Life isn’t all plain sailing. Indeed, hardship, trials and tribulations are part and parcel of our lives. Encountering problems is not a bad thing, the main concern is the way we deal with it. A positive frame of mind is critical for so many reasons. Positive thinking is proven to raise performance in productivity and quality. We are usually more confident and do better if we are feeling positive and well.
I have found biological examples of this. A positive frame of mind is due to increased amounts of neuro transmitters such as serotonin that regulate the performance capabilities of the brain. The knock results of a positive frame of mind also include improved health not only enhanced mental health but better in the physical sense aswell. This is because of the enhance to the immune system that a positive frame of mind can give you.
The reverse is also true, if we are depressed we are far more liable to contracting other diseases and mental health issues. Our interaction with other people decline, we begin to think irrationally and our confidents can reduce. In short this is a frame of mind that is best to avoid at all costs. Feeling unhappy ever so often is not uncommon but how we decide to face an issue comes from our state of mind.
A positive mental attitude is also about giving you a can do attitude. Those who think positively are far more likely to see challenges instead of problems or opportunities rather than difficulties. For example, entrepreneurs who are successful often are because they are able to spot opportunities for growth in a sector which others only see problems in. The positive mental attitude of a successful person means that opportunity becomes a reality; because they also have the drive and motivation to ensure success and make their vision come true. So as you can see there is much to be gained from a positive mental attitude. The issue for lots of people is in developing one in the first place.
Creating a positive frame of mind is not some new aged fad. For centuries religious men and scholars alike searched for and created tactics to harness an inner harmony. While this may have begun to make humanity closer to god the essence of this idea is just as relevant nowadays. That a positive frame of mind makes us closer to the divine while a negative frame of mind can only lead us in to ways of being which are a detriment to our lives. Monks realised this long ago which is why they devote themselves to a life of abstinence and mental and spiritual fulfilment.
One of the best ways to determine your frame of mind is to consider how you are with other people. A good way to do this is to picture how you behave towards people you do not know. Are you confident and open to meeting and talking with people? Or are you insular and afraid. Believe it or not one of the best ways to overcome a negative frame of mind is to change your mindset towards the world around you and that means the people in it as well. If you are generally awkward around others then try this experiment.
One night push yourself to strike up a conversation at random in a public place. Do not worry about how you look or appear or what you talk about. A reference about the weather or anything will do. Just try it and note how you feel afterwards.
You see, how you are with other people will impact the opportunities you get offered. Consider it in this way who is the most likely to get a job between two people of identical ability and experience except for one difference, One is uptight and uncomforable with people and the other is easy going and comfortable with people. If I was the boss I know which one I would pick for the Job.
Do you suffer from a negative frame of mind? If so check out Quentin’s blog on Overcoming social anxiety.
