Does A Positive Attitude Really Work?
Use the positive self-talk trick to find out
I was introduced to the ‘Positive Attitude’ mantra when I was in my first direct sales job in the 1970s. I must admit that it seemed like a lot of Americanised psycho-hype created by those smooth talking salespeople on the other side of the pond.
Surely, I thought, in the United Kingdom we did not need such nonsense?
Some of you may know that sales can be a hard job. There can be a constant stream of rejection or negative feedback from your prospective customers, no matter how good your company, product, and your persuasive sales pitch.
And life itself can also deliver some disheartening blows as we try to reach some level of personal self-fulfilment and satisfaction.
So can the development of a positive attitude not only help you in your career but also personally to withstand and overcome the circumstances of just being alive in the twenty-first century?
I’m not a great admirer of Henry Ford, but he said the following that reveals an important psychological truth.
“Whether you think you can, or think you can’t — you’re right.”
Your mental state is important. If you think like a winner, then you will win. If you believe you can overcome in an adverse situation, then the chances are that you will. The choice is yours.
And some argue that as soon as you adopt a positive attitude, then things change immediately. Possibilities become probabilities, and limitations become opportunities.
By nature, I am probably a pessimist most of the time. I see a glass half empty, not half full. Why should that be? No doubt because of my past mental conditioning; people telling you can’t do such a thing or you don’t have the ability or attitude to succeed at such-and-such.
Well, I understand we can’t all be top athletes or concert pianists, but perhaps we should at least have been able to try different sports or discover if we have any musical talent. The opportunities should be available.
I believe that your mental outlook is probably your most valuable asset. It should always be positively directed. If you have high expectations for yourself, high self-esteem, and the belief that you will succeed, you will have notable achievement.
Even if you have taken a few hard knocks in this life, it is still worth the effort to establish a strong positive attitude towards your situation. You may not feel like doing so, but ultimately your survival may depend on it.
The Positive Self-Talk Trick
Other people will not suddenly start to throw bucketfuls of compliments your way for no reason to boost your self-confidence. If they did, you might be a little suspicious of their motives.
But if you’re in the doldrums, then in the beginning, you have to be the one to give yourself pats on the back. You have to lay the foundation for the creation of your personal positive attitude.
You accomplish this by using positive self-talk.
By constantly giving yourself positive suggestions and feedback, this will help you overcome those obstacles that are blocking your progress. For example, here are some positive messages you can give yourself to overcome barriers along the way to reaching your goals.
- I know I can make this work.
- I learn something from every mistake.
- The more I practice, the better I get.
- I get better every day.
- I’m really proud of myself.
These are some general suggestions, but you can tailor them to your exact situation and needs. It’s just about using your imagination and being creative within your own understanding of the difficulties that you face.
We are all prone to beating up ourselves if we make a mistake or apparently fail. But by using positive self-talk we soon realise that ‘failure’ is an opportunity that creates feedback, allowing us to adjust our thoughts and actions. Then we can go forward with a new positive mindset that will lead to success.
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