Power of Negative or Positive Attitudes

I am going to ask you a couple of questions. First, I want you to listen to your thoughts. What thoughts fill your head? Would you label them as positive, or negative?

Secondly, now let's say you are walking down the street with these thoughts. Do you think anyone who would meet you would be able to tell you what’s on your mind?

The answer to number one is up to you. But, the answer to number two can be pretty generic. Although people will not be able to tell you exactly what you think, they will more or less have an idea of how you are feeling by your facial expression.

Thoughts are very powerful. They affect your general attitude. The attitude you carry reflects on your appearance, too. And it doesn't end there. Your attitude can also affect people around you.

Your attitude depends on you. It can be either positive or negative.

Positive Vs Negative Attitudes

Positive thoughts have an uplifting effect. They are invigorating and usually energize others. Negative thoughts on the other hand have a sapping effect on other people. Aside from making you look gloomy and sad, negative thoughts can turn a festive gathering into a funeral wake.

A positive attitude attracts people, while a negative attitude repels them. People tend to shy away from those who carry a negative attitude.

We can also define attitude as the way of looking at the world. If you choose to focus on the negative things in the world, you have a negative attitude brewing up. However, if you choose to focus on the positive things, you are more likely to carry a positive attitude.

You have much to gain from a very positive attitude. For one, studies have shown that a positive attitude promotes better health.1 Those with this kind of attitude also have more friends. projecting a positive attitude also helps one to handle stress and problems better than those who have a negative attitude.

A positive attitude begins with a healthy self-image. If you will love the way you are and are satisfied, confident, and self-assured, you also make others around you feel the same way.

A negative attitude, on the other hand, has an opposite effect. So, carrying a negative attitude has a twofold drawback. You feel bad about yourself, and you make others feel the same way.

If you want to have a positive attitude, you have to generate healthy thoughts. This is probably very hard to do nowadays since, the media feeds us nothing but negative thoughts. Many studies show that for every 14 things parents says to their child, only one is positive.2 This is truly a saddening thought.

Although it’s impossible to keep ourselves from the negative things around us, you can still carry a positive attitude by focusing on the good, positive things in life.

Sometimes when people feel down, people mostly try to give them advice. But sometimes, all they need is somebody to sit and listen to them. If you have a positive attitude, you may be able to cheer them up without even having to say anything.

If a positive attitude is lovely, why do people choose to adopt a negative attitude? One who carries a negative attitude may be actually looking for attention. Before you get me wrong, feeling sad, angry, or gloomy is not wrong within itself. But dwelling on these thoughts for too long is not healthy.

As always, if you are beset by troubles, even in your darkest hour, focus on the good things in life, you will always have hope. Problems become something you can overcome.

You do not have much to lose by adopting a healthy, positive attitude. Studies show that positive attitudes actually retard aging, make you healthier, help you develop a better stress coping mechanism, and has a very positive effect on all the people you meet every day.3

So, what's not to like about a positive attitude? Adopt one today. Besides, negativity shows all around, starting from the inside and making its way to your physical appearance.

References

1 https://www.healthstatus.com/health_blog/what-is-dementia/effect-positive-attitude/#:~:text=Positive%20emotions%20also%20help%20us,a%20negative%20attitude%20repel%20others.

2 https://parentingscience.com/effects-of-praise/

3 https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/positive-thinking/art-20043950#:~:text=The%20health%20benefits%20of%20positive%20thinking&text=Health%20benefits%20that%20positive%20thinking,Lower%20rates%20of%20depression&text=Better%20cardiovascular%20health%20and%20reduced%20risk%20of%20death%20from%20cardiovascular%20disease%20and%20stroke

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