A positive mental attitude will not allow us to do anything. But a positive mental attitude will allow us to do everything 100% better than a negative attitude will.” — Zig Ziglar
One day as she was conducting a 1:1 meeting with an individual on her team, she met with one of her salespeople. The salesman started off the meeting by saying that he was just having a down day, wasn’t feeling terribly motivated, and thought that they should move the meeting to the following week. After considering the request, she agreed to reschedule the meeting to the following Monday.
The next day the salesperson called out sick, said he just wasn’t feeling well. The following day he came in with even lower energy and morale. By Thursday he wouldn’t participate in meetings, and on Friday his results for the week were as expected, awful.
Obviously, there was more to the story. However, he had never displayed this type of behavior before. So, when he tried to cancel their 1:1 that Monday, she declined the request so that they could talk through things. She asked great questions, found out some of the “Why” behind the “What” and then offered some terrific guidance. She encouraged him to get back to work, stating that if he waited until he felt like selling again and making calls, it would never happen. However, if he would start making the calls and engaging with prospects and customers, those behaviors would start to bear fruit and his attitude and outlook would change. Sure enough, the salesman snapped out of the cloud of negativity and doom and gloom and worked himself into a positive attitude, even having one of his best weeks ever as a salesperson.
Life can throw us curveballs sometimes. When things don’t go as planned, it’s easy to get bogged down in negativity. But fostering a positive attitude, even during trying times, can make a huge difference in how we feel, perform, and relate to others. As the saying goes, attitude determines altitude! Here are some tips for developing and maintaining a sunny disposition.
First, start your day on the right foot. When your alarm goes off, don’t hit snooze and drift back to sleep. Instead, wake up with purpose and intentionality. Open the blinds, do some light stretching, listen to an upbeat song. If you haven’t prayed in a while, start your day in prayer. This will help energize and motivate you.
Next, focus on gratitude. Take a moment each morning to list a few things you’re grateful for — your health, loved ones, a roof over your head. This simple practice helps recalibrate your mindset. It’s easy to fixate on problems, but pausing to appreciate what’s going right cultivates positivity. The attitude of gratitude is a powerful source of inspiration.
Also, monitor your self-talk. Much of our attitude springs from the conversations we have with ourselves. When you catch negative self-talk emerging, consciously reframe it. For example, instead of thinking “I’m terrible at this,” tell yourself “I’m still learning, but I’m getting better every day.” Speaking words of encouragement to yourself is empowering.
Furthermore, visualize success. See yourself acing that presentation at work or overcoming that fitness plateau at the gym. Mental imagery primes us for achievement by boosting confidence and resilience. It also combats anxiety and self-doubt.
In addition, laugh more. Humor relieves stress, forges social bonds and puts problems in perspective. Seek out uplifting comedy shows, funny YouTube videos or amusing podcasts. Surround yourself with people who make you smile. Laughter truly is contagious!
Finally, limit time with complainers and pessimists. Their gloom can rub off on even the most upbeat person. Politely decline invitations to participate in gripe sessions. Save your time and energy for positive people who enrich your life.
In summary, maintaining a sunny outlook requires intention and practice. But the effort pays dividends. With a positive attitude, you’ll not only feel better — you’ll do better work, foster healthier relationships, and be equipped to handle life’s curveballs. As always, I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we can be intentional about our positive attitude, it really will be a better than good life.
Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.