Life will not be all plain sailing. Indeed, hardship, trials and tribulations are part and parcel of being. Encountering difficulty is not a bad thing, what matters is the way we deal with it. A positive frame of mind is critical for so many reasons. Positive thinking is proven to raise performance in productivity and quality. We are usually more confident and perform better if we are feeling good and well.
There are biological explanations of this. A positive frame of mind is as a result of elevated levels of neuro transmitters like serotonin that regulate the performance abilities of the brain. The knock results of a positive frame of mind also include enhanced wellbeing not only better mental health but better in the physical sense aswell. This is because of the increase to the immune system that a positive frame of mind can give you.
The opposite is also true, when we are depressed we are a lot more liable to contracting other diseases and mental health issues. Our relationships with others degrade, we start to think irrationally and our confidents can reduce. In short this is a frame of mind that is best to avoid at all costs. Feeling depressed ever so often is not uncommon but the way we choose to face an issue comes from our state of mind.
A positive mental attitude is also about giving you a can do attitude. People who think positively are far more likely to see challenges as opposed to problems or opportunities as opposed to difficulties. For example, entrepreneurs who are successful generally are because they are able to spot opportunities for progress in a sector which other people only see troubles in. The positive mental attitude of a successful individual means that opportunity becomes a reality; because they also have the drive and motivation to succeed and make their vision come true. So as you can see there is much to be gained from a positive mental attitude. The difficulty for numerous people is in developing one in the first place.
Creating a positive frame of mind is not some new aged fad. For ages religious men and scholars alike searched for and created ways to harness an inner harmony. While this may have begun to make mankind closer to god the essence of this idea is just as relevant in the present day. That a positive frame of mind makes us closer to the divine while a negative frame of mind can only lead us in to ways of being which are a detriment to our lives. Monks realised this long ago which is why they devote themselves to a life of abstinence and mental and spiritual fulfilment.
Among the best ways to determine your frame of mind is to consider how you are with other people. A good way to do this is to picture how you behave towards people you do not know. Are you outgoing and open to meeting and talking with other people? Or are you insular and scared. Believe it or not one of the best ways to overcome a negative frame of mind is to change your frame of mind towards the world around you and that means the people in it also. If you are generally uneasy around others then try this experiment.
One night force yourself to strike up a conversation at random in a public place. Do not be concerned about how you look or appear or what you discuss. A reference about the weather or anything will do. Just try it and note how you feel afterwards.
You see, the way you are with other people will have an effect on the opportunities you get offered. Consider it like this who is the most likely to get a job between two people of equivalent ability and knowledge except for one difference, One is uptight and uncomforable with other people and the other is easy going and comfortable with other people. If I was the boss I know which one I would pick for the Job.
Are you feeling down and unable to shift that negative frame of mind? If so check out Quentin's free seminar on Overcoming social anxiety.
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