting plenty of rest. Downsides of positive thinking include the risk of forming overly high expectations that result in disappointment and being affected by toxic positivity.

Practicing mindfulness can be a way to build self-awareness and become more conscious of how your negative thoughts affect your moods and behaviors. As you become better at identifying negative thought patterns, you can then take steps to shift into a more positive mindset. Actively replacing negative thoughts with positive ones can help you eventually learn to become a more positive thinker.

Kim ES, Hagan KA, Grodstein F, DeMeo DL, De Vivo I, Kubzansky LD. Optimism and cause-specific mortality: a prospective cohort study . Am J Epidemiol. 2017;185(1):21-29. doi:10.1093/aje/kww182

Seligman M.  Learned Optimism . Random House.

Chang E, Sanna L.  Virtue, Vice, And Personality: The Complexity of Behavior . American Psychological Association.

Johns Hopkins Medicine. The power of positive thinking .

Park N, Peterson C, Szvarca D, Vander Molen RJ, Kim ES, Collon K. Positive psychology and physical health: Research and applications . Am J Lifestyle Med . 2016;10(3):200-206. doi:10.1177/1559827614550277

Gale CR, Mõttus R, Deary IJ, Cooper C, Sayer AA. Personality and risk of frailty: The English Longitudinal Study of Ageing . Ann Behav Med . 2017;51(1):128-136. doi:10.1007/s12160-016-9833-5

Paganini-Hill A, Kawas CH, Corrada MM. Positive mental attitude associated with lower 35-year mortality: The Leisure World Cohort Study .  J Aging Res . 2018;2018:2126368. doi:10.1155/2018/2126368

Boyraz G, Lightsey OR Jr. Can positive thinking help? Positive automatic thoughts as moderators of the stress-meaning relationship . Am J Orthopsychiatry . 2012;82(2):267-77. doi:10.1111/j.1939-0025.2012.01150.x

Kross E, Bruehlman-Senecal E, Park J, et al. Self-talk as a regulatory mechanism: how you do it matters . J Pers Soc Psychol . 2014;106(2):304-24. doi:10.1037/a0035173

Forgas JP. Don’t worry, be sad! On the cognitive, motivational, and interpersonal benefits of negative mood . Curr Dir Psychol Sci . 2013;22(3):225-232. doi:10.1177/0963721412474458

De Meza D, Dawson C. Neither an optimist nor a pessimist be: mistaken expectations lower well-being . Pers Soc Psychol Bull . 2021;47(4):540-550. doi:10.1177/0146167220934577

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

10 Speeches on Positive Thinking

These Speeches Explore the Benefits of Having a Positive Attitude

Inspiring Short Stories on Positive Attitude: Read These 11

When you have a positive attitude, you see the opportunities and possibilities in every situation rather than the problems and obstacles. You focus on the solutions rather than the complaints. You appreciate what you have rather than what you lack. You celebrate your achievements rather than dwell on your failures. You embrace change rather than resist it. You are optimistic rather than pessimistic. A positive attitude can make a huge difference in your personal development. It can help you grow as a person, improve your relationships, and enhance your well-being.

Sanju Pradeepa

The old, dusty book sat on the shelf of the library, its gold-embossed title gleaming in the dim light that filtered through the high windows. As the young boy ran his fingers over the familiar leather binding, he smiled, knowing the tales of inspiration and hope that awaited him within those pages.

His favorite collection of short stories had seen him through many difficult times, the characters and morals lifting his spirits and reminding him that a positive attitude can change everything.

On days when the world felt overwhelming and bleak, he would pull the book from its place and lose himself in the stirring stories of perseverance against all odds. Though decades had passed since the book was first published, the messages of courage, kindness, and optimism remained timeless.

For any reader seeking to boost their positive mindset and find motivation, this compilation of inspiring short stories on positive attitude still shines as a beacon of light.

Table of Contents

Inspiring short stories on positive attitude.

Having a positive attitude is one of the most important factors in personal development. A positive attitude can help you overcome challenges, learn new skills, achieve your goals, and enjoy your life. A positive attitude can also boost your self-confidence, motivation, and resilience.

18 Characteristics of Positive Attitudes (+5 Benefits)

1. the power of positive thinking: a short story.

The old fisherman sat by the sea, staring at the rolling waves under the night sky. He had gone out to sea earlier that day but caught nothing. His small boat rocked gently beside him, empty again.

