Unique Steps to Developing a Positive Mental Attitude. A positive mental attitude (PMA) is the philosophy of finding greater joy in small joys, living without hesitation, or holding back our most cherished, held in high esteem, and highest personal virtues and values.
A positive mental attitude is a philosophy that asserts that having an optimistic disposition in every situation in one’s life attracts positive changes and increases achievement. Adherents employ a state of mind that continues to seek, find and execute ways to win, or find a desirable outcome, regardless of the circumstances. This concept is the opposite of negativity, defeatism, and hopelessness. Optimism and hope are vital to the development of PMA.
Positive mental attitude (PMA) is a concept first introduced in 1937 by Napoleon Hill in the book Think and Grow Rich. The book never actually uses the term but discusses the importance of positive thinking as a contributing factor to success. Napoleon, along with W. Clement Stone, founder of Combined Insurance, later wrote Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude, defines positive mental attitude as comprising the ‘plus’ characteristics represented by words as faith, integrity, hope, optimism, courage, initiative, generosity, tolerance, tact, kindliness and good common sense.
So why is a Positive Mental Attitude Important?
A positive mental attitude is important because it will give you a better outlook on life, more fulfilling interactions with others, and a better workforce environment.
It is necessary to keep you going when things are tough, and it helps you develop your self-image and dissolve grudges and negative emotions. If you go through the day with a smile on your face, no one can take you down and anything thrown your way can slide right off your back.
A positive mental attitude is one that doesn’t allow you to succumb to negative thoughts and emotions. With a positive mental attitude, you let things roll off your back, walk with a smile, and rejoice in the happy occurrences in life.
Having a positive mindset gives you an optimistic outlook on everything and can lead you to greater achievements when you don’t have negativity weighing you down.
Being positive in all areas of life is important in life. One has to be able to stay strong and confident in him/herself. Developing a positive mental attitude is a unique way to accomplish this because positivity can be a great shield against all negativity around you.
I believe these unique steps to developing a positive mental attitude would motivate and inspire you to find clarity about yourself and your future.
1. Love yourself.
In order to develop a positive mental attitude about the world around you, you have to see yourself in a positive light first. Be confident in your self-worth and take care of yourself in every area of your life.
Stand tall and smile at the mirror. Tell yourself you are a wonderful human being because you are!
Cut out the distractions, open your eyes, and see that you already have everything in your possession to be happy, loved, and fulfilled.
It’s not out there. It never was out there. It’s in the same place it was since the day you were born. It’s just been covered up by all the external things you have identified with over the years.
Be yourself. Love yourself completely and accept everything that you are. You are beautiful. Believe it, and most importantly, remind yourself often.
2. Realize that you get to control your reactions.
We mostly create reality by the thoughts and beliefs we maintain about life in general. Usually, what we believe in our inner world is what we see in our outer world—not the other way around.
We all go through difficulties in life, and we’re often tested by circumstances outside of our control. Even though you may not be in control of what’s going on outside of you, you can definitely control your reaction to those situations.
Know that you have the power because your inner world affects the influence you allow the outer world to have on you. Always remember that you have more control than you think.
3. Don’t Let Things Get to You
The only person’s opinion that matters is your own. So have a good one! Words can’t affect you if you don’t let them. If someone is rude, just smile and politely walk away.
It will make you feel better, and it will likely avoid an unwanted argument. If they’re going to be rude in the first place, they’re likely the ones with the bad attitude, not you.
4. Be Kind to Others
It’s likely that those around you are on the same journey to create a positive, fulfilling life as you. Be nice to the people around you, and it will make them smile and make your heart a little lighter.
Having a positive outlook on your own actions and emotions is a wonderful step in the right direction.
5. Don’t Beat Yourself Up
Don’t let failures get you down. Instead of chastising yourself for bumps in the road, learn from them. Take your failures and turn them into something positive by forming them into models for growth. This will spin a negative into a positive in a great way, and it will do wonders for developing a positive mindset.
6. Be Resilient
Bounce back up whenever something, or someone, tries to knock you down. You are stronger than your opposition in every situation. Remember that.
You are in control of yourself, so dust yourself off after a fall and get back to running toward your dreams!
7. Set Reachable Goals
One of the greatest pick-me-ups is setting a goal and achieving it.
Therefore, having a positive mental attitude about your goals and your ability to achieve them can set you up for a wonderful path in life.
8. Celebrate Your Achievements
Just as it’s a good thing to set goals, it’s a good thing to rejoice once you meet them.
Patting yourself on the back after reaching an achievement is a great way to positively reinforce your attitude, and it will make you feel great!
9. Let the Past Go and Focus on the Present
The only thing that a negative past can do is weigh you down if you let it. Take the past and use it as a guide for how to do better in the future. Take everything day by day and set manageable goals, focusing on each present-day like a new page that has yet to be written.
Create a wonderful story out of each moment, and as every day passes focus on what you’re going to write into your narrative when the sun rises again.
10. Be Grateful for the Good Things in Your Life
Rejoice and be thankful for every good day, moment, and object in your life. Focus on positive feelings of gratitude and make it a point to pay every good deed back by doing something great.
Let the happy feelings you get when something good happens steep into your life so you can carry them into the next day. Be grateful for every good thing and the negative occurrences in your life won’t feel nearly as potent.
11. Meditate
Take a quiet moment every day to take a deep breath, reflect on the day, and focus on positive energy and emotions. This can help refresh your mind and detox your emotions of negativity.
By calming your mind and body, you can clear away fear, anxiety, and burdens and focus on peace.
12. Surround Yourself With Other Positive Thinkers
The best support for a positive thinker is a group of like-minded friends. Surround yourself with people who will uplift you and who can share your values of a positive mindset.
It will make you stronger and help you achieve your goals with a net of positive support to fall back on.
13. Choose to embrace life.
Let go and embrace the moment, whether it contains an obstacle or an opportunity. Stop fussing over trivial matters and start focusing on what’s really important to you.
Don’t go through life expecting things to change. Life becomes hard and unfair when we decide to complain about things rather than try to change them ourselves. Wake up to the truth that life is all up to YOU.
Be bold and courageous, and make decisions that benefit your growth. Put yourself on your imaginary death bed and realize that time stands still for no one. Start as soon as possible to make any necessary changes you may need to.
Final Thoughts: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” ~Eleanor Roosevelt
Go through life with a smile on your face and practice those unique steps when you choose what to focus on