A positive mental attitude or just “being positive” is often cited as an important attribute of successful leaders and people. Here’s what a famous achiever, who overcame more than you or I will ever fathom had to say about it:
“No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit.”
– Helen Keller
Questions to Ponder
- Do I consider myself a pessimist or an optimist?
- What would others say?
Action Steps
- Ask others for feedback about how they perceive your attitude most of the time.
- Ask them how your attitude (positive or negative) impacts them.
- If the answer isn’t what you wish it were, further ask for examples of times when your attitude could be improved.
- Take action to think about the present and future in a more optimistic, positive way.
Kevin’s Thoughts
It is likely your goals and aspirations, both personally and as a leader, don’t involve exploring the heavens or the earth, but that doesn’t matter. Think about the times in your life when you were achieving at your best, and excelling in your work. What was your attitude like at those times?
Positive attitude often gets a bad rap because people say that thinking positively isn’t enough (which is completely true). However, positive thinking will help you achieve anything better than negative thinking will.
While this is important for us as individuals, as leaders, like compound interest, our attitude grows daily and person by person. If you don’t see the attitude in your office or on your team that you wish existed, look in the mirror first. Start with yourself, by changing your outlook and thinking.
Great post Kevin:
I am an eternal optimist. I also subscribe to the Optimist Creed. I have created a .pdf of it that people can frame and hang in their workspace. It can be downloaded at http://BudBilanich.com/optimist.
I think that optimism — along with facing your fears and acting and surrounding yourself with positive people — is the key to self confidence.
Have a great weekend.
Bud
Bud – thanks for the comment and the resource!
Kevin 🙂
Great actionable post! One of my favorite books is Napoleon Hill’s “Success through A Positive Mental Attitude.” In it Hill lays out the foundation of how we can shape our mental attitude to be positive and how important optimism really is. In my opinion continuously developing and shaping a positive mental attitude is one task that leaders can not afford to ever ignore.
Good points, Kevin. As you suggest, people often knock positive thinking as being pollyanna-ish and unrealistic. In reality, optimism is more than crossing your fingers, thinking positively and hoping for the best. When you think optimistically, your mind actually operates in different ways: it is open to options, creative, exploratory, resilient. When you’re thinking pessimistically, opposite adjectives apply.
Also, optimistic thinking can be learned. Martin Seligman’s books are one of many resources.
Good stuff.
In my opinion, looking more deeply into the root of where pessimism stems, it most likely involves one hanging on to something from their past that jaded them to see things negatively. Releasing the past to the past, forgiving, living in the present … these are all things that would help someone turn to immediate optimism.
I also agree with Bud. Remove yourself from all forms of drama and those who could drag you down, and surround yourself with positive people. I’m not sure who said it first, but one of my friends on facebook posted this a while back:
“There comes a time in life, when you walk away from all the drama & people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good. So love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones that don’t. Life is to short to be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living.”
And one more thought (not intended at all to be contradictory): In ethical questions, most often we know the answer before we ask. If one looks to ask others their opinion of how they perceive their attitude, more self-aware people would already know the answer.
Thanks for stirring the Saturday morning optimism, Kevin.
e
You are welcome Eric – and thanks for some great thoughts yourself.
Kevin 🙂
I am new to your blog and am enjoying all of your posts, but this one especially strikes a chord.
I have always loved this quote:
“WATCH YOUR THOUGHTS for they become your words
WATCH YOUR WORDS for they become your actions
WATCH YOUR ACTIONS for they become your habits
WATCH YOUR HABITS for they become your character
WATCH YOUR CHARACTER for it becomes your destiny”
The genesis of reality IS thought. And the true power of thought IS choice.
In every decision we make, in every response to every situation, in every manner we interact with others, we have the power and free will to choose our thoughts, our words, and our actions. Negativity drains the energy and light out of everything in its path. Positivity serves to infuse ourselves and those we touch with vibrant, creative energies, optimism and hope. You never forget the bright, sunshiny, positive people who touch your world.
I choose to nurture a positive, healthy reality borne of positive, healthy thinking. I choose optimism and enlightenment.
Optimism is an equal opportunity choice; we all have the power to empower ourselves.
Roxy – Thanks for sharing your inspiring and accurate words. They are a great addition to my post!
Kevin 🙂