For weeks, he had struggled. No matter how early he left or how late he returned, the fish just weren’t biting. His wife tried to reassure him that his luck would turn, but he was losing hope.

As he gazed at the stars, he thought of his father and grandfather, who had both been fishermen. “The sea provides,” his father always said. But the sea seemed to have abandoned him.

Just then, a bright light appeared, dancing on the water. At first, the fisherman thought it was the reflection of the moon, but the light moved and flickered. He realized with a start that it was a flame coming closer.

A small boat drifted into view, lit by a lantern. In it sat a young boy, no more than 10 years old, holding a fishing pole. The boy called out, “Have you had any luck today, sir?”

The fisherman sighed. “Not today, I’m afraid.”

The boy smiled. “Don’t lose hope! My father always says that patience and perseverance will pay of f. The fish will come. You’ll see.”

With that, the boy’s boat drifted back into the night. The fisherman sat in silence, pondering the boy’s words. His optimism and faith pierced the darkness like that small flame, rekindling the fisherman’s own hopes. He knew then that luck would find him again if he met each day with faith and determination . The sea provides, after all, for those who persevere.

2. The Opportunity in Every Difficulty: An Inspiring Tale

The old farmer sighed as he looked over his ruined crops. A terrible storm had swept through the valley the night before, and his once lush and verdant fields were now battered and muddy. His neighbor, a kind young man named Thomas, came by to offer his help.

“This is a calamity,” the farmer said. “My family has always been able to survive on the yield of this harvest. I don’t know what we will do now.”

Thomas thought for a moment. “I see this not as a calamity but as an opportunity,” he said gently.

The farmer looked at him in disbelief. “How can this be an opportunity?” he asked.

Thomas smiled. “Now you have a chance to try something new. You’ve always grown beans and squash. Why not try planting different crops that will thrive in this soil? You can diversify and strengthen your farm.”

The farmer considered this. Thomas was right—he had become set in his ways. This disaster could push him to make his farm sustainable in new ways.

“You have given me hope again,” the farmer said. He clapped Thomas on the back. “Thank you for showing this old man the opportunity in this difficulty. My farm will be better for it.”

And so the farmer planted new, hearty crops and introduced more diversity to his farm. Though the storm ruined one harvest, it ended up saving many more. For in every difficulty lies an opportunity, if only we dare to see it.

3. The Traveler: A Story About Choosing Your Perspective

The old traveler sat down for a rest under the shade of a large tree. A young boy approached and sat down next to him. “Where are you going?” asked the boy. The traveler replied, “I’m not sure where this road will lead me.”

The boy was surprised. “How can you not know where you’re going?” he asked. The traveler smiled. “I don’t know my destination, but I’m sure I’ll know when I get there. The beauty is in the journey, not the destination.”

The boy still didn’t understand. “But how will you know you’ve arrived if you don’t know where you’re going?” The traveler replied, “When I arrive, there will be peace and contentment in my heart. The journey is what shapes us and makes us grow.”

The boy considered this. He had always focused on goals and destinations but never appreciated the journey. He realized there was wisdom in the traveler’s words. “I think I understand,” he said. “It’s not about where I’m going, but how I choose to see the journey.”

The traveler nodded. “You’re learning. Our perspective shapes our reality. Choose to see each moment as an opportunity to learn and grow. Appreciate all the simple beauties around you. Find peace in the journey, not the destination.”

The boy smiled, thanked the traveler, and continued down the road with a new sense of meaning and purpose. He realized the journey ahead held endless possibilities if only he chose to see them. His reality was shaped by his perspective. The destination didn’t matter; his journey was just beginning.

4. The Two Frogs: A Short Story on Maintaining an Optimistic Outlook

Two frogs, Tom and Tim, were enjoying the summer sun near a pond. Tom was young and optimistic, while Tim was older and more pessimistic.

As Tom was hopping around the pond, he fell into a bucket that someone had left out. He tried to jump out, but the bucket was too deep. Tim came over and saw Tom’s struggle.

“It’s useless,” said Tim. “You’ll never get out.”

“Don’t be silly,” said Tom. “Someone will surely come and get me out.”

Just then, a little boy walked by and heard Tom’s calls. He lifted the bucket and tipped it over, freeing the frog. Tom hopped happily away, calling out to Tim:

“I told you I’d get out! An optimistic outlook always pays off.”

Tim grumbled as he hopped into the pond. A while later, Tim’s pessimism got the better of him again. As he was swimming, a big fish swam by and grabbed him in its mouth. Tim shrieked:

“Help! I’m going to be eaten!”

