optimistic attitude essay

Essay on Positive Thinking

Positive thinking refers to a belief or mental attitude which makes us think that good things will happen eventually and our efforts will pay off sooner or later. It is the opposite of negative thinking which makes our mind full of stress and fear. Thus, an essay on positive thinking will show us how it reinforces thoughts like optimism and hope and works wonders.

Benefits of Positive Thinking

Let it be clear that positive thinking does not mean you do not notice the bad things in life. It means you try to find a solution in a productive way instead of whining about it. There are many benefits of positive thinking.

The first one is better health. Negative thinking gives rise to anxiety, stress, frustration and more. However, positive thinking helps you avoid all this and focus on staying healthy and doing better in life.

Further, it is essential for us to fight depression which positive thinking helps with. Similarly, it will also help us to relieve stress. Positive thinking overwhelms stress and it will allow you to get rid of stress.

As a result, positive thinking helps you live longer. It is because you will be free from diseases that form due to stress, anxiety and more. Moreover, it is also the key to success. Meaning to say, success becomes easier when you don’t bash yourself up.

Similarly, it also gives us more confidence. It boosts our self-esteem and helps in becoming more confident and self-assured. Therefore, we must certainly adopt positive thinking to make the most of our lives.

How to Build a Positive Thinking

There are many ways through which we can build positive thinking. To begin with, we must inculcate the habit of reading motivational and inspiring stories of people who are successful.

All this will help in motivating and inspiring you and showing you the right path. Moreover, it is important to never let negative thoughts thrive in your mind and work towards putting end to this habit.

You can do so by replacing your negative thoughts with constructive and positive reviews. Start to pay attention to your ideas and don’t pay heed to negative thoughts. Further, it is helpful to use affirmations.

These positive statements will truly sink into your subconscious mind and guide you to take better action. It will also help in visualising your dreams and getting the right means to achieve them fast.

Finally, always stay guard and gatekeep your mind to make important changes in life. In other words, do not be afraid to take actions. Keep yourself busy and do different things to avoid becoming cynical and remaining positive.

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Conclusion of the Essay on Positive Thinking

To conclude, we must change our attitude and believe that we will succeed one day. Moreover, we also need to implement positive thinking techniques which will help us learn from our failures and stay focused. As positive thinking plays an essential role in our lives, we must make sure to adopt in our lives.

FAQ of Essay on Positive Thinking

Question 1: What is positive thinking?

Answer 1: Positive thinking is basically an optimistic attitude. In other words, it is the practice of focusing on the good in any given situation. This kind of thinking can have a big impact on your physical and mental health .

Question 2: Why is positive thinking important?

Answer 2: Positive thinking is important as it helps us with stress management and can even improve our health. Moreover, some studies show that personality traits like optimism can affect many areas of our health and well-being. Thus, positive thinking comes with optimism

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Positive Mindset: How to Develop a Positive Mental Attitude

Positivity doesn’t always refer to simply smiling and looking cheerful, however—positivity is more about one’s overall perspective on life and their tendency to focus on all that is good in life.

In this piece, we’ll cover the basics of positivity within positive psychology, identify some of the many benefits of approaching life from a positive point of view, and explore some tips and techniques for cultivating a positive mindset.

This piece is a long one, so settle in and get comfortable. Let’s get started.

Before you read on, we thought you might like to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free . These science-based exercises will explore fundamental aspects of positive psychology including strengths, values and self-compassion and will give you the tools to enhance the wellbeing of your clients, students or employees.

This Article Contains:

What is a positive mindset and attitude a definition, characteristics and traits of a positive mindset: 6 examples, a list of positive attitudes, why is a positive attitude considered the key to success, the outcomes of a positive attitude, 33 tips on how to have & keep a positive mindset in life and at work, helping students to develop a positive attitude towards learning and school, 46 activities and games to develop positive mindset skills (incl. group exercises), 10 worksheets for training a positive mindset (pdf), 32 quotes and affirmations on positive mindset/attitude, inspiring speeches and videos, recommended books, a take-home message.

You probably have an idea of what a positive mindset or positive attitude is already, but it’s always helpful to start with a definition.

This definition from Remez Sasson (n.d.) is a good general description:

“Positive thinking is a mental and emotional attitude that focuses on the bright side of life and expects positive results.”

Another, more comprehensive definition comes from Kendra Cherry at Very Well Mind (2017B):

“[P]ositive thinking actually means approaching life’s challenges with a positive outlook. It does not necessarily mean avoiding or ignoring the bad things; instead, it involves making the most of the potentially bad situations, trying to see the best in other people, and viewing yourself and your abilities in a positive light.”

We can extrapolate from these definitions and come up with a good description of a positive mindset as the tendency to focus on the bright side, expect positive results, and approach challenges with a positive outlook.

Having a positive mindset means making positive thinking a habit, continually searching for the silver lining and making the best out of any situation you find yourself in.

So, now we know what a positive mindset is, we can dive into the next important question: What does it look like?

There are many traits and characteristics associated with a positive mindset, including:

• Optimism : a willingness to make an effort and take a chance instead of assuming your efforts won’t pay off.
• Acceptance : acknowledging that things don’t always turn out how you want them to, but learning from your mistakes.
• Resilience : bouncing back from adversity, disappointment, and failure instead of giving up.
• Gratitude : actively, continuously appreciating the good things in your life (Blank, 2017).
• Consciousness/Mindfulness : dedicating the mind to conscious awareness and enhancing the ability to focus.
• Integrity : the trait of being honorable, righteous, and straightforward, instead of deceitful and self-serving (Power of Positivity, n.d.).

Not only are these characteristics of a positive mindset, but they may also work in the other direction—actively adopting optimism, acceptance, resilience, gratitude, mindfulness, and integrity in your life will help you develop and maintain a positive mindset.

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If you found the list above still too vague, there are many more specific examples of a positive attitude in action.

For example, positive attitudes can include:

• It is looking adversity in the eye… and laughing.
• Getting what you get, and not pitching a fit.
• Enjoying the unexpected, even when it’s not what you wanted originally.
• Motivating those around you with a positive word.
• Using the power of a smile to reverse the tone of a situation.
• Being friendly to those you don’t know.
• It’s getting back up when you fall down. (No matter how many times you fall down.)
• Being a source of energy that lifts those around you.
• Understanding that relationships are more important than material things.
• Being happy even when you have little.
• Having a good time even when you are losing.
• Being happy for someone else’s success.
• Having a positive future vision, no matter how bad your current circumstances.
• Paying a compliment, even to a total stranger.
• Tell someone you know that they did a great job. (And mean it.)
• Making someone’s day. (Not just a child’s… adult’s like to have their day be special, too!)
• It’s not complaining no matter how unfair things appear to be. (It is a waste of time… instead, do something!)
• Not letting other people’s negativity bring you down.
• Giving more than you expect to get in return.
• Being true to yourself… always (Jarrow, 2012).

Now we know a little bit more about what a positive mindset looks like, we can turn to one of the biggest questions of all: What’s the deal with having a positive attitude?

What is it about having a positive mindset that is so important, so impactful, so life-changing?

Well, the traits and characteristics listed above give us a hint; if you comb through the literature, you’ll see a plethora of benefits linked to optimism, resilience, and mindfulness.

You’ll see that awareness and integrity are linked to better quality of life , and acceptance and gratitude can take you from the “okay life” to the “good life.”

The Importance of Developing the Right Thoughts

Developing a truly positive mindset and gaining these benefits is a function of the thoughts you cultivate.

Don’t worry—this piece isn’t about the kind of positive thinking that is all positive, all the time. We don’t claim that just “thinking happy thoughts” will bring you all the success you desire in life, and we certainly don’t believe that optimism is warranted in every situation, every minute of the day.

Developing the right thoughts is not about being constantly happy or cheerful, and it’s not about ignoring anything negative or unpleasant in your life. It’s about incorporating both the positive and negative into your perspective and choosing to still be generally optimistic.

It’s about acknowledging that you will not always be happy and learning to accept bad moods and difficult emotions when they come.

Above all, it’s about increasing your control over your own attitude in the face of whatever comes your way. You cannot control your mood , and you cannot always control the thoughts that pop into your head, but you can choose how you handle them.

When you choose to give in to the negativity, pessimism, and doom-and-gloom view of the world, you are not only submitting to a loss of control and potentially wallowing in unhappiness—you are missing out on an important opportunity for growth and development.

According to positive psychologist Barbara Fredrickson, negative thinking, and negative emotions have their place: they allow you to sharpen your focus on dangers, threats, and vulnerabilities. This is vital for survival, although perhaps not as much as it was for our ancestors.

On the other hand, positive thinking and positive emotions “ broaden and build ” our resources and skills, and open us up to possibilities (Fredrickson, 2004).

Building a positive framework for your thoughts is not about being bubbly and annoyingly cheerful, but making an investment in yourself and your future. It’s okay to feel down or think pessimistically sometimes, but choosing to respond with optimism, resilience, and gratitude will benefit you far more in the long run.

According to Seligman (2006), optimism can be cultivated by challenging the negative stories we create in our minds. This “learned optimism” can be beneficial to feel happier and healthier, to release stress, and to increase performance and motivation.

The ABC Model, originally developed by Albert Ellis and later adapted by Martin Seligman, is an approach to help us think more optimistically. This model can be used for yourself or with your clients. Often, this technique can be found in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) as the approach results in restructuring beliefs through self-awareness.

This technique can be used in daily life situations – An obstacle in your way reflects Adversity . The way you think about Adversity turns into your Beliefs , which impact how you react (Consequence). The Consequences are not inevitable since you can challenge the way you think about them (Seligman, 2006).

Seligman added the components “Disputation” and “Energization” to the original ABC model in order to not only be aware of your thinking patterns but to be able to overcome pessimistic thinking and cultivate a more optimistic outlook.

To be optimistic, you have to change what you believe about yourself and the situation you are encountering. Positive beliefs result in a more positive consequence, which then leads to a more positive outlook.

Aside from enhancing your skills and personal resources, there are many other benefits of cultivating a positive mindset, including better overall health, better ability to cope with stress , and greater well-being (Cherry, 2017A).

According to the experts at the Mayo Clinic, positive thinking can increase your lifespan, reduce rates of depression and levels of distress , give you greater resistance to the common cold, improve your overall psychological and physical well-being , improve your cardiovascular health and protect you from cardiovascular disease, and help you build coping skills to keep you afloat during challenging times (2017).

You’ve probably heard of all these generic benefits before, so we’ll get more specific and explore the benefits of a positive mindset in several different contexts:

• The workplace
• Dealing with disability (for both those with a disability and those around them)
• Nursing and healthcare
• Recovery from cancer

10 Benefits of a Positive Mental Attitude in the Workplace

No construct better captures the essence of a positive attitude in the workplace quite like psychological capital (or PsyCap for short). This multicomponent construct is made up of four psychological resources:

PsyCap was first conceptualized as “positive psychological capital” by renowned management and leadership researchers Luthans and Youssef in 2004. The concept quickly took off among positive organizational psychologists, and by 2011 there were already hundreds of citations of PsyCap in the literature.

The first meta-analysis of all the research on PsyCap was conducted in 2011, and it outlined some of the many benefits of PsyCap in the workplace:

• PsyCap was positively related to job satisfaction , organizational commitment, and psychological well-being.
• PsyCap was also positively related to organizational citizenship (desirable employee behaviors) and multiple measures of performance (self-rated, supervisor evaluations, and objective measures).
• PsyCap was negatively related to cynicism, turnover intentions, job stress, and anxiety .
• PsyCap was also negatively related to negative employee deviance (bad employee behaviors; Avey, Reichard, Luthans, & Mhatre, 2011).

It seems pretty straightforward that positive attitudes like optimism and resilience lead to positive outcomes for the organization and for the employees!

Another study by a few of the giants in the field of positive psychology (Sonja Lyubomirsky, Laura King, and Ed Diener, 2005) investigated the relationship between happiness and benefits to employees. They showed that positive attitudes in the workplace also benefit the employee in addition to the organization:

• Happier employees are more productive than other employees.
• Happy salespeople have higher sales than other salespeople.
• Happy employees are more creative than other employees.
• Happy employees are evaluated more positively by their supervisors.
• Happy employees are less likely to show job withdrawal (absenteeism, turnover, job burnout, and retaliatory behaviors).
• Happy employees make more money than other employees.

So, a positive attitude can have great benefits for the organization as a whole and for all of its employees.

It turns out that a positive attitude can also result in benefits for leaders and their followers (as well as spreading positivity throughout the organization).

The Importance of a Positive Mindset for Leadership

As important as a positive mindset is for the rank-and-file, it’s easy to see why it is vital for those in a position of leadership.

Researchers Hannah, Woolfolk, and Lord (2009) outlined a framework for positive leadership that rests on the idea that leaders with a positive self-concept (a positive idea of who they are and a habit of thinking positively about themselves) are more able to bring the “right stuff” to their leadership role.

In their theory, a leader with a positive mindset is not only more likely to be actively engaged and to perform at a high level, he or she is also more able to influence followers toward a more positive mindset through role modeling and normative influence.

A study completed around the same time provides support for the relationship between leader and follower positivity; trust in management influenced positive PsyCap, which had a big impact on performance for leaders and followers (Clapp-Smith, Vogegesang, & Avey, 2008).

Further, trust in management was linked to positive leadership and performance. While trust in management isn’t necessarily indicative of a positive mindset in both leader and follower, it is certainly a likely outcome of a generally positive attitude in the workplace.

Forbes writer Victor Lipman (2017) puts findings like these in simpler terms:

“It’s always easier to follow someone with a positive outlook.”

In other words, positive attitudes in a leader will draw followers and encourage motivation and engagement in subordinates. Lipman also notes that having a positive outlook and being resilient is vital in leadership positions because there is a lot of stress involved in managing and leading others.

Leaders must always be “on” and spend much of their time “performing” as a strong, confident leader and perhaps even a public face. This role is a tiring one, and being optimistic and resilient will help leaders stay sane and healthy in challenging contexts.

The Promotion of Positive Attitudes Towards Disability

Having a positive attitude is also a boon for those educating, interacting with, and caring for a disabled student, loved one, or patient.

A positive attitude toward disability facilitates disabled students’ education and helps them assimilate into postsecondary education (Rao, 2004).

This makes it even more troubling to learn that, according to a 2012 study on UK primary schools, only 38% of them had a Disability Equality Scheme in place and only 30% had included a plan to “promote positive attitudes towards disabled people” (Beckett & Buckner). Further, 76% of schools reported that their staff had not received any training in the promotion of positive attitudes towards students with disabilities.

