Having a positive attitude doesn’t mean ignoring everything that’s less than ideal. It doesn’t mean being naïve and always acting like everything in life is as you want it to be. Doing this is a great way to get stuck in unhealthy situations. However, it’s equally to agree with the negative voices in your head just because they’re there and saying the same things they have for years.
Both of those choices can be dangerous for your dreams and your health.
Let’s be real for a moment. Life doesn’t always work out according to plan. There are accidents, natural disasters, other people who have different opinions and ideas, cats that hock up furballs on your bed, kids that find markers and redo your walls, “leaders” who do more damage than good, and a host of other unexpected and often unwanted events.
And then, there are the less obvious moments when limiting beliefs whisper words of doubt, question your worth, and convince you that something is “just the way it is.” In some ways, those moments are more dangerous than the obvious challenges.
You don’t always recognize limiting beliefs right away, and things you don’t recognize are things you miss changing. They diminish your power. They wear you down and steal your zest for life.
What Having A Positive Attitude Means
Many people think that having a positive attitude is the same as practicing gratitude. It’s not.
Having a positive attitude means that you have a healthy sense of self-worth and know that you are capable of learning lessons, taking action, and moving forward in life.
Someone with a positive attitude often practices gratitude for what they have and the fact that they can grow, but they are also aware of mistakes, limitations, potential pitfalls, and the stage at which their dreams exist today.
Having a positive attitude means that you:
- Don’t have to accept “good enough” if you want more than that
- Admit when you’ve made a mistake, but instead of focusing on what you lost, you shift your attention to learning what you can from it
- Understand that setbacks don’t have to be permanent
- Seek help and new knowledge when you are overwhelmed or don’t know what to do
- Believe that you can bring your dreams to life, live a life of meaning, and experience joy in all areas of your life
As always, I am available if you have any questions – for counseling, mindful change sessions, or coaching. Please let me know if you would like to talk with me. You can contact me HERE.