Tom heard the commotion and swam over. He told the fish:

“Please release my friend. He did not mean to disturb you.”

The fish opened his mouth and let Tim go. Tim was ashamed of his pessimism. He told Tom:

“You were right. Positivity and optimism do pay off. I will try to be more optimistic from now on.”

Moral of the story: Having an optimistic outlook can open up more opportunities and lead to better outcomes. Maintaining positive thinking and hopeful expectations can help overcome difficult situations. Like Tom, the frog approaches life with optimism and faith in good outcomes.

How Optimism Affects Happiness: +8 Ways to Develop Optimism

5. the story of the farmer and his luck.

There once lived a farmer in a small village. He was considered the luckiest man in the village. The farmer believed that God was kind to those who worked hard. He was a very hardworking farmer.

One day, the farmer was working in his field. He saw a traveler walking by. The traveler asked the farmer, “How did you get so rich?” The farmer replied, “Hard work.” The traveler was surprised and said, “Many people work hard but are still poor. There must be some luck involved too!”

The farmer thought for a while and said, “You’re right. Let’s say luck and hard work are like two horses pulling a wagon. With only one horse, the wagon won’t move. Hard work alone is not enough. Luck alone will not take the wagon far. When luck and hard work come together, that’s when the wagon starts moving!”

The traveler was very impressed with the farmer’s wisdom. He asked again, “What about times when you face bad luck? How do you deal with it?”

The farmer smiled and said, “When times are good, I work hard. When times are bad, I work even harder. Hard work can turn bad luck into good luck!”

The traveler thanked the farmer and continued his journey enlightened by the farmer’s positive attitude and simple wisdom. Like the traveler, we too can learn from the farmer’s story.

Success comes to those who work hard and maintain a positive attitude, regardless of luck, good or bad. Luck is fleeting, but hard work and a positive attitude can overcome all odds.

Is Success Luck or Hard Work: Unpacking the Success Equation

6. the story of the elephant and the rope.

The massive elephant strained against the thick rope around its ankle, trying in vain to break free. A young girl noticed the elephant’s distress and approached the handler. “Why does this elephant not just use its strength to break the rope and escape?” she asked.

The handler smiled and replied, “When this elephant was just a baby, it was tied with the same rope. At that time, the rope was strong enough to restrain the little elephant. It has grown up believing the rope can still hold it, even though now it could easily snap the rope.”

The elephant’s limited belief in the power of the rope had imprisoned it for life. Like the elephant, many of us go through life trapped by false beliefs and self-imposed limitations. We become accustomed to thinking in a certain way and continue to see the world through that lens, even after we have outgrown it.

To break free from these mental constraints, we must first recognize that the beliefs holding us back are no longer true. We have to realize, as the elephant eventually did, that we now have the power and ability to break those bindings. We just have to open our minds to growth and change.

The elephant can teach us an important lesson: we are only as trapped as we believe ourselves to be. With an open and willing spirit, we can release ourselves from the ropes that bind us.

7. The Blind Boys and the Matter of Perspective

The old monastery sat atop the hill, isolated from the village below. Two blind boys, Timmy and Jimmy, lived there, taken in by the monks at a young age.

One day, the boys were playing in the yard when they started arguing about what color the sky was. Timmy claimed it was blue, while Jimmy insisted it was gray. The argument escalated as each boy refused to accept the other’s perspective.

Hearing the commotion, the head monk came over. He told the boys, “You are both right. The sky’s color depends on the way you observe it.”

The boys were puzzled. “But how can it be both blue and gray?” asked Jimmy.

The monk smiled gently. “While you see with your eyes, you perceive with your mind. The sky appears blue to Timmy because that is how his mind perceives it based on what he has learned and experienced. To Jimmy, it seems gray for the same reason.”

“So which color is really right?” asked Timmy.

“The sky has no inherent color. It appears differently to each observer based on their perspective. Right or wrong does not apply here.”

The boys grew silent, grasping the meaning behind the monk’s words. Though blind, their vision expanded in that moment as they understood, for the first time, the power of perspective .

While the boys continued to see the world differently, they learned to appreciate how those varying perspectives enriched their lives. They realized that by embracing diversity of thought, one can achieve a more colorful and meaningful view of life. By opening their minds, the blind boys gained true sight.

8. The Mountain Story

The old man sat with his grandson by the fire, under a blanket of stars. “Grandson, there is a battle between two wolves inside us all,” he said.