With so many resources available for promoting positive attitudes toward disability, there is ample opportunity to rectify this lack; for example, research by The Children’s Society in the UK identified several ways to promote positivity:

• An inclusive ethos within the school.
• Staff teams who are knowledgeable, skilled, and committed.
• Better training, guidance, and support for teachers, including Disability Equality training and ongoing INSET for all staff.
• High levels of awareness across the whole school community.
• Disability equality teaching being part of a wider strategy and included across the curriculum and not just within subjects such as PSHE, Citizenship and Religious education.
• A designated member of staff to coordinate teaching across the curriculum
• A better understanding of why promoting disability awareness and equality is important.
• Links with disabled people within the school community and beyond, as well as links with special schools.
• The availability of good resources.
• Awareness of, and the challenging of, stereotypes.
• A critical approach to the use of ‘disablist’ language which reinforces discriminatory attitudes and negative stereotypes.
• Promotion of the social model of disability.
• The inclusion of positive and diverse images in all materials used within the school and undertaking an audit of existing materials and resources to ensure they promote positive attitudes (More information on these suggestions can be found here ).

A 2009 study also established that formal instruction in disability awareness combined with hands-on fieldwork experiences with people who have a disability can have a significant impact on the positive attitudes toward those with disability (Campbell, Gilmore, & Cuskelly).

The research found that teachers-in-training who participated in a one-semester course involving direct work with students who had Down syndrome greatly improved their knowledge of the syndrome as well as their attitudes toward those with Down syndrome.

All of these findings show that having a positive attitude towards those with a disability is not only the right thing to work toward, but it also has a significant positive influence on both those with disability and those around them.

Unsurprisingly, it’s also important for nurses and other health professionals to cultivate a positive attitude towards their patients with a disability—something that nurses sometimes struggle with (Tervo & Palmer, 2004).

Positive Attitude in Nursing and Health Care

On the subject of nursing and healthcare, this is another context where having a positive mindset (towards oneself and one’s patients—disabled or otherwise) can have a positive impact.

In fact, having a positive attitude is so important for nursing, expert Jean Watson describes nursing as the “Caring Science” (2009). Indeed, positivity and caring are ingrained in the field; just take a look at the five core nursing values:

• Human dignity
• Social justice (Fahrenwald et al., 2005)

These five values lay the foundation for a caring, positive mindset that is the hallmark of good nursing practice. Nurses who embrace these core values and adopt a positive mindset toward themselves, their work, and their patients can help them find the meaning and fulfillment that likely prompted them to enter the field in the first place.

Having a positive mindset in health care not only acts as a facilitator of meaning and purpose in the lives of healthcare professionals but it also:

• Improves the professional’s performance and helps patients find healing and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
• Reduces the frequency of accidents by enhancing focus.
• Helps the professional build a good reputation and advance in their career (Swanson, n.d.).

Luckily, there are evidence-backed ways for nurses to implement a more positive outlook, including:

• The “Three Good Things” exercise, in which the nursing staff maintains a “three good things” sheet that gets passed around all the nurses at the end of their shift; each staff member writes down at least one good thing that happened that day, and the charge nurse selects three of these positive things to share with the oncoming-shift nurses to help them start their day with positivity.
• Increasing social connections with patients by placing a “getting to know you” board in each patient room; on admission, nurses can encourage the patient to share something about themselves (not their illness or hospitalization, but about who you are).
• Encouraging random acts of kindness by nurses—a practice which has the potential to spread to patients and other healthcare professionals as well.
• Enhancing gratitude through a staff peer recognition board.
• Practicing loving-kindness meditation at staff meetings.
• Identifying and applying one’s Signature Strengths (Roberts & Strauss, 2015).

Speaking of the importance of positivity in health care, the benefits can extend to the patients as well.

Positive Attitude and Cancer Recovery

You’ve probably heard the common phrases and encouragements used when discussing someone’s cancer diagnosis.

A cancer patient will likely be told at least a few times that “You have to stay positive!” and “You can fight this if you maintain a positive attitude.”

This idea that being positive will help cancer patients to fight the disease is a common one, although the literature is a bit iffy on whether this phenomenon is real (Coyne & Tennen, 2010; O’Baugh, Wilkes, Luke, & George, 2003).

Although it is unclear whether simply cultivating a positive mindset will help a patient beat cancer, there’s no doubt that getting support, focusing on a healthy mental state, and maintaining a positive attitude will help patients reduce their tension, anxiety, fatigue, and depression, and improve their overall quality of life (Spiegel et al., 2007).

Cancer Treatment Centers of America expert Katherine Puckett agrees that positivity can be helpful for patients being treated for cancer, but clarifies that other emotions are perfectly acceptable as well.

“So often I have heard a loved one say to a cancer patient who is crying, ‘Stop crying. You know you have to be positive’… However, when we make space for people to express all of their feelings, rather than bottling them up inside, it is then easier for them to be optimistic. It is okay to allow tears to flow—these can be a healthy release.” (Katherine Puckett, as reported in Fischer, 2016).

This indicates that the most important factor regarding positivity in cancer recovery is that it is authentic . False smiles and superficial cheerfulness will likely do nothing for the cancer patient, but working on cultivating an authentically positive mindset and focusing on the activities and techniques that build well-being can have a significant impact on a cancer patient’s quality of life and—possibly—their chances of beating cancer.

Do a quick Google search on how to cultivate a more positive mindset, and you’ll see that there are tons of suggestions out there! We’ve gathered some of the most popular and most evidence-backed methods here, but don’t hesitate to search for more if you need them.

Larry Alton (2018) from Success.com lists 7 practical tips to help you get more positive:

• Start the day with positive affirmations (scroll down to see some example affirmations).
• Focus on the good things, however small they are.
• Find humor in bad situations.
• Turn failures into lessons—and learn from them!
• Transform negative self-talk into positive self-talk.
• Focus on the present instead of getting mired in the past or losing your way in the future.
• Find positive friends, mentors, and co-workers to support and encourage you.

A successful author, speaker, and coach Brian Tracy (n.d.) echoes some of these tips and adds a couple more:

• Remember that it’s your response that determines the outcome of a situation.
• Use positive affirmations or phrases to chase off negative thoughts.
• Find inspirational quotes and messages to bolster your positivity.
• Decide to be happy by being grateful and assuming the people around you have the best of intentions.
• Challenge yourself to maintain a positive attitude when something goes wrong—show the world how resilient and positive you are!

For a more specific list of habits and actions you can take to develop a more positive mindset, try these 10 suggestions from Megan Wycklendt (2014) of Fulfillment Daily:

• Keep a gratitude journal .
• Reframe your challenges as opportunities for growth .
• Get good at being rejected—it happens to everyone!
• Use positive words to describe your life.
• Replace have with get (e.g., I have to go to work → I get to go to work).
• Don’t let yourself get dragged down into other people’s complaints.
• Breathe—consciously, purposefully, and mindfully.
• Notice the righteous and good in times of tragedy and violence.
• Have solutions ready when you point out problems.
• Make someone else smile.

Finally, these 11 techniques from Dr. Tchiki Davis (2018) can also help you adopt a more positive attitude:

• Ask yourself, “Do I think positively?” Take a test or quiz on positivity to see where you stand.
• Strengthen your memory for positive information by using positive words more often.
• Strengthen your brain’s ability to work with positive information with exercises that involve positive words.
• Strengthen your brain’s ability to pay attention to the positive by routinely redirecting your focus away from the negative to the positive.
• Condition yourself to experience random moments of positivity (use classical conditioning on yourself to build positive associations).
• Think positive—but not too much—and think negative when you need to; sometimes we need to grieve, think about the negative consequences, and use negative emotions to motivate and engage us.
• Practice gratitude (perhaps with a gratitude journal).
• Savor the good moments (stop to “smell the roses” and celebrate the positive).
• Generate positive emotions by watching funny videos
• Stop minimizing your successes and acknowledge the efforts you put in.
• Stop all-or-nothing thinking; this cognitive distortion is not in line with reality since things are very rarely “all good” or “all bad.”

To pass along the benefits of developing a positive mindset to students, you can encourage them to try the techniques listed above.

However, there are some methods for improving students’ attitude towards learning and school that may be even more effective.

Elliot Seif from the ASCD’s Edge website outlines 13 ways you can help students cultivate this mindset:

• “Reduce the emphasis on traditional testing as the key assessment tool, and focus on more “natural” and diverse assessment approaches such as essays and papers, reflective journals, oral presentations, and other demonstrations of their learning.
• Create the expectation that effort makes a difference in learning. Help students understand that when someone works hard, they are more likely to succeed. Give students more opportunities to put effort into areas that interest them and that they enjoy.
• Include narratives on report cards that focus on individual strengths and interests.
• Where possible, instead of or in addition to reading textbooks, find and have students read and choose books that are interesting to them, that opens them up to the world around them, that makes them think!
• Focus primarily on student strengths and student success. For each student, consider “ the glass as half full ” rather than “the glass as half empty”. Encourage students as much as possible. Understand that not all students will be strong in all areas and that it is important to help each student find his or her strengths and interests and to build on them. Also, see “failure” as an opportunity for student growth. Make it clear to students that not doing well is a cause for looking inside yourself to see how you can do something better (and that you will do the same). Give students more specific feedback, along with opportunities to redo their work and improve it. Provide mentors and tutors and other help and support for students who need it.
• Be willing to “slow down the learning process”. Focus learning on what you think is important. Figure out ways to teach an idea differently, and work on something for a longer period than you normally do if your students are not “getting it”. Figure out alternative ways to teach something if your approach isn’t working.
• Focus a good deal of your teaching on “learning how to learn” skill development. Read up on how to teach study skills, learning to learn skills, research skills, inquiry skills. Make sure that your students grow both in terms of content they learn and the “learning to learn” skills they need to develop in order to learn well in the future.
• Make “asking questions” central to your teaching and to your learning environment and school culture. Write course descriptions around key questions. Use essential questions to focus units, or have students develop essential questions as the focus for learning. As you teach, encourage students to ask clarifying and elaborative questions. Make it clear to students that no question is too small or too silly. Build open time for students to ask questions on the topics they are studying. Use “wait time” when you are asking for questions. Teach students study strategies such as SQ3R[i] that encourage students to turn statements (such as text headings) into questions.
• Give students more choices and options – in the classroom, by offering many electives, through multiple extra-curricular options. Choices/options should give students opportunities to develop and expand their interests, see connections and relevance in what they are learning, and expand their talents.
• Use inquiry strategies, research skill-building activities, interactive learning and projects as critical parts of teaching. Incorporate more interest-based projects into your curriculum.
• Where possible, make learning experiences more “authentic”. For example, consider how learning about the American Revolution might be tied to a current event happening in the world. Visit the area surrounding the school to demonstrate how math might be used for everyday activity. Through surveys, encourage students to provide feedback on whether they feel that their learning is interesting, motivating, and relevant and whether they are being encouraged to develop their talents and interests. Conduct student surveys to determine what types of school and classroom activities are most motivating and interesting. Create activities and experiences that enable students to get outside the school and learn from the outside world and perform community service.
• Create more ways to integrate learning across the curriculum and consider ways to redesign the curriculum. Use themes to create more interdisciplinary units. Connect separate subject areas, such as by teaching American history and literature in tandem so that history topics and specific literature that touch on similar time periods or themes are taught at the same time. When redesigning or renewing the curriculum, examine whether curriculum materials or programs have a significant component built around developing curiosity, motivation, relevance, and interest.
• See yourself as helping students build “pathways to adult success”. How can your subject, your grade level, your school contribute to making these pathways smoother? How can you provide students with a concrete understanding of their future options? Can you take field trips to different places of business? Colleges and universities? Bring in speakers?” (Seif, 2013)

However, these techniques are not always within a teacher’s (or parent’s) realm of control. If you these techniques are too overwhelming or the scope is out of your control, try these 7 strategies that you will likely have the power to implement:

• Be an example. Model a positive, encouraging attitude in all that you say, do and believe.
• Create a positive learning space for your student.
• Help your student visualize a positive outcome from every scenario before starting.
• Eliminate negative verbiage from your students’ dialogue (e.g., respond to “I can’t do it” with “Why can’t you do it? What’s holding you back? How can I help?”).
• Help your students change negative thinking patterns (encourage them to replace the negative thoughts with positive ones).
• Play the role of your students’ biggest fan (encourage them and help them develop self-confidence ).
• Incorporate a rewards system to encourage positivity at all times (Werrell, 2016).

For more tips and suggestions from the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, check out their excellent resource on instilling positive attitudes and perceptions about learning here .

There are many positive thinking exercises and games that can give you a boost.

Some of the most popular ones are listed here, but feel free to search for more if none of them align with your interests—there are a lot to choose from out there!

Zdravko Lukovski from the Enlightenment Portal website has 10 exercises and activities that you can implement in your own life or encourage your clients to try in order to think more positively:

• Listen to your favorite music—it’s that easy! Music has a fairly unique ability to put you in a positive state of mind, so take advantage of that fact.
• Express your thankfulness and gratitude for all the good things in your life. Appreciate them, and write them down to help you remember.
• Remember to breathe. Breathe deeply, slowly, and mindfully to transport your mind to a positive, calm place.
• Don’t live according to a label—labels come from others, not from yourself, and you are so much more than a simple label could ever represent. Be authentic, and it will be much easier to be positive.
• Check your internal dialogue, and challenge that critical inner voice to make room for happiness.
• Engage in positive activities like meditation , yoga , hiking, playing a sport, or whatever other activity you enjoy.
• Take back control of the things you can change—and put in the effort required to actually change—but learn to accept the things you cannot change.
• Go easy on yourself. Don’t kick yourself when you’re down; everyone fails, and it doesn’t mean you’re not good enough.
• Pay attention to your diet, and ensure that you eat healthy food that will contribute to a healthy and positive mind.
• Embrace change—it’s happening whether we want it to or not, so it’s best to embrace it. Make an effort to step outside of your comfort zone (2015).

This list from Thought Catalog’s Kathy Mitchell (2017) has some of the same ideas as Lukovski, but she adds a few more activities as well:

• Listen to upbeat music.
• Have sex (that can certainly be an engaging and life-affirming activity!).
• Travel, even if it’s not very far—the point is to interact with different people and get to know other cultures.
• Eat healthy foods.
• Be thankful and cultivate gratitude.
• Journal and/or use a notebook to write things down—especially positive things.
• Breathe mindfully and deeply.
• Use positive words and avoid phrases like “I can’t” and “I won’t.”
• Practice positive affirmations or mantras.
• Try the Best Possible Self exercise (imagine yourself in your best possible future, and write about it).
• Volunteer and commit your time and efforts to helping others.
• Take control of the things you can, and accept the things you can’t.
• Remind yourself “Never a failure, always a lesson;” make every failure a learning opportunity.
• Try the mirror technique—say something positive about yourself (and truly mean it) every time you see yourself in the mirror.
• Socialize and spend time with others, including family, friends, your spouse or significant other, and new friends or acquaintances.

If you’re more interested in games you can play to boost positive thinking, try these suggested games from Mary Osborne (2017) at Live Strong.

