Are You Using A Positive Attitude to Improve Your Life?

“Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” ― Lou Holtz

We all talk about being positive and how important having a positive attitude is to our success in life, but the truth is it's not as easy as we would like to believe/

A positive attitude doesn't happen independently; it results from our beliefs, expectations, habits, and focus.

We are at our best and far more capable when we feel optimistic about life and have high expectations about our future.

USE THIS CHECKLIST TO HELP YOU MAINTAIN A POSITIVE ATTITUDE:

Take a smile with you everywhere you go. Smiles are free, feel good, and can lift your mood. Science has shown that your physiology and body can lead to your emotions, and smiling enhances your mood and outlook regarding the future.

• A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
• A smile is a significant clue to letting your body and thinking know you are happy.

Create a morning routine that focuses on happiness.?You already have a morning routine to get yourself cleaned up and out the door on time. Add to that a routine that boosts your attitude as well. Consider the things that fill you with a feeling of positivity.

• Taking a walk.
• Reading something inspiring.
• Eating a healthy breakfast.
• Listening to inspiring music.

Ask yourself optimistic questions.?Questions can change your focus. Ask yourself positive questions, and you’ll receive positive answers.

• What’s great about this situation?
• How can I use this to my advantage?
• Who do I love?
• What have I been blessed with?

Spend time with people that have a positive attitude.?It’s challenging to maintain a better attitude than the people you spend time with.?Seek out others with a positive attitude and spend as much time with them as possible.

— Is there a person or a group of people you need to eliminate from your life?

Create a gratitude list.?It’s easy to focus on what you don’t have in life. Change your focus and remind yourself of all the great things and great people you already have in your life.

— Each morning and evening, review your list of people, things, and experiences you are grateful for.

Think happy thoughts.?Your brain is conditioned from birth to see the negative and overlook the positive. While constantly seeking positives and rewards, we are always fighting our brains and nature. This all sounds very negative, but there is some silver lining.

— You can control your thoughts and keep them positive.

Make exciting plans.?It’s easier to be happy when you have a few exciting things planned for the near future. Planning a trip to the ocean would be nice, but simple things work well, too. A planned trip to the movies or the spa with a friend can make the week much more enjoyable.

— Plan to have something you can look forward to each week.

Remember happy memories.?When you’re feeling down, remember some of the good times you’ve had. Spend a few minutes remembering your senior prom or the first time you hit a home run. Five minutes of remembering positive experiences will get your attitude back on track.

• What is your happiest memory from your childhood?
• What about in the last five years?

Enjoy the simple things of life.?Many of the simple things are the most meaningful. Playing with your child or enjoying an ice cream cone can be as enjoyable as making a million dollars or scuba diving in Hawaii. Enjoy the simple things you do each day.

— What simple thing could you plan to do today or this week?

Change your expectations.?Part of unhappiness comes from unreasonable expectations. Life isn’t supposed to be easy. Sure, there will be some easy days. But you can decide to find happiness in the challenging days, too. What you consider to be a “good” day or a “bad” day is influenced by your expectations.

— Is life happening to you or for you? You get to Decide!

Do something nice anonymously.?It creates such a fantastic sense of joy to do something nice for someone without their knowledge. You feel like a superhero, like Santa Claus. Mow your neighbor’s grass or send someone flowers. Give a gift card to the elderly couple down the street. Do something and keep your involvement a secret.

— Who could you do something nice for today, anonymously?

Go over this checklist daily and check off the items you’re accomplishing. Soon, these activities will become a daily habit — and so will your positive attitude!

A Positive Attitude and Happiness are a result of great daily habits. You can choose to do things that will create happiness in your life.