The First Wolf

“One is evil. It is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity , guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride , superiority, and ego.”

The Second Wolf

“The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.”

The grandson thought about this for a minute and then asked, “Grandfather, which wolf wins?”

The old man smiled. “The one you feed.”

This short story highlights that we each have the potential for both good and evil inside us. The traits and behaviors we cultivate through our thoughts and actions will determine which side prevails. Focusing on positivity, kindness, and compassion feeds the good wolf, allowing our best qualities to shine through. Dwelling on negative emotions and harmful actions, on the other hand, gives power to the evil wolf.

Every day, in small ways, we choose which wolf to feed. Make an effort to feed the good wolf within you by maintaining an optimistic attitude, practicing kindness, and spreading positivity to others. Starve the evil wolf of anger, envy, and selfishness. Though it can be difficult, having awareness and making the choice to promote good over evil leads to inner peace and benefits society as a whole.

Feed the good wolf, and let your positive attitude and actions inspire others to do the same. Together, we can cultivate more good in the world.

9. The Sun and the Wind: A Fable on Positive Thinking

The sun and wind were arguing one day over who was the stronger of the two. As they debated, they saw a man traveling along a road wearing a coat. They agreed that whoever could cause the man to remove his coat the fastest would be considered the stronger.

The wind accepted the challenge and blew with all his might, trying to make the man feel uncomfortable enough to remove his coat. But the harder the wind blew, the tighter the man grasped his coat and wrapped it around himself. The wind’s efforts were in vain.

The Sun’s Turn

When the wind gave up, the sun took its turn. The sun shone gently upon the traveler, slowly increasing his warmth and brightness. The sun’s friendly rays felt pleasant to the man, who soon unbuttoned his coat as he walked down the road. Within a few minutes, the man finally removed his coat altogether.

The sun’s kind and optimistic approach succeeded where the wind’s aggression and pessimism failed. The moral of the story is that positive thinking and friendliness often accomplish more than hostility and force. A positive, constructive attitude can go a long way toward resolving disagreements and achieving one’s goals.

The story highlights how positive thinking and an optimistic outlook can overcome negativity and adversity. By taking a friendly, empathetic approach, the Sun was able to achieve what aggression and pessimism could not. With patience and understanding, the sun’s positivity won out.

12 Reasons Why Positivity Matters (+7 Ways to Achieve It)

10. the optimist and the pessimist: a tale of two friends.

The Pessimist

Jake was a pessimist. He always expected the worst in every situation. One day, while walking through the forest, Jake came upon an old abandoned cabin. “I bet this place is filled with spiders and critters,” he thought. As night fell, Jake’s stomach began to growl. He peered inside the dark cabin, worried about what scary things might lurk within. His hunger eventually overtook his fear.

Jake lit a candle and found the cabin empty except for a pot of hot stew still warm over the fire. But Jake didn’t eat. “This is probably poisoned,” he worried, going to bed hungry.

The Optimist

Jake’s friend Tim was an optimist. He always looked on the bright side. The next day, Tim came upon the same cabin. “What an adventure this will be!” he exclaimed. Tim went inside, lit a fire, and found the pot of stew. “How lucky I am to find a hot meal waiting!” he said, enjoying the stew. He slept well that night in the cozy cabin.

A Valuable Lesson

The next morning, Jake told Tim about the spooky cabin. “Really?” asked Tim. “I found an abandoned cabin too, but it seemed quite pleasant.” Jake was shocked. It was the same cabin, yet their experiences had been very different. Jake realized his pessimism had caused him to miss out on a good meal and cozy shelter. From that day on, Jake tried to be more optimistic. He learned that positive thinking can open us up to more happiness and opportunity.

11. Be the best you can be.

The old warehouse towered before Jenny, holding untold stories within its rusty walls. She took a deep breath and stepped inside, determined to overcome her self-doubt.

A Voice from the Past

As Jenny explored the musty rooms, a scrap of paper on the floor caught her eye. It was a page from a diary, dated over 50 years ago:

I know I have talent, but I lack confidence in myself. My teacher says I can achieve great things if I work hard and believe in myself. His encouragement inspires me to push past my self-doubt and give my dreams a chance. Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we often might win by fearing to begin. I will not let my doubts hold me back any longer. My time is now.

Jenny gasped, realizing the message was meant for her. The writer’s words echoed her own feelings and struggles. She knew what she had to do.