Recognizing Positive Behavior

Gather your team (or family, friends, etc.) and review a list of a generic individual’s positive behaviors (like giving credit to others, smiling, saying thank you, and listening nonjudgmentally).

Next, ask players to identify their reactions to positive behaviors like these.

When everyone has listed their responses to these behaviors, talk about them as a group to show that engaging in positive behaviors like these will attract clients, customers, and coworkers rather than repel them.

The “Glad” Game

This game comes from the Disney movie Pollyanna, in which the main character actively cultivates positive thinking.

Have one person bring up a negative event, like losing a job or breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend.

The other players are challenged to turn the first person’s thoughts to the positive; for example, they can say something like, “ But now that I’ve lost my job, I’ll have more time to _______ .” The first person must come up with a word or phrase that fits the blank.

This game will encourage you to find the silver lining and look for opportunities instead of wallowing in despair.

Egg-Balancing Game

The egg-balancing game can be frustrating, but it can impart an important lesson in staying optimistic and open-minded.

Give your player(s) a raw egg and a flat, somewhat textured tabletop (use a tablecloth or placemat if you need to). Tell them to find a way to balance the egg in an upright position on the table. They might say it’s not possible, but assure them that it is!

Let them try for a while—they might actually be able to do it—but give them a small mound of salt to balance the egg in if they are struggling for too long. If you use the salt, remind them that this is an important thing to remember: sometimes things that seem impossible actually are possible when you think outside the box!

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Hunt for Happiness

This game is described as a “positive-thinking scavenger game” and it can be used with both children and adults.

Have the players make a list of things that they feel make life worth living or, for younger children, things that make them smile.

Once everyone has a list ready, send them off on a scavenger hunt to collect as many items on the list as possible. If it’s too big to collect and bring back, you can mark your “collection” of it on the list.

You’ll have to get creative to check off everything on the list, especially abstract things like “love,” but that’s part of the challenge. As a bonus, it will also help you boost your creative thinking in addition to your positive thinking.

To read more about these games, click here .

For Children

There are even more games and activities to help children develop a positive mindset. If you’re a teacher, parent, coach, or anyone else who interacts with kids, give these activities a try.

Big Life Journal has a great infographic that lists the ways you can help children develop a positive attitude. You can find the whole blog post here , but we’ll outline the 7 activities they describe:

• Engage your child in loving-kindness meditation. You can teach him or her the four traditional phrases directed towards loved ones if you’d like: “May you feel safe. May you feel happy. May you feel healthy. May you live with ease.”
• Encourage your child to help others, whether that takes the form of assisting an elderly neighbor with yard work or chores, helping a friend with homework, or participating in a canned food, clothing, or toy drive.
• Have your child create and write in an “Awe Journal.” Tell them to write down any sights or moments from their daily life that they find beautiful, extraordinary, awesome, or just all-around wonderful.
• Encourage your child to set goals, visualize their path forward, and plan for obstacles before they come face-to-face with them (this is the WOOP approach: Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan).
• Share your own positive experiences with your child. Laugh with them, hug them, and set aside quality time to simply be together.
• Identify your child’s strengths and encourage him or her to put them to good use and develop them further with productive, fun activities.
• Guide your child through the process of coming up with positive affirmations like, “I am kind. I am enough. I am loving. I am good.” (Cullins, 2018).

Another collection of activities that can help children (and the whole family) develop and maintain a positive mindset comes from Sharon Harding at the Rediscovered Families website:

• Keep “Quote Books,” or notebooks for your children to write in. Every week, choose a positive quote to share with your kids and encourage them to write it down along with their thoughts, drawings that correspond to the quote, or insights from a family discussion or activities based on the quote.
• Try the “Success of the Day” activity, in which each family member is encouraged to talk about a success they had that day, like helping someone, standing up for a peer, finishing a project, or committing (or receiving) a random act of kindness. Your children can keep a journal of their successes to look back on and draw inspiration from.
• Create Warm Fuzzy Jars for each of your children; whenever they do something kind or helpful, they can place a pom-pom ball in their jar to represent the warm fuzzy feeling they gave to another person. When their jar is full, they get to choose a special or fun activity to do—with either parent, both parents, their sibling, or the whole family.
• Write Morning Love Notes (sweet notes for them to read in the morning and get a good start to their day) for your children, and encourage them to write them for their siblings.
• Choose an Act of Kindness to help your kids understand the impact a simple kindness can have. Try something like shoveling a neighbor’s walkway when it snows, bringing a meal to a family in need, or volunteering.
• Creating art that helps them to manage their feelings and turn their mind towards the positive (more info here ).
• Have each family member create a Slinky Character Trait Person. Encourage each family member to identify some positive character traits in each other and write them on the slinky person. You can find more detailed instructions here .
• Help each child make a vision board to share their hopes, dreams, goals, and aspirations with each other.
• Complete the Buggy and Buddy motivational art activity to help your children boost their creative confidence and self-esteem .
• Make gratitude stones and encourage your children to practice gratitude every day. All you’ll need is a small, smooth stone and some paint to create a heart on the stone. Tell your children to carry them around and use them as a reminder to think about the things they are grateful for. You can also use them in other ways, detailed here .

If games and activities aren’t really your “thing,” there are lots of other ways to cultivate a positive attitude.

One effective technique is completing worksheets designed to help you develop a positive mindset.

A few of the many worksheets on this topic are described below.

Strengths Exploration

Becoming more positive can start with a fun and uplifting exercise—identifying your strengths.

This worksheet lists 36 individual strengths, with room to add 4 more, that you can use to pick out which strengths you embody. You can choose as many as you like, but try to keep the list to those traits that you think are your biggest strengths .

Once you have your strengths identified, move on to the rest of the worksheet: learning about your strengths in specific areas, how you apply them now, and how you can use them more often.

The second page concerns your relationships—romantic relationships, family relationships, and relationships with friends. There are three questions to guide you here:

• List the strengths you possess that help you in your relationships.
• Describe a specific time your strengths were able to help you in a relationship.
• Describe two new ways you could use your strengths in relationships.

On the third page, you will answer the same questions but with your profession in mind instead of relationships.

The fourth page repeats these questions but with a focus on personal fulfillment (hobbies, interests, pleasurable activities).

You can find this worksheet here .

Gratitude Journal

Cultivating a regular practice of gratitude will help you to become more positive, and this worksheet will guide you in establishing your practice.

First, the instructions for the sheet are as follows: “Two times a week, write a detailed entry about one thing you are grateful for. This could be a person, a job, a great meal with friends, or anything else that comes to mind.”

Next, the worksheet includes some tips for effective journaling, like:

• Don’t rush to write down the first things that come to your mind. Take time to truly think about what you’re grateful for. Expect each entry to take between 10-20 minutes.
• Writing about the people who you’re grateful for tends to be more powerful than writing about things.

To help get you started, you can use one of the journaling prompts listed in the worksheet, including:

• Someone whose company I enjoy…
• A fun experience I had…
• A reason to be excited about the future…
• An unexpected good thing that happened…

The next two pages provide you space to write up to four entries. It’s best if you get a journal specifically for this purpose, but this space can get you started until you obtain a journal.

Click here to download this worksheet .

Positive Journal

Similar to the gratitude journal, a positive journal is an effective way to use journaling to improve your mindset.

The worksheet encourages you to make a point of recognizing positive experiences throughout your day, however big or small. At the end of each day, use the worksheet to record three positive things that happened.

It’s good to have an actual journal for your positive entries (either the same journal you use for recording the things you are grateful for or a separate one), but this worksheet includes space for entering three positive things for 7 days to help you get started.

Click here to read the instructions in more detail.

Protective Factors

The Protective Factors worksheet will get you thinking about all of the positive traits, attributes, and skills that contribute to your resilience and overall mental health. Identifying these factors is essential to knowing when and how to use them.

The instructions are to review each of the protective factors listed and marking where you are on the scale (from weak to strong). These factors include:

• Social Support
• Coping Skills
• Physical Health
• Sense of Purpose
• Self-Esteem
• Healthy Thinking

Once you have given thought to each protective factor, the next page poses some questions about them:

• Which protective factor has been the most valuable to you during difficult times?
• Specifically, how have you used this protective factor to your advantage in the past?
• What are the two protective factors that you would like to improve?
• Describe how things might be different if you able to improve these protective factors.
• List specific steps or actions that might help to make these goals a reality.

To download this worksheet and learn about your own protective factors, click here .

Looking Back, Looking Forward

This worksheet will help you to identify times in your life when things have gone well, when you got things right, and when you thrived.

First, for the “Looking Back” portion, you will be instructed to choose a timeframe to reflect on (for example, “the past year” or “since starting my new job”).

Next, you will answer several questions about the positive events and accomplishments from this time period, including:

• List your accomplishments from this timeframe, even if they seem minor.
• Describe a great day from this timeframe. What made this day special?
• How have you grown, or what lessons did you learn, during this timeframe?
• What are you grateful for from this timeframe? Try to list at least three examples.
• What was a challenge that you overcame during this timeframe?

For the “Looking Forward” portion, you will complete a similar exercise but with a future time period in mind.

Instead of the questions above, you will answer these five questions:

• What would you like to achieve during this timeframe?
• What are you looking forward to during this timeframe? Try to list at least three examples.
• What relationships would you like to strengthen during this timeframe?
• What can you do to help others during this timeframe?
• Ideally, how will your life be different at the end of this timeframe? Give specifics.

Once you have completed this worksheet, you will have a list of good things and accomplishments already behind you, and a list of good things you have to look forward to and work towards. Click here to get started.

Why I’m Grateful

This is a great worksheet for cultivating gratitude, and it can be used with children or adults.

It lists six prompts for you to complete that will help you focus on the good things in your life:

• I am grateful for my family because…
• Something good that happened this week…
• I am grateful for my friendship with… because…
• I am grateful for who I am because…
• Something silly that I am grateful for…
• Something else I am grateful for…

To start thinking about all the things you have to be grateful for, click here .

Positive Activities for Behavioral Activation

This worksheet is focused on the therapeutic technique of behavioral activation—encouraging the patient to get more active, engage in positive activities, and gain the rewards inherent in these activities.

It instructs you to create a list of activities that you find personally rewarding and leaves space for you to do so.

Next, it instructs you to rate the ease of each activity on a scale from 1 (difficult) to 10 (easy) and the reward you get from each activity on a scale from 1 (not at all rewarding) to 10 (very rewarding).

Completing this worksheet will leave you with a list of activities that you can refer to whenever you need a quick boost, and help you learn about what you enjoy most.

Click here to download this worksheet.

Positive Experiences

The Positive Experiences worksheet is a simple one in theory, but it can be difficult to actually complete. The difficulty comes with an equivalent reward though; you can get a great boost in your mood, self-esteem, and self-confidence from completing it.

The only instruction is to consider each of the positive traits listed and write briefly about times when you have displayed each of them.

The positive traits include:

• Selflessness
• Determination

If you’re feeling particularly down, you may be tempted to skip one or two, but fight this urge! You have definitely displayed each of these traits at one time or another—don’t sell yourself short!

Positive Steps to Wellbeing

This resource is actually a handout, but you can certainly make it interactive by taking notes or using check marks to indicate what you have tried, or what you would like to try.

It lists 12 things you can do to improve your wellbeing. These 12 activities include:

• Being kind to yourself
• Exercise regularly
• Take up a hobby and/or learn a new skill
• Have some fun and/or be creative
• Help others
• Eat healthily
• Balance sleep
• Connect with others
• Beware drink and drugs
• See the bigger picture
• Accepting: “It is as it is”

To read more about how each of these activities contributes to your wellbeing, download the handout here .

Positive Self-Talk/Coping Thoughts Worksheet

The positive self-talk/coping thoughts worksheet is a great way to turn your focus from the negative to the positive and come up with positive statements you can use to cope in future stressful or difficult situations.

Example coping thoughts and positive statements listed on the worksheet include:

• Stop, and breathe, I can do this.
• This will pass.
• This feels bad, and feelings are very often wrong.
• I can feel bad and still choose to take a new and healthy direction.
• I feel this way because of my past experiences, but I am safe right now.

After reading the example statements, the worksheet encourages you to write down some coping thoughts or positive statements for difficult or distressing situations in your life. You can write them directly on the worksheet, but it may be most helpful to copy them onto a note card and carry them with you.

While we’re on the subject of positive statements, we should also mention that quotes and affirmations can be an excellent way to encourage positive thinking.

Affirmations

If you’re interested in affirmations, try the Mind Tools Content Team’s (n.d.) list of positive thinking affirmations:

• I have plenty of creativity for this project.
• My work will be recognized in a positive way by my boss and colleagues.
• I can do this!
• My team respects and values my opinion.
• I am successful.
• I am honest in my life, and my work.
• I like completing tasks and projects on time.
• I’m grateful for the job I have.
• I enjoy working with my team.
• I’m bringing a positive attitude to work every day.
• I am excellent at what I do.
• I am generous.
• I am happy.
• I will be a leader in my organization.

If none of these appeal to you on a deep level, refer to their tips on developing your own personal affirmations:

• Think about the areas of your life that you’d like to change.
• Write affirmations that are credible and achievable (based on reality).
• Use your affirmations to turn negative into positive (note a persistent negative thought and choose an affirmation that is the opposite).
• Write your affirmations in the present tense—affirm yourself in the here and now, not a vague future version of yourself.
• Say it with feeling! Your affirmations should be personally meaningful to you (Mind Tools Content Team, n.d.).

If you’re having trouble coming up with your affirmations or you just like to hear a different perspective on positive thinking, you might find some quotes helpful.

Lydia Sweatt (2017) from Success.com shares 13 great quotes on optimism and having a positive attitude.

“Optimism doesn’t wait on facts. It deals with prospects.”

Norman Cousins

“Be fanatically positive and militantly optimistic. If something is not to your liking, change your liking.”

Rick Steves

“No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or opened a new heaven to the human spirit.”

Helen Keller

“Optimism is a strategy for making a better future. Because unless you believe that the future can be better, you are unlikely to step up and take responsibility for making it so.”

Noam Chomsky

“One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn’t pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself.”

Lucille Ball

“An optimist understands that life can be a bumpy road, but at least it is leading somewhere. They learn from mistakes and failures, and are not afraid to fail again.”

Harvey Mackay

“Optimism is a kind of heart stimulant―the digitalis of failure.”

Elbert Hubbard

“Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.”

John Wooden

“Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.”

Benjamin Franklin

“Optimism refuses to believe that the road ends without options.”

Robert H. Schuller

“What is hope but a feeling of optimism, a thought that says things will improve, it won’t always be bleak [and] there’s a way to rise above the present circumstances.”

Wayne W. Dyer

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”

Winston Churchill

“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.”

Martin Luther

Quotes can be fantastic motivators, but you probably agree that a rousing speech or inspiring video can be even more effective.

Check out these TED Talks and YouTube videos on positive thinking when you need a boost.

