Attitude is everything, for better or worse. The way you perceive and explain the world has a powerful effect on the results you obtain. A negative attitude is almost a guarantee that life will be more difficult and less fulfilling than it should be. Further, a pessimistic outlook will adversely affect your health, relationships, and professional growth. Learn how a negative mindset develops and the steps you can take to transform it.
How Does a Negative Attitude Develop?
It is necessary to identify the negativity in your attitude. What is negative attitude? Negative attitude is when you start focusing on the problems that you might face during your efforts to achieve your goals. It is the lack of hope that things will happen to help you out in your mission. It is the feeling that people will not help you because on earlier occasions you met with rejections. Negative attitude is the lack of your conviction that you can overcome the hurdles that you might face during your journey. In a sense, negative attitude is also a lack of belief in you.
Attitude is your response to a situation, circumstance, person or an object. But the detailed definition of attitude would be; a predisposition or tendency to respond positively or negatively to a situation, circumstance, person, idea or an object. It influences a person’s choice of action and response to challenges, incentives, rewards etc. These are called stimuli. Stimuli are challenges, incentives and rewards.
Life is a continuous interplay of problems and solutions. Every day comes with some kind of problems small, medium or large. It is our job to find a solution and resolve the same with our required action. Not finding a solution or alternative solutions is the biggest problem which needs to be avoided in any case. “It is said that every challenge offers new opportunities. No doubt it does. Then how is it that we are afraid of challenges. Two reasons. Our negative attitude and lack of courage. Then what should we do? How do we change? How should we develop a positive attitude? Certainly there is no quick fix. But the reward of bringing about this change i.e. from negative attitude to cultivating positive one, very well deserves, the efforts that we have to put in. And what are these efforts? How do we go about it?
Some more symptoms of negative attitude are enumerated below:
- Laziness: When you think you don’t have the energy to get up and do the work. Sometimes you don’t even think and realize that laziness is simply whiling away the time. It is not even procrastination which will be described separately.
- Low self-esteem: It is an extremely harmful attribute in your personality. You start thinking that you are good for nothing. You accept the situations in which you are because your self-esteem is so low that you think you can do nothing better.
- Low productivity: Work has a strange tendency of expanding as per the time available. Even worse is when no time is allotted for the completion of a task. This gives you a feeling of solving certain important problems whereas in fact you are just being satisfied in remaining busy. This approach will never allow you to increase your productivity. For doing more in a given time, you have to stretch yourself. Therefore is it necessary that you allot specific time duration for a task. In the beginning, the allocation may seem difficult, but once you form a habit it will become much easier. Difficult or easy, it is necessary.
- Lack of initiative: For any significant progress, initiative is necessary. What is initiative? Initiative is your first step for going ahead with a task. When it is something new, you have to creatively think and courageously take the first step, even if there is some risk. No risk is the biggest risk in life. Any significant initiative cannot be taken to move forward without accepting this reality. So don’t be afraid to take initiative.
- Not listening to understand: In the course of conversations, sometimes we tend to focus so much on what we have to say, that we stop listening to the other person. This is particularly so when the speaker has said something for which we have a ready argument to negate what he has said. Unfortunately, such a habit does not allow us to listen and assimilate what the speaker says after that. Evidently it leads to miscommunication and problems. The solution is first understand and then be understood.
- Faking: We feel envious of some people who are more successful in the material sense than we think that they deserve. Such a feeling leads us to a myth that it is their style which makes them successful and we try to imitate their conduct. This is a extremely bad situation. We lose belief in ourselves, and how can we expect that others will believe us.
- Not trying to express: When we have certain ideas, but either we do not want to express, or we are afraid to express, is also indicative of our negative attitude. It is necessary to develop an ability to express without hesitation. The fear of rejection which takes away your ability to act is one of the serious handicaps.
- Not learning lessons from mistakes: There is no one who does not commit mistakes. Whenever we undertake something new, mistakes may happen. This is normal. However, repeating the same mistake again and again, is neither normal, nor should be acceptable. Thus we must learn lessons from our past mistakes and use these lessons to direct our future efforts.