Overcoming Obstacles

Jenny pursued her lifelong passion for writing with a newfound determination . She worked diligently at honing her craft, despite facing rejections and setbacks. Her teacher’s support motivated her to keep improving her skills.

After months of effort, Jenny submitted a story to a local contest and won the first prize. At the awards ceremony, she saw a familiar face in the crowd—it was her teacher, cheering her on, pride shining in his eyes.

At that moment, Jenny realized the diary page was a gift to inspire her journey. She had overcome her self-doubt , nurtured her talent, and achieved her dream. The possibility of greatness lives within us all if only we believe in ourselves and rise to meet it.

Importance of Believing in Yourself: Be Your Own Biggest Fan

Final thought.

One of the most important factors for personal development is having a positive attitude. A positive attitude means that you see the bright side of things, you believe in yourself and your abilities, and you are optimistic about the future.It can help you overcome challenges, learn new skills, and achieve your goals. It can also make you happier, healthier, and more resilient.

• Positive Attitude Towards Life, Emotional Expression, self-rated health, and depressive symptoms among centenarians and near-centenarians by Kaori Kato , a   Richard Zweig , b   Clyde B. Schechter , c   Nir Barzilai , d  and  Gil Atzmon e ( Aging Ment Health. 2016 Sep; 20(9): 930–939. Published online 2015 Jun 26. doi:  10.1080/13607863.2015.1056770 ) published in National Library of Medicine – An official website of the United States government

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Speech on Attitude

Attitude shapes your life. It’s like a mental filter through which you experience the world around you. Your perspective can make all the difference. It’s not just what happens to you, but how you choose to respond, that matters most.

1-minute Speech on Attitude

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, today we are here to talk about a very important thing – Attitude.

Attitude is like a paintbrush. With it, we color our world. If we choose bright, happy colors, we feel cheerful. If we choose dark, gloomy colors, we feel sad. It’s all about what we pick.

Imagine you’re trying to climb a mountain. It’s tough, right? But if you say, “I can do it,” the climb becomes easier. That’s the power of a positive attitude. It makes hard things feel easier. It’s like a magic wand that turns problems into opportunities.

On the other hand, a negative attitude is like a flat tire. You can’t go anywhere until you change it. If you always think, “I can’t do it,” you won’t be able to do it. It’s like trying to run with heavy weights on your legs.

Remember, our attitude is a choice. We can choose to be happy or sad, positive or negative, hopeful or hopeless. It’s like choosing what clothes to wear. And the best part? We can change our attitude any time we want, just like we can change our clothes.

In the end, our attitude shapes our life. It’s the key to success. It’s the engine that drives us forward. So, let’s choose a positive attitude. Let’s choose to see the good in every situation. Let’s choose to be happy, hopeful, and positive. Because when we do, we’ll find that we can climb any mountain, cross any river, and overcome any obstacle.

Also check:

• Essay on Attitude
• 10-lines on Attitude
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Attitude

2-minute Speech on Attitude

Good day everyone!

Today, let’s talk about something that can change the way we look at life. Yes, I am talking about ‘Attitude’. You might be wondering, what’s so special about attitude? Well, let’s find out.

First, what is attitude? It’s not just a word, it’s a reflection of who we are. It’s the way we think, the way we feel, and the way we act. It’s like a mirror that shows the world what’s inside us. If we are happy, our attitude shows it. If we are sad, our attitude shows it too. Just like a rainbow has many colors, our attitude has many shades. And each shade tells a different story about us.

Now, why is attitude so important? Imagine you are climbing a mountain. The climb is hard, the path is steep, and the peak is far away. But if you have a positive attitude, you believe you can reach the top. You keep going, no matter how hard it gets. And guess what? You do reach the top. That’s the power of a positive attitude. It gives you the strength to overcome challenges, to reach your goals, and to make your dreams come true.

But what if your attitude is negative? Then, even a small hill seems like a huge mountain. You feel tired before you even start climbing. You give up easily, and you never reach the top. That’s why a negative attitude is like a flat tire. You can’t go anywhere until you change it.

So, how can we develop a positive attitude? It’s simple. Start by changing the way you think. Instead of saying ‘I can’t do it’, say ‘I will try my best’. Instead of saying ‘It’s too hard’, say ‘I can handle it’. Remember, every problem has a solution. And every challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow.

Also, surround yourself with positive people. They will inspire you, motivate you, and help you see the brighter side of life. And most importantly, believe in yourself. Because if you believe you can, you’re halfway there.