Jim Rohn’s A Positive Attitude Attracts Success

Brendon Burchard’s How to Reprogram Your Mind (for Positive Thinking)

Carol Dweck’s TED Talk The Power of Believing That You Can Improve

Shawn Achor’s TED Talk The Happy Secret to Better Work

If you’re more of a fan of books than videos, never fear—we’ve got book recommendations too!

Here are just a few of the many books on developing a positive mindset:

• Authentic Happiness: Using the New Positive Psychology to Realize Your Potential for Lasting Fulfillment by Martin E. P. Seligman ( Amazon )
• Attitude: Your Most Priceless Possession by Elwood N. Chapman ( Amazon )
• The Happiness Advantage: How a Positive Brain Fuels Success in Work and Life by Shawn Achor ( Amazon )
• Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck ( Amazon )
• Getting Back to Happy: Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Reality, and Turn Your Trials into Triumphs by March Chernoff and Angel Chernoff ( Amazon )
• Learned Optimism: How to Change Your Mind and Your Life by Martin E. P. Seligman ( Amazon )
• Mindset: How Positive Thinking Will Set You Free & Help You Achieve Massive Success in Life by Benjamin Smith ( Amazon )
• Hard Optimism: How to Succeed in a World Where Positive Wins by Price Pritchett ( Amazon )

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If you’re still with me after this very long read, thanks for sticking with it! I hope you will find that the time invested in reading this piece was worth the information you gleaned from it.

The one takeaway from this piece that I really hope sticks with you is this: Positive thinking is a powerful tool that can result in a lot of benefits for you and those around you; however, thinking positive 100% of the time is unrealistic and could even be disastrous.

We have a lot of different emotions and thoughts, and we have such a wide variety for a reason. There are times when being a bit pessimistic can help us, and it is a good idea to let out the negative emotions you experience once in a while (especially if the alternative is bottling them up).

If you’re an optimist by nature, cultivate gratitude for your inherent positivity, but make sure you don’t push aside the negative feelings that crop up. They’re part of life too.

If you’re a pessimist by nature, don’t despair of ever thinking positively. Try a few of the techniques that seem most applicable and give yourself a break if it takes some time. Remember, the goal is not to become a “ Pollyanna ,” but to become the best version of yourself that you can be and maintain a healthy and happy mental state.

How do you feel about the positivity movement? Are you naturally optimistic, pessimistic, or somewhere in between? Do you have any thoughts about how to cultivate a positive mindset? Let us know in the comments section below!

Thanks for reading, and best of luck in developing a positive mindset!

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free .

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• Wycklendt, M. (2014). 10 simple habits to grow a positive attitude. Fulfillment Daily. Retrieved from http://www.fulfillmentdaily.com/10-habits-to-grow-a-positive-attitude/

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What Is Optimism?

How Optimism Affects Your Physical and Mental Health

Tim Robberts / Getty Images

Signs of Optimism

Are you an optimist or pessimist, causes of optimism.

• How to Practice

Impact of Optimism

Potential pitfalls.

Optimism is a mental attitude characterized by hope and confidence in success and a positive future. Optimists tend to view hardships as learning experiences or temporary setbacks. Even the most miserable day holds the promise for them that "tomorrow will probably be better."

Optimists expect good things to happen, whereas pessimists instead predict unfavorable outcomes. Optimistic attitudes are linked to several benefits, including better coping skills, lower stress levels, better physical health, and higher persistence when pursuing goals.

If you always see the brighter side of things, you may experience more positive events in your life than others, find yourself less stressed, and even enjoy more significant health benefits.

There are many key characteristics that optimists tend to share. Some signs that you tend to be optimistic:

• You feel that good things will happen in the future.
• You expect things to work out for the best.
• You feel like you will succeed in the face of life's challenges.
• You feel that the future looks bright.
• You think that even good things can come from adverse events.
• You see challenges or obstacles as opportunities to learn.
• You feel gratitude for the good things in your life.
• You are always looking for ways to make the most of opportunities.
• You have a positive attitude about yourself and others.
• You accept responsibility for mistakes but don't dwell on them.
• You don't let one bad experience muddy your expectations for the future.

An example of optimism is believing that there will always be opportunities to make things better tomorrow, even if you are experiencing challenges today.

Take our fast and free quiz to find out if you are more of an optimist or pessimist.

The exact causes of optimism are not fully understood, but several factors likely play a role. Genetics, upbringing, culture, and other environmental influences can influence optimism.

According to one twin study, genetics account for around 25% of optimism. Another study found that age is an important determinant, with optimism increasing through young adulthood, leveling off between ages 55 and 70, and then declining in older adulthood.

Research has also shown that optimism and pessimism are influenced by neurophysiology. Optimistic attitudes are associated with activity in the lef-hemisphere of the brain, while pessimistic characteristics are connected to activity in the right hemisphere.

Explanatory Styles

Many factors influence optimism, but whether you tend to be more of an optimist or more of a pessimist can often be explained by how you explain the events of your life.

Explanatory style or attributional style refers to how people explain the events of their lives. There are three facets of how people can explain a situation. This can influence whether they lean toward being optimists or pessimists:

• Stable vs. Unstable: Can time change things, or do things stay the same regardless of time?
• Global vs. Local: Is a situation a reflection of just one part of your life, or your life as a whole?
• Internal vs. External: Do you feel events are caused by you or by an outside force?

Realists see things relatively clearly, but most of us aren’t realists. Instead, we tend to attribute the events in our lives either optimistically or pessimistically.

Optimist Explanatory Style

Optimists explain positive events as having happened because of their own actions or characteristics (internal). They also see them as evidence that more positive things will happen in the future (stable) and in other areas of their lives (global).

Conversely, they see negative events as not being their fault (external). They also see them as being flukes (isolated) that have nothing to do with other areas of their lives or future events (local).

For example, if an optimist gets a promotion, they will likely believe it’s because they are good at their job and will receive more benefits and promotions in the future. If they are passed over for the promotion, it’s likely because they were having an bad month because of extenuating circumstances, but will do better in the future.

Pessimist Explanatory Style

Pessimists think in the opposite way. They believe that negative events are caused by their own mistakes or traits (internal). They believe that one mistake means more will come (stable), and mistakes in other areas of life are inevitable (global) because they are the cause. They see positive events as flukes (local) that are caused by things outside their control (external) and probably won’t happen again (unstable).

A pessimist would see a promotion as a lucky event that probably won’t happen again, and may even worry that they’ll now be under more scrutiny. Being passed over for a promotion would probably be explained as not being skilled enough. They would, therefore, expect to be passed over again.

Attribute positive events to internal causes

Attribute negative events to external causes

Believe that good things will happen in the future

Tend to view bad things as mistakes or random flukes

Attribute positive events to external causes

Attribute negative events to internal causes

Believe that bad things will happen in the future

Tend to see good things as mistakes or flukes

How to Practice Optimism

Understandably, if you’re an optimist, this bodes well for your future. Negative events are more likely to roll off of your back while positive events affirm your belief in yourself, your ability to make good things happen now and in the future, and in the goodness of life.

Research suggests that genetics determine about 25% of your optimism levels and environmental variables out of your control—such as your socioeconomic status—also play an important role.   But this doesn't mean that you can't actively improve your attitude.

While you might tend to have either an optimistic or pessimistic explanatory style, there are things that you can do the help cultivate a more optimistic attitude. These include:

• Become more mindful : Mindfulness is a focus on being engaged, attentive, and present in the here and now. It can be a useful technique to help you focus on what matters in the present and avoid worrying about future events and things that are outside of your control. If you are living fully in the moment, you are much less likely to ruminate over negative past experiences or worry about upcoming events. This allows you to feel more appreciative of what you have now and less consumed with regrets and anxieties.
• Practice gratitude : Gratitude can be defined as an appreciation for what is important in life. One study found that participants who were assigned to write in a gratitude journal showed increased optimism and resilience .   If you are trying to develop a more optimistic attitude, set aside a few minutes each day to jot down some of the things for which you are grateful.
• Write down your positive emotions : Research has shown that something as simple as writing down positive thoughts can help improve your optimism. One study found that expressive writing focused on positive emotions was linked to decreased mental distress and improved mental well-being.  

It is also possible to develop learned optimism . Pessimists can essentially learn to be optimists by thinking about their reactions to adversity in a new way and consciously challenge negative self-talk.

Cognitive Restructuring

Using a practice called cognitive restructuring , you can help yourself and others become more optimistic by consciously challenging negative, self-limiting thinking and replacing it with more optimistic thought patterns.

The process of cognitive restructuring involves a few different steps:

• Identify the situations that are triggering negative thoughts or moods.
• Assess how you are feeling in the moment.
• Identify the negative thoughts that you are having in response to the situation.
• Look at the evidence to either support or refute your negative thoughts.
• Focus on the objective facts, and replace automatic negative thoughts with more positive, realistic ones.

Optimism is important because it can have such a significant impact on your mental and physical well-being. Research has shown that an optimistic worldview carries certain advantages, such as better health, greater achievement, less stress, and greater longevity.

Better Health

Studies regularly show that optimists are more likely to maintain better physical health than pessimists, including a 50% lower risk of cardiovascular disease and greater survival rates when fighting cancer.   Some studies have also linked a pessimistic explanatory style with higher rates of infectious disease, poor health, and earlier mortality.

Greater Achievement

Psychologist Martin Seligman, the founding father of positive psychology , analyzed sports teams and found that the more optimistic teams created more positive synergy and performed better than the pessimistic ones .

Another study showed that pessimistic swimmers who were led to believe they’d done worse than they had were prone to future poor performance. Optimistic swimmers didn’t have this vulnerability.

Persistence

Optimists don’t give up as easily as pessimists, and they are more likely to achieve success because of it. People with optimistic attitudes are more likely to continue working toward their goals, even in the face of obstacles, challenges, and setbacks. Such persistence ultimately means that they are more likely to accomplish their goals.

Emotional Health

Research suggests that cognitive therapy (which involves reframing a person's thought processes) can be as effective or more effective than antidepressant medications in the treatment of clinical depression .

Such improvements also tend to be long-lasting, suggesting that they are more than a temporary fix. People with this optimism training appear to be better able to handle future setbacks effectively.

Increased Longevity

In a retrospective study of 34 healthy Hall of Fame baseball players who played between 1900 and 1950, optimists lived significantly longer. Other studies have shown that optimistic breast cancer patients had a better quality of life than pessimistic and hopeless patients.  

Less Stress

Optimists also tend to experience less stress than pessimists or realists. Because they believe in themselves and their abilities, they expect good things to happen. They see negative events as minor setbacks to be easily overcome and view positive events as evidence of further good things to come. Believing in themselves, they also take more risks and create more positive events in their lives.

Research shows that optimists are more proactive with stress management . They tend to favor approaches that reduce or eliminate stressors and their emotional consequences. Because optimists work harder at stress management, they are less stressed.

Optimism is generally a positive characteristic that confers a number of physical and mental health benefits. But this does not mean that is doesn't have a few potential pitfalls. Some ways that optimism can be detrimental include:

• Optimism bias : Sometimes excessive optimism can lead people to overestimate the likelihood that they can experience good things while avoiding bad things. The optimism bias suggests that people often underestimate their risk of experiencing negative outcomes. This can sometimes lead people to engage in risky behaviors that actually increase their chances of having a bad outcome.
• Poor risk assessment : When people are overly optimistic about something, they may be less likely to think about all of the potential risks and take steps to mitigate those issues. This can ultimately make it more likely that their efforts might fail, or at least run into major problems along the way.
• Toxic positivity : Sometimes people tend to overvalue positive feelings while ignoring or even repressing negative ones. It can also cause people to invalidate the emotional experiences of people who are going through difficult times.

Optimists can avoid some of these pitfalls by focusing on maintaining a healthy, realistic approach to positivity. Rather than focusing only on "staying positive" and ignoring other emotions, the goal should be to try to look on the bright side while still acknowledging the difficulties of the situation.

Carver CS, Scheier MF, Segerstrom SC. Optimism .  Clin Psychol Rev . 2010;30(7):879-889. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2010.01.006

Plomin R, Scheier MF, Bergeman CS, Pedersen NL, Nesselroade JR, McClearn GE. Optimism, pessimism and mental health: A twin/adoption analysis . Personality and Individual Differences . 1992;13(8):921-930. doi:10.1016/0191-8869(92)90009-E

Chopik WJ, Oh J, Kim ES, et al. Changes in optimism and pessimism in response to life events: Evidence from three large panel studies . Journal of Research in Personality . 2020;88:103985. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2020.103985

Hecht D. The neural basis of optimism and pessimism .  Exp Neurobiol . 2013;22(3):173-199. doi:10.5607/en.2013.22.3.173

Carver CS, Scheier MF. Dispositional optimism .  Trends Cogn Sci . 2014;18(6):293-299. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2014.02.003

Wells T, Albright L, Keown K, et al. Expressive writing: Improving optimism, purpose, and resilience writing and gratitude .  Innov Aging . 2018;2(Suppl 1):241. doi:10.1093/geroni/igy023.900

Smyth JM, Johnson JA, Auer BJ, Lehman E, Talamo G, Sciamanna CN. Online positive affect journaling in the improvement of mental distress and well-being in general medical patients with elevated anxiety symptoms: A preliminary randomized controlled trial .  JMIR Ment Health . 2018;5(4):e11290. doi:10.2196/11290

Conversano C, Rotondo A, Lensi E, Della vista O, Arpone F, Reda MA. Optimism and its impact on mental and physical well-being. Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health . 2010;6:25-9. doi:10.2174%2F1745017901006010025

Stanula A, Maszczyk A, Roczniok R, et al. The development and prediction of athletic performance in freestyle swimming .  J Hum Kinet . 2012;32:97-107. doi:10.2478/v10078-012-0027-3

Driessen E, Hollon SD. Cognitive behavioral therapy for mood disorders: Efficacy, moderators and mediators.   Psychiatr Clin North Am . 2010;33(3):537-555. doi:10.1016/j.psc.2010.04.005

Applebaum AJ, Stein EM, Lord-Bessen J, Pessin H, Rosenfeld B, Breitbart W. Optimism, social support, and mental health outcomes in patients with advanced cancer .  Psychooncology . 2014;23(3):299-306. doi:10.1002/pon.3418

By Elizabeth Scott, PhD Elizabeth Scott, PhD is an author, workshop leader, educator, and award-winning blogger on stress management, positive psychology, relationships, and emotional wellbeing.

Essay on Optimism

Students are often asked to write an essay on Optimism in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Optimism

Understanding optimism.

Optimism is a hopeful outlook towards life. It is choosing to see the bright side of things and expecting the best possible outcome.

The Power of Optimism

Practicing optimism.

We can practice optimism by focusing on positive thoughts, expressing gratitude, and staying hopeful. Remember, even in tough times, there’s always something good to look forward to.

