GC

ep
are
Fr d b
MA anc y:
Ed is I
an
-

L.
O

fen
do
re y
es

Attitude
,R
N.
,R
PT

MA
NR
EL A
TIO
N

Positive

Pr

HU

How to Develop

Overview

A positive attitude can go a long way to make you happier overall.

To develop a positive attitude, you need to learn to control it. You
may also want to spend some time learning to value yourself and y
our time, as that can contribute to a more positive outlook on life.
Another way to increase your positive attitude is to find ways to de
al with stress, as stress encourages you to think more negatively.

Method 1 of 3: Learning to control your attit

ude
Understand how your attitude affects your life.
Your attitude towards life determines how
happy or unhappy your are. You can't alw
ays change what happens to you, but you
can change how you react to what happe
ns to you.[1] You make a choice each time y
ou are faced with a situation.

Method 1 of 3: Learning to control your attit

ude
Frame events in a positive way
The way you talk about events can affect y
our attitude. For instance, if you talk or thi
nk about an event in a negative way, you'll
continue to think about it in a negative lig
ht. However, if you talk about it positively,
you'll begin to change your attitude about
it.

Method 1 of 3: Learning to control your attit

ude
Change your language
Words such as "I can't do that" encourage
you to think that way. If you say somethin
g is impossible, you'll likely believe it. Inste
ad, use positive language, such as, "I can d
o this if I take it step by step."[

Method 1 of 3: Learning to control your attit

ude
Be proactive instead of reactive
In every situation, you have another choic
e: you can complain, or you can do somet
hing about your problem. Complaining ma
kes you unhappy, but taking action will al
most always make you feel better about th
e situation. It makes you feel productive an
d like you are actually getting something d
one because you are.[6]

Method 1 of 3: Learning to control your attit

ude
Enjoy the small things
Like most people, you may focus on your
big goals all the time, always looking forw
ard to the next vacation or next holiday. W
hile looking forward isn't inherently bad, it
can sometimes cause you to overlook the j
oy in your everyday life. A piece of cake or
a walk with a friend is a simple, everyday p
leasure that you may not value if you're on
ly thinking about what's ahead. Instead, tr
y to be in the moment, and take joy in wh
at you're doing.

Method 1 of 3: Learning to control your attit

ude
Practice gratitude
Gratitude is essential for a good attitude b
ecause it helps you appreciate the good th
ings you have in your life. Instead of focusi
ng on what's going wrong, practicing grat
itude teaches you to focus on the good thi
ngs

Method 1 of 3: Learning to control your attit

ude
Stop reaching for the next big thing
If you're always on the lookout for the nex
t TV, the next smartphone, the next nice c
ar, you won't appreciate what you have. Y
ou are placing your happiness in what you
don't have instead of what you do have, w
hich means you'll feel like youre always se
arching for something that will make you
happy.[10]

Method 2 of 3: Valuing yourself

Talk nicely to yourself
Like everyone else, you have an inner critic
that wants to tell you when you've done s
omething wrong. However, that critic can
start making you devalue yourself. If you c
an turn your inner critic into a positive voic
e, you'll begin to value yourself more.

Method 2 of 3: Valuing Yourself

Surround yourself with positive people
The people you socialize with affect your
mental attitude. You deserve to be around
people who try to be happy, as that will en
courage you to be happier. Pick positive p
eople for your life, and try to cut out peopl
e who encourage your negative side

Method 2 of 3: Valuing yourself

Find inspiration
Find books, podcasts, or radio programs th
at inspire you to be your true self. Every da
y, take time to listen or read from one of t
hese motivational programs. That way, eve
ry day you'll get a jolt of positivity, and yo
u'll be inspired to go out there with a posit
ive attitude.

Method 2 of 3: Valuing Yourself

Surround yourself with positive people
The people you socialize with affect your
mental attitude. You deserve to be around
people who try to be happy, as that will en
courage you to be happier. Pick positive p
eople for your life, and try to cut out peopl
e who encourage your negative side

Method 2 of 3: Valuing yourself

Value your own opinion of yourself
Other people will try to make your feel bad
about yourself. Maybe they'll judge you on
your appearance or how you drive a car. T
he truth is, the only opinion that matters is
your own. Most of the time, what people
are saying about you is not really about yo
u, anyway; it's about them trying to make
themselves feel better by putting you dow
n

Method 2 of 3: Valuing Yourself

Help other people
By helping other people, you are making a
positive difference, which makes you feel
better about yourself, and encourages you
to develop a positive attitude. In addition, i
t can help develop your sense of gratitude
at what you do have in your life.

Method 3 of 3: Relieving Your Stress

Focus your breathing
When you feel your stress level rising, one
way to calm yourself is to take some time t
o focus on breathing. By simply closing yo
ur eyes and letting your breathing fill up yo
ur mind, you will slowly start to calm dow
n. Try to breathe slowly and deeply, letting
each breath push out other thoughts.

Method 3 of 3: Relieving Your Stress

Sleep on Schedule
How much sleep you get can seriously affe
ct your stress level and your attitude. If you
aren't getting enough, your stress level ca
n rise more easily, and you are more likely t
o develop a negative attitude. Sticking to a
schedule every night will help you get eno
ugh sleep so that you waked up refreshed
and happier.

Method 3 of 3: Relieving Your Stress

Stretch out your tension
If you find yourself really tense at work, tak
e a moment to stretch to help relieve it. A
simple stretch can help take your mind off
work, plus it can loosen muscles tightened
by stress.

Method 3 of 3: Relieving Your Stress

Try writing in a journal
Taking the time to write every day in a jour
nal can be a to release emotions. If you let
your emotions build up over time, that can
lead to a more stressful life.

Method 3 of 3: Relieving Your Stress

Try a hug
Hugs tell your body to release oxytocin. Thi
s hormone can relax you, as well as push y
ou to be more social, which can also be go
od for your stress level.