9 Ways to Keep Your Attitude at Its Peak

Posted by Ian McKenzie

Written on May 12, 2008

Attitude is a mind-set, and a successful attitude is all in your head. To a large extent, it’s determined by your thoughts. If these thoughts are positive and directed to the future, they’ll help you achieve your objectives.

If, on the other hand, they are negative and mired in the past, they’ll sap your energy and stall your growth and development. Lurking in the back of your mind, they can sometimes be behind problems like procrastination, low self-confidence, poor time management, and a general lack of direction.

Focus only on what you can control—yourself. Take responsibility for your problems. If you blame others, it will rob you of control over your own life.
Turn negative situations into favourable ones by making a list of all the positive aspects of what might seem to be adversity.
Don’t apologize for your ideas (“This may not be a great idea, but…”) Get use to stating your proposals and opinions assertively and boldly. (“I can find a way to do that.”)
Take a few minutes to picture what it would be like if you achieved all your goals. How will you feel? Where will you be? What will you be doing? How will you solve your problems? Let that vision guide your actions and your thoughts. Act like the person in that picture.
Identify and deal with one negative habit at a time. With daily effort, it takes from two to four weeks to develop new positive thought habits.
Be your own leader. Know who you are, where you’re going, and what you want. Trust yourself and be confident about your informed decisions.
Devote fifteen or twenty minutes each evening in reviewing the day’s events. What did you do well? What might you have done differently? What can you change tomorrow?
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes and so will you. Learn from them. Never dwell on past mistakes; that creates a negative self-image.
Surround yourself with people who are positive and up-beat, are supportive of your career goals, and have the characteristics you want to develop.