Also check:

250 Words Essay on Optimism

Optimism and psychological well-being.

Optimism plays a pivotal role in psychological well-being. It is closely linked to mental health, as it can reduce the risk of depression, anxiety, and other psychological disorders. Optimists tend to see challenges as temporary hurdles, not as insurmountable obstacles. This positive outlook enables them to maintain a healthier psychological state, even in the face of adversity.

Optimism and Physical Health

Not only does optimism impact mental health, but it also has profound effects on physical well-being. Studies show that optimists generally have better cardiovascular health and stronger immune systems. They are less likely to succumb to chronic diseases and have a higher life expectancy. Their positive outlook motivates them to maintain a healthier lifestyle, thus contributing to improved physical health.

Optimism: A Catalyst for Success

In the realm of success, optimism acts as a catalyst. It encourages risk-taking, fosters resilience, and promotes a growth mindset. Optimists view failures as learning opportunities, not as a reflection of their abilities. This outlook cultivates an environment of innovation and progress, leading to greater personal and professional success.

In conclusion, optimism is not just a positive attitude but a life-enhancing tool. It is a testament to the power of the human mind and its ability to shape our reality. By embracing optimism, we can improve our mental and physical health, foster resilience, and pave the way for success.

500 Words Essay on Optimism

Introduction, the concept of optimism, the power of positive thinking.

Positive thinking, a cornerstone of optimism, is not about ignoring life’s less pleasant situations. Instead, it involves approaching these circumstances with a positive and productive mindset. Optimists believe they can navigate through difficulties and find solutions. This perspective can significantly impact our physical and mental health, relationships, and overall quality of life.

Implications of Optimism

Optimism has profound implications for various aspects of life. It is associated with better health outcomes, increased longevity, higher levels of happiness, and improved coping skills. Optimists tend to have stronger immune systems, lower levels of stress and depression, and higher overall well-being. Furthermore, optimism can enhance academic and professional performance by fostering persistence, engagement, and a proactive attitude.

Optimism and Resilience

Optimism: a skill to be cultivated.

While some people may naturally have a more optimistic outlook, optimism can also be nurtured and developed. Cognitive-behavioral techniques, mindfulness practices, and gratitude exercises can help cultivate optimism. The key is to challenge negative thought patterns and replace them with more positive, constructive ones.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Happy studying!

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Essay Curve

Essay on Attitude – Examples, 10 Lines to 1200 Words

Essay on Attitude: Attitude plays a crucial role in shaping our thoughts, actions, and ultimately our success in life. It is the lens through which we view the world and can greatly impact our relationships, work ethic, and overall well-being. In this essay, we will explore the importance of attitude, how it can be cultivated and maintained, and the ways in which a positive attitude can lead to personal growth and fulfillment. Join me as we delve into the power of attitude and its profound influence on our lives.

Table of Contents

Attitude Essay Writing Tips

1. Start by defining what attitude is and why it is important in shaping our behavior and outlook towards life. Attitude can be defined as a mental and emotional state that influences our thoughts, feelings, and actions.

2. Discuss the different types of attitudes that people can have, such as positive, negative, optimistic, pessimistic, etc. Explain how these attitudes can impact our relationships, work performance, and overall well-being.

3. Share personal anecdotes or examples to illustrate the power of attitude in overcoming challenges and achieving success. Highlight how a positive attitude can help us navigate through difficult situations and maintain a sense of resilience.

4. Emphasize the role of attitude in shaping our perceptions and interpretations of the world around us. Our attitude can influence how we perceive opportunities, setbacks, and interactions with others.

5. Discuss the importance of cultivating a growth mindset and adopting a positive attitude towards learning and personal development. A growth mindset allows us to embrace challenges, learn from failures, and continuously improve ourselves.

6. Address the impact of external factors, such as environment, upbringing, and experiences, on shaping our attitudes. Acknowledge that our attitudes are not fixed and can be changed through conscious effort and self-reflection.

7. Provide practical tips for developing a positive attitude, such as practicing gratitude, surrounding yourself with supportive and positive people, setting realistic goals, and engaging in activities that bring joy and fulfillment.

8. Discuss the benefits of having a positive attitude, such as improved mental health, increased resilience, better relationships, and enhanced overall well-being. Highlight how a positive attitude can lead to greater success and fulfillment in various aspects of life.

9. Conclude the essay by emphasizing the importance of cultivating a positive attitude as a key factor in achieving personal growth, happiness, and success. Encourage readers to reflect on their own attitudes and consider making positive changes to enhance their quality of life.

Essay on Attitude in 10 Lines – Examples

1. Attitude is a way of thinking, feeling, and behaving that reflects a person’s beliefs and values. 2. It can be positive or negative, influencing how a person approaches challenges and interacts with others. 3. A positive attitude can lead to greater success, happiness, and overall well-being. 4. On the other hand, a negative attitude can hinder progress and create barriers to personal growth. 5. Attitude is often shaped by past experiences, upbringing, and social influences. 6. It can be changed and improved through self-awareness, mindfulness, and intentional effort. 7. Attitude plays a significant role in determining one’s outlook on life and ability to overcome obstacles. 8. It can impact relationships, career opportunities, and overall quality of life. 9. Cultivating a positive attitude can lead to a more fulfilling and satisfying life. 10. Ultimately, attitude is a choice that individuals can make each day to shape their own reality.

Sample Essay on Attitude in 100-180 Words

Attitude plays a crucial role in shaping our thoughts, actions, and ultimately our lives. It is our attitude that determines how we perceive and respond to the world around us. A positive attitude can lead to success, happiness, and fulfillment, while a negative attitude can hinder our progress and hold us back from reaching our full potential.

Having a positive attitude can help us overcome challenges, stay motivated, and maintain a sense of optimism even in difficult times. It allows us to approach situations with a growth mindset, learn from failures, and keep moving forward. On the other hand, a negative attitude can breed self-doubt, fear, and a defeatist mentality that can prevent us from taking risks and pursuing our goals.

Ultimately, our attitude is a choice that we make every day. By cultivating a positive attitude, we can create a more fulfilling and successful life for ourselves.

Short Essay on Attitude in 200-500 Words

Attitude is a powerful force that shapes our thoughts, feelings, and actions. It is the way we approach life and the way we respond to the challenges and opportunities that come our way. Our attitude can have a significant impact on our success, happiness, and overall well-being.

One of the key aspects of attitude is positivity. A positive attitude can help us see the good in every situation, even when things are not going as planned. It allows us to focus on solutions rather than problems, and to approach challenges with a sense of optimism and resilience. People with a positive attitude are more likely to be successful in their endeavors, as they are able to maintain a sense of motivation and determination even in the face of setbacks.

On the other hand, a negative attitude can be detrimental to our well-being. It can lead to feelings of frustration, anger, and hopelessness, which can hinder our ability to overcome obstacles and achieve our goals. A negative attitude can also affect our relationships with others, as it can make us more prone to conflict and misunderstandings.

Our attitude is not only influenced by external factors, such as our environment and the people around us, but also by our internal beliefs and perceptions. It is important to be aware of our attitudes and to actively work on cultivating a positive mindset. This can be done through practices such as mindfulness, gratitude, and self-reflection.

In addition to positivity, another important aspect of attitude is resilience. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from adversity and to adapt to change. It is a key trait that can help us navigate the ups and downs of life with grace and strength. People with a resilient attitude are able to learn from their mistakes, grow from their experiences, and emerge stronger and more resilient than before.

In conclusion, attitude plays a crucial role in shaping our lives and our experiences. A positive attitude can help us overcome obstacles, achieve our goals, and maintain healthy relationships with others. On the other hand, a negative attitude can hold us back and prevent us from reaching our full potential. It is important to be mindful of our attitudes and to actively work on cultivating a positive and resilient mindset. By doing so, we can lead a more fulfilling and successful life.

Essay on Attitude in 1000-1500 Words

Attitude is a complex and multifaceted concept that plays a crucial role in shaping our thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. It is often described as a mental and emotional state that influences how we perceive and interact with the world around us. Our attitude can determine our success, happiness, and overall well-being. In this essay, we will explore the importance of attitude, how it is formed, and ways in which we can cultivate a positive attitude in our lives.

Attitude is a powerful force that can either propel us towards success or hold us back from reaching our full potential. Our attitude is reflected in our thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors, and it can have a profound impact on our relationships, career, and overall quality of life. A positive attitude is characterized by optimism, resilience, and a willingness to learn and grow from challenges. On the other hand, a negative attitude is marked by pessimism, self-doubt, and a tendency to focus on obstacles rather than opportunities.

Our attitude is shaped by a variety of factors, including our upbringing, experiences, and the people we surround ourselves with. Our childhood experiences, in particular, can have a lasting impact on our attitude towards life. For example, children who grow up in a supportive and nurturing environment are more likely to develop a positive attitude, while those who experience trauma or neglect may struggle to maintain a positive outlook.

Our experiences also play a significant role in shaping our attitude. Positive experiences can reinforce a positive attitude, while negative experiences can lead to feelings of resentment, anger, or hopelessness. The people we interact with on a daily basis can also influence our attitude. Surrounding ourselves with positive, supportive individuals can help us maintain a positive attitude, while negative or toxic relationships can drag us down and foster a negative mindset.

Despite the many factors that can influence our attitude, it is ultimately up to us to choose how we respond to the challenges and opportunities that come our way. Cultivating a positive attitude requires self-awareness, mindfulness, and a willingness to challenge negative thought patterns. By adopting a growth mindset and focusing on our strengths and abilities, we can overcome obstacles and achieve our goals.

One of the key components of a positive attitude is resilience. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks and adversity, and it is a crucial trait for success in both personal and professional life. Resilient individuals are able to maintain a positive attitude in the face of challenges, and they view setbacks as opportunities for growth and learning. By developing resilience, we can cultivate a positive attitude that will help us navigate life’s ups and downs with grace and confidence.

Another important aspect of a positive attitude is gratitude. Gratitude is the practice of acknowledging and appreciating the good things in our lives, no matter how small. By cultivating a sense of gratitude, we can shift our focus from what is lacking to what we have, and we can cultivate a positive attitude that is grounded in appreciation and abundance. Gratitude has been linked to numerous benefits, including improved mental health, increased resilience, and greater overall well-being.

In addition to resilience and gratitude, self-care is another important component of a positive attitude. Self-care involves taking care of our physical, emotional, and mental well-being, and it is essential for maintaining a positive attitude. By prioritizing self-care activities such as exercise, meditation, and spending time with loved ones, we can recharge our batteries and cultivate a positive attitude that will help us face life’s challenges with strength and resilience.

In conclusion, attitude is a powerful force that can shape our thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. A positive attitude is characterized by optimism, resilience, and a willingness to learn and grow from challenges. By cultivating resilience, gratitude, and self-care, we can develop a positive attitude that will help us navigate life’s ups and downs with grace and confidence. Ultimately, our attitude is a choice, and by choosing to adopt a positive mindset, we can create a life that is filled with joy, fulfillment, and success.

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119 Optimism Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Optimism is a powerful mindset that can greatly impact your life in a positive way. It's the belief that things will work out for the best, even in difficult times. If you're struggling to find inspiration for an essay on optimism, here are 119 topic ideas and examples to help you get started.

• The power of positive thinking in overcoming challenges
• How to cultivate optimism in your daily life
• The benefits of having an optimistic outlook
• The impact of optimism on mental health
• Finding hope in the midst of adversity
• The role of optimism in achieving success
• Overcoming self-doubt through optimism
• How optimism can improve relationships
• The connection between optimism and resilience
• The science behind why optimism is good for you
• The importance of staying positive during tough times
• How optimism can change your perspective on life
• Using optimism as a tool for personal growth
• The role of optimism in creating a fulfilling life
• Finding silver linings in difficult situations
• The link between optimism and happiness
• How to maintain optimism in the face of uncertainty
• The power of optimism in achieving your goals
• Overcoming setbacks with a positive mindset
• The impact of optimism on physical health
• Finding joy in the little things through optimism
• Cultivating gratitude as a form of optimism
• The role of optimism in building resilience in children
• The connection between optimism and creativity
• Using optimism to overcome fear and anxiety
• The benefits of practicing optimism daily
• How optimism can help you bounce back from failure
• The role of optimism in shaping your future
• The impact of negative thinking on your mindset
• Finding hope and inspiration through optimism
• The connection between optimism and motivation
• Overcoming pessimism with a positive attitude
• The role of optimism in building confidence
• The link between optimism and personal empowerment
• Using optimism to navigate life's challenges
• The impact of optimism on decision-making
• The benefits of seeing the glass half full
• How optimism can improve your overall well-being
• Overcoming adversity through the power of optimism
• The role of optimism in creating a sense of purpose
• Finding resilience in times of uncertainty through optimism
• The connection between optimism and self-care
• The power of optimism in creating a supportive community
• How optimism can help you overcome limiting beliefs
• The impact of optimism on stress management
• Using optimism to cultivate a growth mindset
• The benefits of having a positive attitude in life
• Overcoming challenges with a hopeful outlook
• The role of optimism in building emotional intelligence
• Finding peace and contentment through optimism
• The connection between optimism and success in relationships
• Using optimism to navigate change and uncertainty
• The impact of optimism on your overall mindset
• Cultivating self-love and acceptance through optimism
• The benefits of looking on the bright side of things
• Overcoming self-limiting beliefs through optimism
• The role of optimism in creating a sense of purpose and meaning
• The connection between optimism and personal growth
• Using optimism to overcome fear and doubt
• The impact of optimism on your mental and emotional well-being
• Finding inspiration and motivation through optimism
• The benefits of having a positive outlook on life
• Overcoming adversity with a hopeful mindset
• The role of optimism in achieving your dreams and goals
• The connection between optimism and resilience in the face of challenges
• Using optimism to create a sense of abundance and gratitude
• The impact of optimism on your overall happiness and fulfillment
• Cultivating a sense of hope and possibility through optimism
• The benefits of maintaining a positive attitude in difficult times
• Overcoming self-doubt and insecurity with a hopeful outlook
• The role of optimism in building confidence and self-esteem
• The connection between optimism and personal empowerment and agency
• Using optimism to overcome fear and anxiety in uncertain times
• The impact of optimism on your physical health and well-being
• Finding joy and fulfillment in life through a positive mindset
• The benefits of practicing optimism daily as a form of self-care
• Overcoming challenges and setbacks with a hopeful attitude
• The role of optimism in creating a sense of purpose and meaning in life
• The connection between optimism and personal growth and development
• Using optimism to cultivate a sense of gratitude and abundance
• The impact of optimism on your overall mindset and outlook on life
• Cultivating resilience and perseverance through a positive attitude
• The benefits of having a hopeful outlook in challenging times
• Overcoming self-limiting beliefs and negative thought patterns with optimism
• The role of optimism in building emotional intelligence and self-awareness
• The connection between optimism and success in relationships and communication
• Using optimism to navigate change and uncertainty with grace and resilience
• The impact of optimism on your mental and emotional well-being and overall health
• Finding inspiration and motivation to overcome obstacles and achieve your goals
• The benefits of maintaining a positive attitude and mindset in all areas of your life
• Overcoming adversity and challenges with a hopeful and determined spirit
• The role of optimism in creating a sense of purpose and direction in life
• The connection between optimism and personal growth and transformation
• Using optimism to overcome fear and doubt in pursuit of your dreams and aspirations
• The impact of optimism on your overall happiness, fulfillment, and well-being
• Cultivating a sense of hope, possibility, and abundance through optimism
• The benefits of practicing optimism as a form of self-care and personal development
• Overcoming self-doubt, insecurity, and negative self-talk with a positive mindset
• The role of optimism in building confidence, self-esteem, and self-empowerment
• The connection between optimism and resilience, perseverance, and adaptability
• Using optimism to overcome fear, anxiety, and uncertainty with courage and strength
• The impact of optimism on your physical health, mental health, and emotional well-being
• Finding joy, fulfillment, and contentment in life through a hopeful and grateful heart
• The benefits of maintaining a positive attitude and outlook on life in all circumstances
• Overcoming challenges, setbacks, and obstacles with a determined and optimistic spirit
• The role of optimism in creating a sense of purpose, meaning, and fulfillment in life
• The connection between optimism and personal growth, development, and transformation
• Using optimism to cultivate gratitude, abundance, and resilience in the face of adversity
• The impact of optimism on your mindset, perspective, and overall quality of life
• Cultivating self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and strength through a positive attitude
• The benefits of having a hopeful and optimistic outlook on relationships, communication, and connection
• Overcoming self-limiting beliefs, negative thought patterns, and self-sabotage with a mindset of possibility and opportunity
• The role of optimism in building confidence, self-esteem, and self-empowerment in all areas of your life
• The connection between optimism and resilience, perseverance, adaptability, and strength in navigating life's challenges
• Using optimism to overcome fear, doubt, anxiety, and uncertainty with courage, grace, and determination
• The impact of optimism on your physical health, mental health, emotional well-being, and overall sense of fulfillment and happiness
• Finding joy, contentment, peace, and abundance in life through a grateful heart, a hopeful spirit, and a positive attitude
• The benefits of practicing optimism as a form of self-care, personal development, and growth in all aspects of your life
• Overcoming challenges, setbacks, obstacles, and adversity with a resilient, determined, and optimistic mindset and outlook on life