- Ego: Ego happens to be another aspect of personality which does not allow us to grow. Ego comes in the way of our approaching people to help us. It makes us believe that it is below our dignity to seek help. A success Guru had said that there are eleven principles of achieving success. And what are these eleven principles? These are, ask, ask, ask…. (Eleven times).
- Jealousy: Jealousy is a negative emotion which keeps sapping our creative energies. We gain nothing in the process. It makes us feel as victims of fate or poor destiny. Jealousy may even take away our sound sleep. The worst part is that sometimes it cannot be contained, it goes on swelling. Jealousy must be thwarted out of the personality.
- Avoiding hard work: There is only one way to success, and that is the hard way. If we habitually seek short cuts it will be very difficult for us to work hard. What is working hard? When you are fully devoted to completing the job and you forget even your surroundings, you continue to work even when you are tired because you want to complete. That aspect of work may be termed as hard work. Initially it may be very difficult, but then one can form a habit. For any significant progress, hard work is necessary.
Chisel this change with following measures:
Look for rose flower not the thorns. No doubt the rose plant is full of thorns. If you are afraid about the thorns you may never reach the rose. So focus only on the rose. Be careful about the thorns and get the rose. Rose is your reward. In fact that’s what you want- the rose. But the plant is full of problems. These are challenges. Don’t be scared about challenges and with careful efforts you will surely secure your results.
Procrastination is the bane of life. It doesn’t allow you to go ahead and take action. Procrastination pushes you into laziness and a maze of indecisive thinking. It is the worst enemy of positive attitude. So defeat it. Always believe in ‘doing it now!”
Anyone has the strengths and weaknesses. Rely on your strengths. Leverage these for productive work. Leverage these for overcoming your weaknesses. Identify the weaknesses and do all what it takes to overcome these. It will raise your self-esteem. It will develop your positive attitude.
Banish these four negative emotions that ruin your efforts to develop a positive attitude. These are: Indecision, Suspicious, Greed and Credulity. Actually each one of these emotions becomes the reason for tragedy of Shakespearean Heroes as under.
Hamlet was indecisive.
Othello was an embodiment or suspicious.
Macbeth moves to the tragic end because of unending Greed.
King Lear suffered because of credulity. Being credulity leads to people hoodwinking you. This leads to disillusionment & suffering. In turn, it makes you a negative thinker.
Breed Positive Assumptions about people and about situations. Often times, we do not reach out to people for help because we are afraid of rejection. Never be afraid of rejection. Even if it happens, take it in its stride. Often, you will be surprised that those very people regarding whom you harbored negative assumptions are happy to help you. I read a book which in the preface talked about success- Eleven important principles of success and what are these? Ask, Ask, Ask………..11 times.
Marry the spouse whom you love. Otherwise start loving earnestly whom you marry. Our likes and dislikes are not writings on the wall. They keep on changing like anything else. So you can start loving your job and you must. It will make your attitude positive.
Last but not the least. Avoid negative influences. Don’t have company of negative people, don’t read negative literature and don’t watch negative movies. All pleasure seekers end in pain. Those who lure you to undesirable stuff don’t deserve your attention or regard.
In the age
of Information Technology and extensive use of computers, one way consider the
human brain as a unique operating system capable of producing excellent
solutions to all your problems all that you have to do is to keep on updating
the system i.e. your brain with the lessons life teaches from day-to-day because
You come to this world with the balance sheet of the previous
birth. A programmed of possibilities you call it ‘Samskara’.
You study the features of the program or you don’t.
You learn to use it or you don’t.
You strive to enhance it to bring out the newer better
utilities or you don’t.
You are places in certain circumstances: you have a duty to
perform. You carry out your duty or you don’t.
You crave out a life for yourself or you don’t.
If you decide your profession you define your duties, or you
don’t. Own turn. Even then, either you define your duties, or you don’t.
Whichever way you define your own duty, you perform your duty
or you don’t.
If you perform your duty, utilize fully your operating systems
inbuilt software – your ‘Sanskara’, keep on enhancing it, bringing out new,
better versions and keep on utilizing your own operating systems; you are a
yogi. Or the great Bill.
The important message is to keep on updating your wisdom the
human ‘operating system’ for better decisions. And also to take good care of
your thoughts because they have an important bearing on your life.
Think big, and think great School your thoughts, it is never
late.