In the end, I want to say this. Your attitude is like a paintbrush. It can color your world in bright, happy colors, or in dark, gloomy shades. The choice is yours. So, choose wisely. Choose a positive attitude. Because a positive attitude leads to positive outcomes. It makes you a better person, a better friend, a better student, and a better citizen. It makes life more enjoyable, more meaningful, and more fulfilling.

So, let’s make a promise today. Let’s promise to adopt a positive attitude. Let’s promise to face every challenge with courage and determination. Let’s promise to turn every setback into a comeback. And let’s promise to make every day a beautiful day, with our positive attitude.

Thank you, everyone, for listening. Remember, life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it. So, let’s react with a positive attitude. Let’s make our life a masterpiece. Because, with the right attitude, we can move mountains.

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The Power of Positive Speech

Part 1: change your speech, change your mindset. it's so simple..

Posted October 8, 2020 | Reviewed by Lybi Ma

With everything going on in our country right now, I have decided to share a series on “Positive Speech.” People need more positivity right now. There is a slew of words people use in their everyday lives that are dis -empowering. My goal, with this series, is to get you to shift toward empowering speech.

One of my favorite quotes is by Henry Ford: Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re right . Repeat the saying to yourself and think about it for a minute. If you “believe you can,” you are optimistically looking at something, whatever it may be in that moment and, by simply saying “you can,” you will shift an “impossibility” to a possibility. However, if you “believe you can’t,” then, sadly, you just closed the door to the possibility of being able to or, at the very least, you have put up a formidable barrier to being able to accomplish whatever it is you are saying “you can’t” do. Either way, you are right. It’s that simple.

I have shared Henry Ford’s sage words with students on the firearms range, during therapy sessions, and with colleagues and friends when they have all been experiencing doubt. I tell them that by saying you “can’t” do something, you are already doubting yourself, throwing up the white flag, closing the door, and locking it. Why would you do this? Ugh. I get frustrated sometimes about this. It’s not that you can't . Even if you really and truly “can’t” do something (e.g. fly an AH-64 Apache Helicopter), there is always a different and more positive way to express that.

Confession. I have a visceral reaction when I hear someone utter, “I can’t” in any context. It literally makes me cringe or, more often, I close my eyes, shake my head, and or scrunch up my face. The word can’t is ugly, it’s disempowering, it’s defeating, and it’s not part of my vocabulary—at least, not since I recognized how negative it is.

And, it’s not just in situations when people are doubting themselves. People use “can’t” in response to everyday questions, such as:

• Hey, do you want to hang out Friday night? No, I can’t.
• Would you mind taking me to the airport tomorrow? Sorry, I can’t.
• Can you float me some cash until my next paycheck? Um, I can’t.

It’s not that you can't ; you actually can do all of those things. However, instead of being honest, you choose the icky “I can’t” as your default answer. There are so many ways these questions can be answered in a more positive and/or honest way:

• Hey, do you want to hang out Friday night? No thanks. I have other plans. Maybe another night.
• Would you mind taking me to the airport tomorrow? I’m working tomorrow. If you change your ticket, or there’s a delay, I could leave work as early as 4 PM.
• Can you float me some cash until my next paycheck? Oh gosh, I am short on cash this month and don’t want to stress myself out.

There is another perspective as well. Maybe you are just not up for the task or you are not willing to do the thing(s) being asked of you. It’s better to be honest about whatever is being asked vs. saying, “I can’t”.

• Hey, do you want to hang out Friday night? I am just not up for hanging out this weekend. Maybe another day/week (this is an honest answer).
• Would you mind taking me to the airport tomorrow? I am slammed at work and me leaving to do something personal is too stressful right now (this is essentially saying you don’t want to do this in an honest way that 100 percent supports your answer).
• Can you float me some cash until my next paycheck? I have a personal rule of not lending money to friends (here, you are saying you aren’t willing to lend this person money. By sharing your “personal rule,” although maybe a bit awkward, you lay a foundation. That person will, hopefully, never ask to borrow money again).

Responding honestly, in a positive way, is not just empowering, it is freeing. Okay, so it might be uncomfortable at first for some of you but I promise it gets easier and it feels great.

The moral: Words reinforce your thinking. Positive thinking is reinforced by positive speech and vice versa. Your words create your destiny.

Today, remove the word “ can't ” from your speech. I am confident you can do this. Let me know how it goes.

Mary Beth Wilkas Janke, PsyD , is a former United States Secret Service Agent and currently teaches at George Washington University.

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