In conclusion, optimism is a powerful mindset that can help you overcome challenges, find joy in life, and achieve your goals. By cultivating a positive attitude and outlook on life, you can create a sense of hope, possibility, and abundance that will carry you through even the toughest times. So, whether you're writing an essay on optimism or simply looking to improve your own mindset, these topic ideas and examples can help inspire you to embrace the power of positive thinking.

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Essays About Attitude: Top 5 Examples Plus Prompts

Your attitude and demeanor affect all aspects of your life. We have found an inspiring list of essays about attitude to help you choose your own angle.

Attitude refers to a person’s way of thinking about something that affects their behavior. One can say that the proper attitude is vital to leading a fruitful life, whatever that might be for specific individuals. A “good” attitude and a positive outlook can better ascertain success, while a “bad” attitude predisposes a person to fail.

One’s attitude is founded upon knowledge, beliefs, and feelings and reflected in behavior. However, it is also shaped by your experiences.

If you want to write an essay about attitude, here are 5 essay examples and 5 prompts we have prepared to make the process easier for you. 

For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the best essay checkers .

1. Attitude changes everything – it can change your life by Kate Darbyshire Evans

2. 6 ways to banish negative thoughts by emily co, 3. our life is a reflection of our attitude. by iqra shehzadi, 4. watch your attitude: your students are counting on you by amber chandler, 5. how to develop a positive attitude in the workplace by jennifer post, 5 writing prompts on essays about attitude, 1. why is a good attitude so important, 2. how can you change your attitude for the better, 3. is a bad attitude really as detrimental as it is said to be, 4. how has your attitude affected your life, 5. does attitude reflect character.

“Attitude changes everything. Change your attitude, and you can change your life. You cannot always control what happens to you in life but you can always control how you respond to the challenges or difficult situations you encounter. The attitude you approach anything with is entirely your choice. The way you choose to respond mirrors your attitude and so by changing your attitude you can change your perspective and change your life.”

Evans talks about how genuinely present one’s attitude is in the different aspects of their life. It can, quite literally, “change your life.” Regardless of your challenges, Evans believes that a positive attitude can help you steady your course and maintain a good life. She also gives readers tips on developing a good attitude and a more positive outlook on life, including being more grateful, not taking life too seriously, and stepping out of your comfort zone. 

“It’s easy to become jaded when life gets tough, but don’t get caught up in negative thoughts because it may hinder your progress. Seeing the world as a glass half empty may lead you to give up easier and not try as hard because you may think that it’s pointless to even make an attempt.”  

In this short essay, Co lists down a few ways in which we can maintain a positive attitude by keeping negative thoughts out of our minds. These include keeping a gratitude journal, keeping good company, being around animals, and looking for new hobbies. Co believes these activities help promote positivity so that we are not as affected when life gets challenging. You might also be interested in these essays about discipline .

“Our mind has sufficient bandwidth to focus on one thought at a time. All you must do is keep it attentive on inspiring thoughts until you achieve your goal or establish a new habit. After adopting a positive attitude, I have noticed amazing changes all around. I also have noticed a major boost in my confidence and I feel more capable of taking on new projects and challenges which might have formerly been outside my comfort zone.”

Shehzadi reflects on the importance of a positive attitude. She briefly goes over its benefits, like increased confidence and reduced stress. To develop a better attitude, surround yourself with positive people. From there, you can practice kindness, patience, and tolerance. As our attitude reflects itself in how we live, a positive attitude leads to a more productive life. Training your mind to be positive is an excellent investment for your well-being, both mentally and physically. 

“It’s human nature to express ourselves, sure, but I think adults underestimate the impact our ‘attitudes’ have on our own children and students. As we deal with the new variants, head back to school and face another uncertain school year, our attitudes are going to shape the experiences of our students. Why not make a concerted, intentional effort to be the one place where your students can let their guard down and take a break from the attitudes that are everywhere?”

Chandler, an educator, discusses the importance of the right attitude in an environment with kids and the importance of setting a good example. She believes that an authentic, positive attitude helps students thrive, but she also stresses the importance of empathy. To her, the ideal attitude is positive, practical, humble, and empathetic. She wants adults to be more mindful of their attitude, especially in front of kids- they may have certain mannerisms or habits that children will quickly pick up on.

“Not everyone is going to be positive all the time. That’s an unrealistic idea. But even when people are down and at their most negative, there are things one can do to deal with those emotions and actions around the office to keep them from impacting others. Even if it’s just one co-worker causing an issue, take matters into your own hands for your own happiness at work.”

Post’s essay elaborates on the importance of having an attitude suited to your work. Like in Co’s essay, Post discusses certain things we can do to improve our attitude and make us more productive in the workplace. Most significantly, she says that simply saying “yes” more can help develop a better attitude. Even if we cannot always be positive, Post wants us to maximize the positivity in every situation, to look at it from a “glass half full” perspective.

Everyone talks about how the proper attitude helps you go far in life, but how does this work? In your essay, you can explore what makes attitude so vital. You can find examples where people have improved their attitude and attribute it to real-life benefits such as happiness or success. You can also check out these essays about character .

Many people often talk about fixing their attitude and getting out of bad habits. You can use the sample essays to decide which methods you can adopt to improve your attitude. Keep your selection short, simple, and meaningful. Do you think they could be successfully applied to anyone?

Would you say that a good attitude is as important as people say it is? And does a bad attitude indeed dictates one’s fortune or misfortune? Based on research and your own beliefs, decide on your position and provide evidence to support your argument.

Write about something as simple as the effects of your attitude on your life. How does your outlook on life affect you? Do you feel that your attitude is helping you live your life well? Do you think there is anything that you can change to optimize your daily life? Try and provide examples of when a different attitude may have produced a different outcome in a scenario.

Often people are told they have a bad attitude and are misjudged for it. However, is their attitude a true reflection of their character or simply masking a hidden agenda? Think of examples when people may be misjudged by their attitude, or perhaps their behavior was misconstrued, and discuss how difficult it is to remedy this after the event. There are numerous examples of this in literature that you can reference. If you cannot think of a real-life example pick one from an appropriate piece and discuss the character’s attitude, and others’ perceptions of them.

Tip: If writing an essay sounds like a lot of work, simplify it. Write a simple 5 paragraph essay instead.

Positive Psychology

The Benefits Of Optimism

As you explore the benefits of optimism, you may wonder if optimists are setting themselves up for disappointment by having such high expectations. Do they simply sit back and wait for good things to happen to them? Or do they take more risks and end up getting hurt because they believe that everything will turn out okay in the end?

Contrary to these common misconceptions, the research on healthy optimism shows that optimistic individuals tend to approach life in a more balanced way. They don’t ignore or deny negative experiences, but they do tend to focus more on positive ones. This helps them build resilience and cope more effectively with adversity.

So what can you expect as you begin to cultivate a more optimistic outlook on life? In this article, we’ll explore the research-backed optimism benefits and share practical tips for building a more positive mindset. Whether you’re looking to enhance your well-being, achieve your goals, or simply enjoy life more fully, the benefits of being optimistic are well worth exploring in this essay.

1. More happiness

As expected, optimists report being happier in life. But what is the mechanism here?

As the University College London’s Tali Sharot explains, optimistic people are happier because they imagine positive events more vividly and expect them to occur sooner. This all boosts the luscious feeling of anticipation, which is greater the more pleasurable the anticipated event, the more vividly we can imagine it, the more probable we think it is to happen, and the sooner it will be happening. Of course, it makes sense that having a sense of hope and positive attitude about the future would make us more content in the present.

2. More positive emotions and better relationships

Optimists have a more positive mood and morale, more vitality, a sense of mastery, and high self-regard. They feel in control of their destiny. All that positivity must radiate outward, because optimists tend to be better liked by others, too.

3. Fewer negative emotions

Optimists experience less depression and anxiety, and optimistic explanatory style can alleviate depression and help prevent relapses. According to psychologist Martin Seligman, depression is often accompanied by a pessimistic explanatory style: we tend to blame ourselves for misfortune, believe it’s permanent, and believe it affects all areas of life. Depressed people also exhibit learned helplessness, the feeling that they’re not in control of their lives (which leads to passivity). In contrast, optimism brings a sense of agency and confidence, and with it less despair and hopelessness.

4. Better health

Optimists are physically healthier. In the famous Grant Study, a longitudinal study of male Harvard students from the classes of 1939-1944, optimism began predicting health starting at age 45. In another famous study, this time of Catholic nuns, optimistic nuns outlived negative ones by about 10 years.

Different mechanisms are at work here, some physical and others behavior-oriented. Optimistic explanatory style boosts our immune system, protecting us from infectious diseases and decreasing the likelihood of breast cancer relapse. Pessimistic people   have twice as many infectious illnesses and twice as many doctor visits. But even these physical changes may have their roots in the increased social support that optimists enjoy.

On the behavior side, studies have shown that optimists live longer and are less likely to die from accidental or violent events because they take active steps to protect themselves. As an example of how optimism can lead to positive outcomes, personal growth essay example often discuss how the optimist is proactive and tries to ensure things turn out according to their positive expectations. Critiques of the benefits of optimism in psychology call it complacent or unrealistic, but the optimism we’re talking about here stems from being proactive and trying to ensure things turn out according to our positive expectations. The optimist is the one who is brave enough to ride in a car but does wear a seatbelt

In contrast, pessimism works like the “nocebo effect,” the opposite of the placebo effect. People who are pessimistic and believe they’re prone to disease or bound to get worse actually are and do. In the talk below, Dr. Allan Hamilton describes optimism’s effects on heart disease, HIV, and cancer and how the medical industry – himself included – is conspiring to snuff out hope:

5. Better coping

Optimists cope better with stress and take more direct action in the face of adversity. When something bad happens, their habitually positive habits of thinking kick in and they look for ways the situation isn’t as bad as they thought and things will get better. “Optimism and hope relate to how we think and feel about the future. If we really do believe that things will work out for the best, all the setbacks become easier to deal with,” writes Fox.

Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 1991, and his life took a different turn. He took a long break from his acting career, started the  Michael J. Fox Foundation , and – most of all – didn’t let the diagnosis shake his positive outlook on the world. His second book,  Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist ,   came out in 2009. Here, he discusses his optimism with TV show host Ellen Degeneres:

Musician Besa Luzha is another example of optimistic coping. Enduring the Kosovo War and living in a refugee camp, she managed to see the positive in the challenges and remain hopeful, she explains:

6.  Better performance

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement; nothing can be done without hope,” writes Helen Keller in  Optimism: An Essay .

Because of their attitude, optimists are more likely to exert effort toward their goals and persist in the face of obstacles. When optimists expect something great and don’t achieve it, their brain’s frontal lobe goes to work figuring out why and learning for the future. If we don’t expect greatness, this doesn’t happen. “Hope . . . enables people to embrace their goals and stay committed to moving toward them,” Sharot writes.

That’s the key combination: commitment plus tenacity. One study, for example, found that optimists   are less likely to drop out of college because they’re more motivated and less distressed. Research by Suzanne Segerstrom has shown that part of the key to optimism’s benefits is how persistent it makes us. Her view and some of her studies are discussed in this article:

Read “The Optimism Revolution”

Martin Seligman’s research has shown that people with an optimistic explanatory style are more productive than their pessimistic peers, persisting through obstacles and making up for any deficits of intelligence or skill. Sports teams with an optimistic explanatory style tend to improve year-to-year, and optimistic athletes perform better, particularly in crunch time. Politicians with an optimistic explanatory style tend to win elections – in 1998, explanatory style correctly predicted all the US primaries and 25 out of 29 Senate seats. Was it Barack Obama’s message of “hope” – closely related to optimism – that won him the presidency?

Seligman also found that the most optimistic 10% of insurance salesmen sell 88% more than the most pessimistic 10% and are much less likely to quit. Optimism comes in handy in the face of failure and defeat, urging athletes and businessmen to keep going. “Optimistic explanatory style is the key to persistence,” he writes. 

Case in point: humorist Guy Browning. In this funny tale, he explains how “outrageous optimism” – and the persistence it gave him and his community – helped him create and screen a film in one of London’s most prestigious locations:

A good way to end this week is with a TEDx talk by Bert Jacobs, the cofounder of  Life Is Good . In this funny and touching video, he talks about the origins of their positive brand and how optimism helped them build a $100 million business:

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Essay on Positive Thinking | Short and Long Essays on Positive Thinking for Students and Children in English

February 14, 2024 by Prasanna

Essay on Positive Thinking: Positive thinking is a belief, a mental attitude that admits into the mind thoughts, words and images that good things will happen and that one’s efforts will be crowned with success. Positive thinking is opposed to negative thinking which harbours the mind through thoughts on apprehensiveness, fearfulness, and unsure of success in efforts.

