Is Your Glass Half Full or Half Empty?

“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” Zig Zigler

I’ve stopped watching the news because no matter where you stand on the political spectrum, the talking heads would have you believe the world’s going to hell in a hand basket. And while we can’t change what’s happening in the world, we can adjust our attitude because our disposition towards life has a greater effect on us than anything else we can do.

The attitude we wake up with each day has a major impact on not only the way we deal with the challenges we face, but also how we interact with everyone we come into contact with every day. Ever notice how people you meet who are negative and morose do their best to pull all those around them down to their level? Those with negative attitudes are more likely to always be unhappy with their jobs, less healthy, lack friends, and a family life that borders on depressing. Dale Carnegie, a pioneer in motivating people to be successful said, “Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most do.”

Starting each day with a positive attitude and maintaining it is not always easy given the challenges we face. Inflation, lack of inventory, shipping delays, labor shortages, and of course the ever present threat of COVID can chip away our confidence and begin to make us doubt ourselves and the God-given talents we each possess. 

Here are a few ideas proven to help start each day on a positive note:

• Develop a one sentence mantra you can easily memorize to keep your mind focused on the affirmative. Make it an “I am” statement that describes a result in your life you would like to attain. For example, if you’re in sales, something along the lines of “I’m solving my customer’s challenges today with my products and services and creating prosperity for myself.” Repeat this affirmation several times when you first wake up and before you go to bed and throughout the day. The more you repeat it and believe it, the quicker your subconscious will also believe it and find a way to make it happen. 
  
• Engage life with an attitude of gratitude. It’s so easy to blame others and be mad at the world rather than take responsibility for where we are today. Be thankful for all you have, for your family and friends, your work, good health, and the talents you possess. You’ll be amazed with the benefits of thankfulness and the positive effect it has on your overall attitude.
• Surround yourself with positive people, which can be hard if you must spend time with family, friends, co-workers or even clients that spew negativity. Negativity begets negativity, it’s just a fact of life, so do all you can to instead spend time with people who are positive. Read inspiring books, watch motivational videos or listen to podcasts. Do all you can to keep your mind focused on the positive.
• Exercise on a regular basis. I know, now I’m beginning to sound like Jillian Michaels or Richard Simmons, but research shows a correlation between a positive attitude and exercise. Physical movement increases blood flow to the brain which increases nutrients and oxygen. Walking, jogging, or any other movement that gets your heart pumping and blood flowing will help you stay positive.

If you’re in sales, it can be particularly hard some days to stay positive. Keep a list of your successes and peruse it when you have had a particularly tough day of prospects and customers saying “no.” Form a pact with a few others you know in sales with the understanding you can call and confide in one another your challenges and successes. The old adage, “You are what you think” is true as true can be. Picture someone you know who is successful and I would be willing to bet they have a great attitude towards life.

A friend of mine has a tall glass with a horizontal line etched halfway up on one side. Above the line is the word “Optimist” and below the line, well can you guess? It’s the opposite of optimist. What a great reminder that we all have a choice at every moment in time as to whether we should look at the glass as half-full or half-empty. 

If you find yourself feeling beaten down and struggling to stay positive, know you’re not alone. But also know you alone have the power to change your attitude, to give yourself a pep talk and review the list of successes and blessings you‘ve written down. 

Betty White, the 99-year old actor, comedian, and the oldest person to host Saturday Night Live (when she was 88), leaves us with these words of wisdom on a positive attitude: “It's your outlook on life that counts. If you take yourself lightly and don't take yourself too seriously, pretty soon you can find the humor in our everyday lives. And sometimes it can be a lifesaver.”