According to Successconsciousness.com, a few ways that a positive attitude can manifest are through positive thinking, optimism, not giving up, having purpose, and thinking accurately.
Although one cannot find a definition for ‘positive attitude’ in the dictionary, the Napoleon Hill Foundation says that a positive attitude is the right mental attitude in any given situation. To fully appreciate how to define a positive attitude, it’s helpful to explore some of the elements that create a positive attitude.
Positive Thinking
Self-talk, according to Mayo Clinic, is the stream of thoughts that ride through our minds every day. These unbidden thoughts can be negative or positive, contributing to a positive or a negative attitude. Some self-talk comes from the areas of logic and reason within the mind; other portions of self-talk are robed in misconceptions due to a lack of or wrong information. Negative thoughts will lead to a pessimistic outlook or negative attitude. Positive thinking will lead to optimism or a positive attitude.
Optimism
Do you see the glass as half full or half empty? Answering this question will help you understand the realm of optimism. Your point of view allows you to look for solutions to the problems or look for reasons that the problems cannot be solved. Optimism says “there is a way to solve this problem; I just haven’t found it yet.” A positive mind will find the way to get it done; a negative mind looks for ways it cannot be done.
Not Giving Up
Bad things happen to everyone, but we get to choose the response to everything that happens. Success in achieving your goals is not always realized instantly, but having faith in the outcome can make a difference. The Napoleon Hill Foundation says that faith is the awareness of and belief in the universal powers, an active state of mind that will not bring you what you desire but rather show you how to go after it for yourself.
Purpose
You are in charge of your destiny – no one else! Success and progress to achieve your goals in life begin and end in knowing yourself and where you are going. What are your burning desires? What ideas and plans dominate your thinking and hold your consciousness captive? According to the Napoleon Hill Foundation, the starting point for full achievement is the development of a life purpose. Your purpose, when lived out in your conscious mind through repeated emotional efforts can be taken over by the subconscious and acted upon by the thoughts . . . which turn to actions . . .which turn to results.
Thinking Accurately
Your thoughts have the power to direct your actions and your actions have the power to determine the course of your life. A positive attitude allows you the choice to rid yourself of thoughts that damage your mind and gather thoughts to yourself that empower you – this allows you to control your emotions. Persons who think accurately will separate the factual information they receive into two groups: important and unimportant. You do not have to allow any thoughts – political, religious, opinion, etc. – until they have been analyzed and accepted by you.