Positive thinking is reinforced by thoughts such as optimism, hope, and belief that hard work is never wasted. A positive mind anticipates happiness, health,  joy, and a successful outcome of every situation and action and works wonders like magic.

You can also find more  Essay Writing  articles on events, persons, sports, technology and many more.

The Essay on positive thinking throws light on the power of positivity that helps individuals create and transform energy into reality. Besides, the article on positive thinking is broken into multiple essays of varying word count to help you prepare during events and even organise a small paragraph or speech on positive thinking.

Very Short Essay on Positive Thinking 150 Words

Positive thinking is a reflexive attitude developed or imbibed overtime that pushes you to expect fair and desired results. The power of positivity is to create, reinforce, and transform energy into reality with the mindset to seek a healthy and happy ending regardless of the situation.

Positive thinking leads an individual to success as they develop an attitude that helps them think that they can achieve the things and not be fettered by the problems that cross paths with success. Positive thinking is achieved through determination, perseverance, self-confidence, and hard work.

Positivity plays a significant role, and many prosperous people have achieved through reinforcing positive thinking in both their personal and professional lives. Thus, in challenging situations, people seek some light that leads them to positive thinking.

Positive thinking evokes more energy, leading to determination and hard work, ultimately translating to success. It would be best to remember that nothing gears up people to make wholehearted efforts to perform some task as positive thinking.

Short Essay on Positive Thinking 200 Words in English

Positive thinking is an optimistic attitude that helps individuals practice good things in any given situation. Positive thinking holds a significant impact on a person’s mental, emotional, and physical health.

Positive thinking does not mean you ignore reality or take light of the unresolved problems. It merely means that you approach the good and the bad situations in life with the expectation that things will fall into place.

Several studies have looked at positivism’s role, leading to optimism in an individual’s mental and physical health. Positive thinking holds multiple physical health benefits like better physical health, better stress management, longer life span, better pain tolerance, more excellent resistance to illness such as the common cold, lower chance of having a heart attack, and lower blood pressure.

Positive thinking harbours multiple mental health benefits such as better mood, less depression, more creativity, clearer thinking, better coping skills, and incredible problem-solving skill.

Studies have stated that people with a positive and optimistic outlook may be more likely to lead and live a healthy lifestyle since they hold a more optimistic view of the future. To wage a better world, human beings can choose to become better than they are now. Thus, positive thinking must start with ourselves.

Long Essay on Positive Thinking 250 Words in English

Introduction to Positive Thinking Essay: Positive thinking is an emotional and mental attitude that remains concerned with a bright and acceptable part of life focused on expecting positive thoughts from life. Positive thinking leads to happiness, healthy life, and ultimately success. A positive person can overcome any obstacle that might occur in a certain period of difficulty during a lifetime.

Positive thinking helps you expect good and favourable results; that is, positive thinking is the process of creating thoughts that creates and transforms energy into reality. A positive mind waits for happiness, health and a happy ending in any situation.

How to Apply Positive Thinking?

• Use positive words while talking
• Make use of words that evoke strength and success
• Redirect your thoughts
• Remove all the feelings that are not positive and focus on positive thoughts
• Practice positive affirmations
• Start thinking that you will succeed in meeting the objectives
• Forgive yourself and allow yourself to move on
• Analyse what went wrong to avoid future mistakes and look forward to more positive
• Working at your visualisation or imagination to build more positivity and motivation
• Think of failure as an opportunity
• Practice gratitude to reduce stress, improve self-esteem, and foster resilience during difficult times
• Practice self-talk and be mindful of the voice in your head and respond with positive messages

Conclusion on Positive Thinking Essay

In conclusion, you need to change our attitude and believe that we are going to succeed. You need to implement positive thinking techniques that help you learn from your failures, stay focused, forgive yourself, and make positive friends and mentors. Positive thinking can play a significant role in every individual’s life.

Long Essay on Positive Thinking 400 Words

Introduction to Positive Thinking Essay: Positive thinking is an attitude that helps a person highlight the brighter side of their life and helps to lead a healthy and happy life. Positive thinking brings an immense amount of satisfaction and leads to a healthy mindset. Positive thinking helps students overcome their obstacles and makes them healthy, determinant, and self-independent people. Positive thinking enhances energy, helps people have an open mind, keeps them happy, and attain success with confidence. A positive person spreads positivity and sorts out the negative thoughts and helps them relax and stay calm.

How to Build a Positive Attitude?

• People should inculcate the habit of reading motivational and inspiring stories of people who achieved success. These stories will motivate and inspire you and show you the steps they undertook to achieve success and implement those steps in your life.
• Do not allow your negative thoughts to thrive in your mind and work towards putting an end to this habit. Always stay on guard and replace your negative thoughts with constructive, positive reviews. Start paying attention to your ideas and replace the negative thoughts with productive, happy and positive thoughts.
• Make use of affirmations as these positive statements will sink into your subconscious mind, which in succession will guide, inspire, and motivate you to take action. The use of affirmations applies to visualisation, creating mental scenarios of what you want to hold and what to want to achieve.
• Finally, stay guard and play the role of the doorkeeper of your mind as it helps you make significant changes in your life. Do not be afraid to take action and do not remain passive in small matters and big ones. If you keep yourself busy by doing various things, there will be less likelihood of becoming cynical and hold a greater chance of remaining positive.

How to Remain Positive?

Try to remain positive during a profoundly distressing experience or grievance, and it’s essential to take the pressure off of yourself to find the silver lining. Instead, channel your energy into getting enough support from other people.

Positive thinking does not mean burying the negative thoughts experienced to avoid complicated feelings but to motivate oneself to move on and make positive changes. When facing hard times, comfort, and give yourself sound advice, acknowledge the feelings and remind yourself how strong you are to battle and get better.

You won’t undo the years of pessimism and negative thoughts overnight, but with practice, you can learn how to approach things with a more positive outlook and apply positivity through the ups and downs of life.

Very Long Essay on Positive Thinking 800 Words in English

Positive thinking is an emotional and mental attitude that helps individuals focus on the excellent aspect and expect results to benefit them. Positive thinking anticipates happiness, health, and determination, ultimately leading to success- practically, training oneself to adopt an abundance mindset and cultivate gratitude for one’s successes and those of others.

Positive thinking usually starts with self-talk as the process is a  never-ending stream of the unsaid point of view and can be either positive or negative. However, some of the self-talk can result from logic, while others can arise from misconceptions that can occur due to lack of information.

Negative thinking can cause depression and can supplement depression and other mental trauma. Negative thoughts can undermine an individual’s efforts to control depression. Thus, positive thinking is an approach that challenges the obstacles life throws at every individual with a positive attitude.

Benefits of Positive Thinking

There are several physical and mental health benefits offered by positive thinking, and every person would be amazed by how positivity can affect their health better.

Better Health: Positive thinking leads to better health. Refraining from negative thoughts like anxiety, stress, frustration, and worry can present you with a stronger immune system, thus relieving you from vulnerable and significant illnesses. Reinforcing positive thinking permits you to fight off whatever bug is going around. Studies have proven that those individuals who feel better, live together than those who do not.

Strengthens Immunity: Positive thinking can assist you a great deal in battling multiple ailments such as common colds and influenza. Negative thoughts can weaken your immune response. Medical research and studies have shown that negative thoughts can cause more significant electrical activity in a part of your mind that cuts the immune response.

Boost Confidence: Positive thinking can boost an individual’s confidence and is a crucial stigma that leads to self-confidence. Positive thoughts and behaviours leave individuals more confident and self-assured.

Fights Depression: It is proven that one of the most significant aspects of depression is pessimistic thinking. Studies have stated that any individual who changes their negatives into positive thoughts can start to fight depression and develop a way to elevate positive thinking.

Reduces Blood Pressure: Individuals suffering from high blood pressure and having a hard time to remain positive must start reviewing life and start with some positivity in life. Negative thoughts lead to high-stress levels and anxiety, leading to high blood pressure. Changing the negative thoughts into positive can significantly contribute to reducing your blood pressure.

Key to Success: It is the fact that it is positive thinking people are more probable to remain successful in life than negative thinking people. Individuals who implement positive thoughts in life aspects will notice that success becomes more manageable and is not severe as many people think.

How To Increase Positive Thinking?

Here are a few things that will help individuals increase positive thinking in life-

• Sleep: When an individual is tired, the brain cells can absorb glucose highly diminished and compensate for enough sleep. Individuals crave sugary snacks to reimburse for low glucose levels.
• Meditation: Studies state that people who meditate daily display more positive emotions than those who refrain from meditation. Meditation also builds valuable long–term skills such as increased mindfulness, purpose in life, social support, and decreased illness symptoms in individuals. Contemplation can also be replaced by writing and playing as it boosts self-confidence through positive thinking. These can help you fight the negative thoughts and remain positive throughout.
• Exercise: Exercising for as little as ten minutes releases a neurotransmitter GABA that soothes the brain and keeps the person in control of their impulses. If you have trouble resisting the impulse to walk to the office next door, insist and keep walking. It would be best if you have the urge under control by the time you get back.
• Forgiveness: A vicious cycle of failing to control oneself is often accompanied by the feeling of intense disgust and self-hatred in attempts at self-control resulting in offending behaviour. Forgiving yourself plays an important role and shifts your attention to what you’re going to do to improve yourself in the future.

Positive thinking is an emotional and mental attitude that focuses on a person’s determination, willingness, dealing with the brighter side of life, and positive results. People can achieve almost anything with a mind and allows a paradigm shift in the method of thinking. The negative thoughts and tragedies are a result of one’s own thinking and actions.

An individual with a positive mind can do many positive things and experience positive thoughts such as love, contentment, and joy removes all the obstacles. Positive thinking is a way of living life with comfort and is almost 99 percent effective. Positive thinking holds an intense impact on an individual’s health, offers them better career opportunities, and helps individuals build and develop better relationships.

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101 Examples of a Positive Attitude

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

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A positive attitude means that you are always looking for the good. You have a ‘glass half full’ attitude.

People with a positive attitude are optimistic, like to find solutions to problems, are friendly and easy to work with, and want to spread good vibes with people around them.

Employers also happen to place a lot of value on a positive attitude, but it’s not the easiest thing to demonstrate.

In this article, you’ll learn why a positive attitude is so valuable both personally and professionally, and how you can cultivate your own positive attitude. You’ll also learn 101 real examples of a positive attitude that you can use as skills in your resume or in an interview.

Positive Attitude Examples

• Congratulating others
• Admiring others without envy
• Being adventurous
• Showing affection
• Being approachable
• Acting with bravery
• Caring for others
• Working collaboratively
• Showing confidence
• Being considerate
• Behaving cooperatively
• Being determined
• Taking your place in the world
• Acting with dignity
• Acting with integrity
• Showing generosity
• Practicing gratefulness
• Being flexible
• Being helpful
• Forgiving others
• A good imagination
• Drawing inspiration from around you
• Introspective thought
• Loving others and yourself
• Being open to new ideas
• Being patient
• Reflective thought
• Making moral decisions
• Acting ethically
• Being sensible
• Displaying sincerity
• Working tirelessly
• Trusting others
• Making an effort
• Internal locus of control
• Accepting things as they are
• Always looking for solutions
• Having faith
• Wishing others well
• Seeing the best in a situation
• Seeing good in everyone
• Empathy for others
• A warm personality
• Adapting to new situations
• Having ambitious goals
• Listening attentively (aka active listening )
• A cheerful disposition
• Showing compassion
• Conscientiousness
• Letting your creativity shine
• Showing devotion
• Working diligently
• An easy-going attitude
• Engaging with others
• Fearlessness
• Focusing on success
• Being friendly
• A great sense of humor
• Being optimistic
• Being at peace with yourself
• Playfulness
• A relaxed nature
• Being resourceful
• Spending your time effectively
• Speaking quietly and clearly
• Being tolerant
• Not comparing yourself to others
• Enjoying plans
• Being humble
• Being kind to others
• Being yourself
• Avoiding cynicism
• Showing resilience
• Finding solutions
• Always smiling
• seeking the silver lining
• Openness to change
• Be kind to yourself
• Accepting the world as it is
• Hold aspirations and goals
• Don’t take things personally
• Appreciate beauty
• Strive for happiness
• Being a good friend
• Wishing success for others
• Create happiness around you
• Speak truthfully
• Don’t disrespect others
• Taking pride in your achievements
• Being authentic
• Being true to yourself
• Be gentle with yourself and others
• Sharing knowledge with others
• Having and following a plan
• Not worrying about what you can’t control
• Displaying humility
• Charitable giving
• Communicating effectively
• Being reliable
• Personal development
• Being neighborly
• Preparing food for others
• Lending a hand
• Avoiding negativity
• Inspiring others
• Smiling often
• Building meaningful relationships
• Surrounding yourself with positivity
• Giving things a go

Related: 54 Positive Personal Qualities

What is a positive attitude?

A positive attitude is an optimistic way of thinking about the world. People with a positive attitude improve the lives of themselves and others around them with their hard work, good humor, and caring nature.

Although people with a positive attitude are generally optimistic, it doesn’t mean they are happy all the time or that they ignore problems.

Instead, people with a positive outlook have faith in themselves to find solutions to their problems. Where people with a more negative attitude might complain about a situation, someone with a positive attitude will help find a solution or look for opportunities that are often bundled with misfortune.

Why does a positive attitude matter to employers?

A positive attitude is important to employers because positive workers leave a good impression on customers, seek to improve business processes with their optimistic mindset, are pleasant to work with, and are more engaged than less-positive employees.

For example, a negative or unhappy person might complain about a given situation, but a more optimistic person will try their best to fix it. Positive people are pleasant to be around and help foster a cohesive, engaged, and productive team. They are always looking for solutions, not problems.

In a recent poll by Gallup it was found that 60% of workers feel “emotionally disengaged” at work, and more than 50% of workers said they felt stressed at work.

Employee engagement is strongly tied with economic performance of a company, so HR departments and hiring managers look closely at the personality and mindset of potential employees.

How to demonstrate your positive mental attitude

In a resume or interview situation, employers discreetly measure your positive attitude using psychometric testing or with probing interview questions.

It’s important to make it clear to employers that you are a positive person, so think about the way you answer questions, and have a few examples of positivity to provide in case you are asked any behavioral interview questions.

Unlike with some other traits and qualities, you can demonstrate a positive attitude simply with your words and the way you answer questions. Think of a few situations where your positive attitude really made a difference and try to fit that scenario into your interview.