Thoughts are like the Seeds in earth; these condition the
fruits before their birth. Good thoughts Make your decisions good Bring out the
best as they should.
Thoughts of jealousy, malice and similar kind enter your
mind, make you mad, and blind!
While your thoughts and a constant desire to develop a
positive attitude will take care of your mental health, it is equally necessary
if not more, to take good care of your body your physical health. A software
engineer ensures that his computer is not only updated with latest technology
in the field off his operation but also is free from any viruses and is
technically sound. Likewise to get the best out of human life, it is essential
to maintain excellent health both physical and mental. Human body is much more
than a machine. So it requires much greater care as it is…
A unique body with priceless mind comprises Creator’s
greatest gift to mankind in calculate good health Not for body alone
Money mends many things can surely contribute to good health
money for its own sake is a wasteful wealth.
Your good health alone can give you a store house of energy
that you always need. Besides, one must understand that to lead a meaningful
and healthy life, abundant energy is a pre-requisite.
Energy is a life force your activity’s chief resources mind
gives you direction Energy helps implementation action choose appropriate
combination of the two according to your profession whatever you do
A rigorous regime need not be imposed regulate thought
process. Devoid of stress get abundant energy, and be composed.
With a sound mind, a healthy body and a wonderful storehouse
of energy good decision come easy. And you know.
When to act or to desist it’s a quality essential top on the
list of people desiring success and they persist pursuing their goals with
decision fast there’s little doubt that their success will last
Whenever you have decided to launch an important project some
opposition from known or unknown quarters can always come. Often opposition
comes from close quarters. Colleagues, friends and even relatives may criticize
only for the sake of criticism. There may even be some latent motive. So be
prepared and have conviction in what you do.
When you are convinced what you say is right when no other
alternative is within your sight and for your right you are prepared to fight
your conviction you let speak even strong opponent will act weak
There is so much in life and so much to do. However for
anything new even within your existing project you must get used to taking
initiative. Besides having ample initiative gives such a great confidence and
makes every day more interesting. Pray to your God the Almighty, the way you
visualize him saying.
Grant me an unending initiative to further my tasks and be
creative indecision clarity may rule throughout
Risks may not, my mind, shatter completing tasks be my only
matter Flexibility when required let always come so that my day’s battles are
won
Rigidity of ideas must be never display democratic openness
must come to play your grace may always shine brighter making me your devotee,
a downright fighter
Whatever you my do, doing it well is of utmost importance for…
Aspiration to know even more, delving deep into matter core
availing fully faculties of the mind Virtue this is, of a splendid kind let
your imagination fly free awakening creativity to a finer degree pondering on
the problem in hand solutions come with a magic wand
If you try to pay less heed searching shortcuts to successes
you tend to loose you aim and enter another futile game virtue tells not of
easy means strengthens your will; goals are easier seen.
Hindu philosophy suggests that life is a continues battle
where we have to fight out against the implementing hurdles, difficulties
created by others etc. if life is a battle ground, be always prepared to fight
your battle well.
Most humans are fond of celebrating their victories without
fighting their battles.
Don’t announce your victory without fighting the battle don’t
celebrate the success don’t let reason rattle. Success does not always, come
with effortless ease, as though you are the only person for her, to please.
Hold yourself and give, your own mind, time to think nothing worthwhile is
achieved in a fleeting moment, the time, it takes to blink.
Most off the conscious times, you are at your work. So if you
can be happy while working you really feel that life worth living.
By following these simple hints and practices, you are well
on your way to create a positive attitude and you must.
Row the boat of ‘duty’ sail safely across a sea. Search
through your mind what your duty can be. Never is there a situation nor any
circumstance that could ever effect your intention of duty; you want to perform.
Hindrances, hurdles even hurricane may hurt or shake your
resolve. With devotion to your duty; Grater courage will evolve. Duty first,
always in mind greater joy; you will never find.
Unfortunately, sometimes we develop a tendency to complain
and even so bitterly about the fallacies that we come across in the system, in
the organization we work or among the people we interact with.
But one must move on with life without complaining.
Why should you? Always make a fuss living in your static
world rather catch life’s vibrant bus life moves on and so must you time will
not wait whatever you may do!
