Leadership Viewpoint

Experts often discuss the need to keep a positive attitude. But what does that really mean? Are we all supposed to run around chanting positive things to ourselves and others all day long? Are we supposed to pretend that we aren’t hurt or angry when we feel pain? Should we smile and be cheerful no matter what is really happening?

If you aren’t accustomed to looking at everyday life with a “glass half-full” approach, the positive attitude thing can seem like a phony approach to life. People often ask me how they can honestly be happy and/or upbeat all the time. The answer for most of us is that we cannot.

What helps most people is keeping a sense of relativity. For instance, if you live in the United States, keep in mind that you are better off than about 90% of the world’s population in terms of standard of living. Even when the bills are piling up, or you are facing other pressures, keeping a sense of global perspective is a positive, healthy approach. The advantage that the positive approach tends to keep you calm, which allows you to focus and think clearly. That will take you a very long way toward solving your issue and moving forward, which will help you start a virtuous circle of success. With forward momentum, it becomes easier to have that positive attitude, and you can move into an upward spiral and more successes!

Our lives are better than we really think they are; it=s simply a question of focusing on the good things!

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