Some things you can do to showcase your positive outlook on life in the workplace:

• Work hard towards your goals
• Be kind and friendly towards your teammates
• Work cooperatively
• Offer suggestions and new ideas
• Make sure any feedback is constructive
• Be genuine and authentic

Can you learn to have a positive attitude?

It’s possible to learn to have a positive attitude by consciously changing the way you think.

A positive attitude is nothing more than the way you think about life, especially about negative situations. How you frame a situation in your mind will drastically affect the way you act.

Here are some tips that will help you develop a positive and optimistic attitude:

• Surround yourself with positive people
• Try not to focus on things that you have no control over
• Accept that not everything will go your way
• Strive to improve your life and the lives of those around you
• Use challenging situations as an opportunity to grow or learn

Is a negative attitude ever helpful?

Although a positive attitude is usually beneficial, there are some situations where it’s important to be able to temper your optimism and think about how things might go wrong so you can mitigate against them effectively.

One example of a career where a little negativity can be helpful is in risk management.

People with a positive attitude are usually more open to taking risks , but in risk management a healthy dose of skepticism is an important aspect of the job.

Risk management professionals analyze every aspect of a company’s operation and think about everything that could go wrong and cost the company money.

Positive attitude interview questions

A good interviewer is equally interested in who you are as much as what you can do. Interviewers will ask questions about how you dealt with difficult situations in the past to get an idea of your attitude.

Many large companies now use standardized psychometric tests to test your personality. Each test varies, but usually they measure the ‘big five’ personality traits , which are Extraversion, Openness, Neuroticism, Conscientiousness, and Agreeableness.

A positive attitude may be defined as high levels of openness, conscientiousness, and agreeableness, and low levels of neuroticism.

Some examples of interview questions about a positive attitude include:

• Where do you see yourself in five years?
• Who are your role models?
• Tell me about a time when you overcame a challenge.
• When was the last time you failed, and how did you react?
• Tell me about a time when you had to work with a colleague

Summary – Examples of a positive attitude

Positivity is when you think about problems and situations in a positive way, with optimism and resilience.

Some examples that demonstrate a positive attitude include working with others towards a common goal, being resourceful with your time, working through difficult circumstances, and being kind to yourself and others.

Positivity is useful to employers because it helps with employee engagement, productivity, and business resilience.

If you’d like to train yourself to be more positive, try to be mindful of your thoughts and notice whenever you have a negative reaction to a situation. Try to reframe a situation to focus on solutions and opportunities.

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 15 Green Flags in a Relationship
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 15 Signs you're Burnt Out, Not Lazy
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• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 15 Red Flags Early in a Relationship

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• Stress management

Positive thinking: Stop negative self-talk to reduce stress

Positive thinking helps with stress management and can even improve your health. Practice overcoming negative self-talk with examples provided.

Is your glass half-empty or half-full? How you answer this age-old question about positive thinking may reflect your outlook on life, your attitude toward yourself, and whether you're optimistic or pessimistic — and it may even affect your health.

Indeed, some studies show that personality traits such as optimism and pessimism can affect many areas of your health and well-being. The positive thinking that usually comes with optimism is a key part of effective stress management. And effective stress management is associated with many health benefits. If you tend to be pessimistic, don't despair — you can learn positive thinking skills.

Understanding positive thinking and self-talk

Positive thinking doesn't mean that you ignore life's less pleasant situations. Positive thinking just means that you approach unpleasantness in a more positive and productive way. You think the best is going to happen, not the worst.

Positive thinking often starts with self-talk. Self-talk is the endless stream of unspoken thoughts that run through your head. These automatic thoughts can be positive or negative. Some of your self-talk comes from logic and reason. Other self-talk may arise from misconceptions that you create because of lack of information or expectations due to preconceived ideas of what may happen.

If the thoughts that run through your head are mostly negative, your outlook on life is more likely pessimistic. If your thoughts are mostly positive, you're likely an optimist — someone who practices positive thinking.

The health benefits of positive thinking

Researchers continue to explore the effects of positive thinking and optimism on health. Health benefits that positive thinking may provide include:

• Increased life span
• Lower rates of depression
• Lower levels of distress and pain
• Greater resistance to illnesses
• Better psychological and physical well-being
• Better cardiovascular health and reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease and stroke
• Reduced risk of death from cancer
• Reduced risk of death from respiratory conditions
• Reduced risk of death from infections
• Better coping skills during hardships and times of stress

It's unclear why people who engage in positive thinking experience these health benefits. One theory is that having a positive outlook enables you to cope better with stressful situations, which reduces the harmful health effects of stress on your body.

It's also thought that positive and optimistic people tend to live healthier lifestyles — they get more physical activity, follow a healthier diet, and don't smoke or drink alcohol in excess.

Identifying negative thinking

Not sure if your self-talk is positive or negative? Some common forms of negative self-talk include:

• Filtering. You magnify the negative aspects of a situation and filter out all the positive ones. For example, you had a great day at work. You completed your tasks ahead of time and were complimented for doing a speedy and thorough job. That evening, you focus only on your plan to do even more tasks and forget about the compliments you received.
• Personalizing. When something bad occurs, you automatically blame yourself. For example, you hear that an evening out with friends is canceled, and you assume that the change in plans is because no one wanted to be around you.
• Catastrophizing. You automatically anticipate the worst without facts that the worse will happen. The drive-through coffee shop gets your order wrong, and then you think that the rest of your day will be a disaster.
• Blaming. You try to say someone else is responsible for what happened to you instead of yourself. You avoid being responsible for your thoughts and feelings.
• Saying you "should" do something. You think of all the things you think you should do and blame yourself for not doing them.
• Magnifying. You make a big deal out of minor problems.
• Perfectionism. Keeping impossible standards and trying to be more perfect sets yourself up for failure.
• Polarizing. You see things only as either good or bad. There is no middle ground.

Focusing on positive thinking

You can learn to turn negative thinking into positive thinking. The process is simple, but it does take time and practice — you're creating a new habit, after all. Following are some ways to think and behave in a more positive and optimistic way:

• Identify areas to change. If you want to become more optimistic and engage in more positive thinking, first identify areas of your life that you usually think negatively about, whether it's work, your daily commute, life changes or a relationship. You can start small by focusing on one area to approach in a more positive way. Think of a positive thought to manage your stress instead of a negative one.
• Check yourself. Periodically during the day, stop and evaluate what you're thinking. If you find that your thoughts are mainly negative, try to find a way to put a positive spin on them.
• Be open to humor. Give yourself permission to smile or laugh, especially during difficult times. Seek humor in everyday happenings. When you can laugh at life, you feel less stressed.
• Follow a healthy lifestyle. Aim to exercise for about 30 minutes on most days of the week. You can also break it up into 5- or 10-minute chunks of time during the day. Exercise can positively affect mood and reduce stress. Follow a healthy diet to fuel your mind and body. Get enough sleep. And learn techniques to manage stress.
• Surround yourself with positive people. Make sure those in your life are positive, supportive people you can depend on to give helpful advice and feedback. Negative people may increase your stress level and make you doubt your ability to manage stress in healthy ways.
• Practice positive self-talk. Start by following one simple rule: Don't say anything to yourself that you wouldn't say to anyone else. Be gentle and encouraging with yourself. If a negative thought enters your mind, evaluate it rationally and respond with affirmations of what is good about you. Think about things you're thankful for in your life.

Here are some examples of negative self-talk and how you can apply a positive thinking twist to them:

Practicing positive thinking every day

If you tend to have a negative outlook, don't expect to become an optimist overnight. But with practice, eventually your self-talk will contain less self-criticism and more self-acceptance. You may also become less critical of the world around you.

When your state of mind is generally optimistic, you're better able to handle everyday stress in a more constructive way. That ability may contribute to the widely observed health benefits of positive thinking.

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• Forte AJ, et al. The impact of optimism on cancer-related and postsurgical cancer pain: A systematic review. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. 2021; doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.09.008.
• Rosenfeld AJ. The neuroscience of happiness and well-being. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 2019;28:137.
• Kim ES, et al. Optimism and cause-specific mortality: A prospective cohort study. American Journal of Epidemiology. 2016; doi:10.1093/aje/kww182.
• Amonoo HL, et al. Is optimism a protective factor for cardiovascular disease? Current Cardiology Reports. 2021; doi:10.1007/s11886-021-01590-4.
• Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. 2nd ed. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://health.gov/paguidelines/second-edition. Accessed Oct. 20, 2021.
• Seaward BL. Essentials of Managing Stress. 4th ed. Burlington, Mass.: Jones & Bartlett Learning; 2021.
• Seaward BL. Cognitive restructuring: Reframing. Managing Stress: Principles and Strategies for Health and Well-Being. 8th ed. Burlington, Mass.: Jones & Bartlett Learning; 2018.
• Olpin M, et al. Stress Management for Life. 5th ed. Cengage Learning; 2020.
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Optimism Essay

So why be optimistic? There are plenty of reasons! Studies have shown that optimism can lead to better physical health, better mental health, increased resilience in the face of adversity, and even longer lifespans.

Optimism is a very important quality because it helps us stay motivated even when things are not going our way. It makes us believe that everything will eventually work out, and that gives us the strength to keep going.

Pessimism, on the other hand, means focusing on the negative aspects of life. Pessimists tend to see the glass half empty, and they are always expecting the worst to happen. This attitude can obviously lead to a lot of disappointment and unhappiness.

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Healthy ageing is almost entirely a matter of mindset, and I'm determined to keep mine positive

By Virginia Trioli

Topic: Ageing

The most controversial thing I could possibly suggest about ageing is that it has almost nothing to with physiology and absolutely everything to do with attitude. ( Pexels: RDNE Stock project )

My editor has a particularly sly sense of humour. When she suggested looking at some new research revealing that we age dramatically at two key life stages, I reminded her that it was going to be my birthday on the day of writing, and a birthday that sits uncomfortably close to one of those two turning points.

This didn't seem to faze her. "The good news is that the ageing is behind you, I guess?" my millennial editor cheerfully responded.

Happy birthday to me.

These irresistible years. This outrageous thing of one year older after another after another — it just keeps happening! Can't anybody make it stop?

Well yes, I can. It's entirely in my own power to make it stop. But I'll get to that in a moment.

The evidence before us today is that, rather like traffic lights, human molecules appear to have two distinct go/stop moments. Stanford University gathered a variety of genetic samples from more than 100 volunteers over seven years, and the data showed that most molecules in the human body didn't change over time in gradual, chronological advances: instead, our molecules and microbes seem to have two big birthday blow-outs and crawl out of the bed the next day much older but no wiser.

Those two mitochondrial milestones occur around the age of 44 and again at 60, which might explain the earnest language we seem to fall back on around those birthdays about life starting at or beginning again.

None of this applies to me

I'm not going to argue with science, but I will point out that the researchers have missed a few key ageing moments, including but not limited to: surviving your first work team off-site; your first transit through LAX airport and getting your kid started in year seven. Very little in your life will age you as much as those experiences.

But the point the scientists are making is that these ageing spurts, when our molecules make sudden and significant changes, might explain why spikes in certain health issues occur at certain times, and whether life choices we make at these ages are affecting our health and longevity too.

(That's a fancy way for the researchers to suggest you're drinking too much in your 40s, which is true.)

Some of this ageing, it seems, might be avoidable — but some of it might not.

None of this, however, applies to me.

Why not? Well, here's the most controversial thing I could possibly suggest about ageing: it has almost nothing to with physiological ageing and absolutely everything to do with attitude.

I see healthy ageing as almost entirely a matter of attitude, given the indisputable physical realities of it, and I am determined to maintain an uncomplaining and connected attitude that hopefully will keep me from some of the more miserable thinking of older age.

I'm sure you've seen this lived out: the older person you know who is younger than their years in outlook, mood and disposition — no matter their physical abilities or infirmities — and those who are not.

Keeping active is of course an important health factor, but it doesn't always go hand in hand with attitude, and I've never seen a more powerful ageing force than the one of negativity, complaint and defeatism. Those with that outlook seem to age before your eyes. And they certainly don't make themselves happy.

The power of attitude

There's a fair bit of evidence on my side. No matter what my molecules might have been deciding to do as I had my birthday martini, research from Harvard to the National Institute of Health and back again has found that a positive mindset powerfully influences outcomes. 

And before you come at with me in outrage that this is glib in the face of the real pain and discomfort of some aspects of old age, substantial research has an answer for that too: pain doesn't get any better with a miserable outlook and is even attenuated by a positive mindset .

I am not trying to diminish the awful reality of living with chronic pain and the challenges of age, but almost all the newest research and investigations show that mindset is central to the perceived experience of that, and the effect it can have on your state of mind in your older years.

The trainers, coaches and exercise specialists I know (and sometimes work out with) attest to the power of attitude and outlook as a key ageing factor, even in the face of diminished physical ability. But that's obvious, isn't it?

Take disability as a better example here. People like Kurt Fearnley and Dylan Alcott confronted reduced physical capacity from birth and childhood; both had a choice, with the help of their family and their communities, when it came to the attitude they formed in relation to their realities.

I know able bodied people who are miseries; I know people with chronic conditions who are miseries. And I know people in both situations who look always for the good. I can tell you very easily which ones seem to be getting so much more from life.

I've talked about this here before when it comes to grumpy old women (can you detect an anxious theme here?) and it's the same thing: there are dozens of reasons for an older person to let their mindset age with their body, and there are thousands of reasons — and cells and molecules and microbes — not to.

This weekend get naked, get well and get through it: why grief doesn't proceed in a straight line through five stages — but life has taught you that already, hasn't it?

And the seven questions are back – with a twist! My podcast, You Don't Know Me, returns for a new season, and the shining diamond that is cook and TV host, Poh Ling Yeow is my first guest . In a revealing and deeply felt interview, Poh talks about the social culture that keeps her up at night — and the divisive dish that is her secret pleasure. You're going to love it (but maybe not the dish).

Have a safe and happy weekend, and the gorgeous and romantic Melbourne outfit Telenova released their debut album Time is a Flower on the 16th, — just in time for my birthday — and they clearly knew that the gift I needed is the eternal solace of the dancefloor as the years march on.

This is one of the singles from an album I'm taking to my heart. I hope it finds its way to yours.

Virginia Trioli is presenter of Creative Types and a former co-host of ABC News Breakfast and Mornings on ABC Radio Melbourne.

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Covid is still a serious threat to people who are immunocompromised or elderly, but for many others, a positive Covid case seems to be regarded much like the common cold of the before times, and some are abandoning their once-meticulous methods of testing and isolation in favor of a more laissez-faire attitude.

The Times is trying to assess how people are thinking about their own transition into a life where the disease is by some standards endemic. On days when you haven’t felt very well, have you bothered to test for Covid, or decided it didn’t really matter what respiratory condition was behind it? If someone in your household has come down with Covid, did you go to work, school or the gym anyway, despite your exposure? Have you found yourself purposely skipping a Covid test for fear of having your social or vacation plans canceled?

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