PEOPLE - How to Change Your Attitude

Edited by Lael Rapier, Teresa, Jenna, BR and 3 others

Are you a pessimistic person? 

Do you have a tendency to point out the negatives in a situation without seeing the good? Do people reject or regret being in your company because of your attitude? Successfully changing your attitude is dependent on a change in mindset, and successfully changing your mindset is dependent on whether or not you really want to change. Going from pessimistic to optimistic can be difficult, but it will result in a brighter and more enjoyable life. If you really want to know how to change your attitude, here are some simple but effective pointers.

Steps

1. 
   1
   Stop focusing on yourself. A lot of pessimism arises from false or unreasonable expectations, especially when those expectations involve yourself.
   • Make an effort to reach out and help at least 1 person every day without expecting anything in return. Over time, you may find more joy in giving rather than receiving.
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   Face your flaws. We all have something upon which we can improve, so whether you're at work, at home, or anywhere else, be open to learning more.
   • Make a list of all your weaknesses and flaws. At the beginning of every week, take one of those listed flaws and think about what you could learn concerning that weakness. Use the remainder of the week to learn even more.
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   Look on the bright side. In every undesirable circumstance, there is always a way to look on the brighter side. This isn't to say that you should live your life dishonestly, always ignoring the bad in favor of a fake smile. Instead, accept the bad things but also think about how much worse it could have been.
   • For example, maybe you just got into a car accident and need to pay a lot of money for reparations and medical bills. One way to look on the bright side is to be grateful that you are still alive without permanent damage to your body or your brain.
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   Count your blessings. Post up a blank sheet of paper on your wall, or use a journal. Every morning, as soon as you've woken up, think of one blessing in your life that hasn't already been written on the paper and write it down. Counting your blessings will help you see that your life isn't all doom and gloom, that you have reasons to be happy and joyful.
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   Find a life coach. These professionals make a living helping people find success in many forms, including successful attitude adjustments. They have the experience of knowing what methods work best for the majority of people.
   • You can contact a life coach in person, attend workshops and seminars, or study their methods online.
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   Befriend optimistic people. Sometimes a poor attitude is a result of being surrounded by others with poor attitudes. As it has been said, "Bad company corrupts good character." Consider befriending new people, especially people who are optimistic and have a healthy attitude towards life.
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   Ask your friends to point out when you are negative or pessimistic in the future. This will help you to see how often your pessimism arises and in what situations it tends to arise.
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   Ask the right questions. When you're in a situation where you feel your unwanted attitude forcing its way through, take the time to ask a few questions of yourself to help you change your outlook. Some examples of questions that may help change your attitude include:
   • What can I do to change the way I feel?
   • Is there another meaning I can discover from this situation?
   • What could I do to make this situation more interesting or appealing? What could I do to benefit from this?
   • What is that person's story? How did they come to behave like this? Could that be me, or someone I love?
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   Seek help from others. Try asking your friends what they hate or dislike about you and try asking them if they could help you change this things.