BE POSITIVE

 Focus your attention on positive thoughts, ideas and images, you feel better.  Research has proven that a positive attitude has many health benefits including: delaying ageing, decreasing levels of stress and reducing the risk of depression.

Try talking to your doctor if you can't shake off your negative thoughts and feel like there's an empty void in your life.
 

Steps to being Positive

Keep your life balanced. Having a well-balanced life will help you maintain a positive mental attitude. If your life revolves solely around work and things at work take a negative turn, you may feel  your whole life is falling apart. However, if you have a happy home life, if things at work go badly you can concentrate your mind on the positive things at home.

Don't give up.
We all have setbacks. Don't think of them as an end but as a beginning.

Make the most of the situation.
If things are less than ideal, look for ways to make them more positive.

Engage in positive self-talk.
Telling yourself you can do something will help you succeed. Banish negative thoughts from your mind and concentrate on the positives.

Visualise success.
Practice succeeding at a task in your mind. This will help to make you more self-assured.

Deal problems head-on.
Don't ignore problems. Doing so allows them to fester and get worse. When a negative situation occurs, find a way to turn it around.

 Look on the bright side.
Make it a habit to look for the good in life rather than the bad.

Maintain a sense of humour.
Don't take yourself too seriously. Look for the humour in daily annoyances.

Make work or home fun.
If you find your job or homelife dull and boring, look for ways to make it more interesting.

Accentuate the positives.
Concentrate on ways to use your strengths and abilities and look for ways to improve your weaknesses.

Don't let the negatives in your life drag you down.
Take hold of them and turn them into positives.

Stop fixating on the negative
If you find you're obsessing and engaging with negative thoughts, try saying, "Oops," and turn your thoughts to something else. You can think of something from your pleasure list or just focus your attention on an object in the room you are in. Or you can think of a positive spin or make it ridiculous!

 Recognise your accomplishments. 
Each day make a mental note of your accomplishments no matter how small and enjoy them.
 
 
Identifying how you feel?  

Pay attention the next few times you're stressed out.
How do you react?
Do you raise your voice?
Get a headache?
Bite your nails?
Drink heavily?
Overeat?
Keep a journal if it helps you monitor your reactions over a week or so. Once you've identified your stress response, you can then learn how to intervene with a new thought to change your experience
 
Identify your positive thoughts

 
Make a list of the people, places and things that you can think about to transform your attitude. These should all bring you pleasure (for example, your kids, partner, a holiday, friends, a lovely meal, your pet). When you're stressed or having a negative attitude about yourself or others, focus your attention on an item on this list
 
Dealing with your problems

Try not to let your problems overwhelm you. Problems can always be sorted and positive steps can be taken to deal with them.  Often just taking that first positive step of addressing your problems and working out how to deal with them can be a huge positive boost.  If you're worried by health niggles, speak to your doctor or find out about complementary treatments. If you're having financial problems, speak to a financial advisor. If you are having relationship problems, speak to a relationship councillor. If you hate your job, look into re-training or apply for new jobs.  Often talking to a life coach can help you see a way forward.

If YOU'VE found a positive attitude has helped you, why not share your experiences with others?  Click here to visit our forums or why not post a quick comment below?