People often make fun of "the power of positive thinking" - or consider people who subscribe synonymous with idiots walking on rainbows with rays of sunshine coming out their
uh-hems, and other thoughts of foo-foo, fluffy thinking that brings out the skeptic in all of us. However, what if the facts support that there really is significant power in a positive attitude? They do.
Now what? First, it's critical to acknowledge that this is not a contest between being cynical and naive. Neither of those will bring you the success you desire; success requires a balanced perspective. Also, just the same as having a negative outlook doesn't make you a bad person, having a positive outlook doesn't mean you are missing important points.
By the way, I do not mean turning into the equivalent of Mary Poppins - just be a happier version of you. Analytical minds fear losing touch with reality, however there is plenty of evidence published that proves a sunny outlook brings more success. Based on my clients' and personal experiences, I've identified 3 reasons why this is true:
1. It changes what you project out to others. For example, especially for people in sales (this means all of us who seek to sell, help, or influence others), the attitude you bring to the conversation directly impacts how the other person responds to you (i.e. whether you are going to make the sale). What you are thinking about directly affects how you are feeling. How you are feeling directly affects how you are acting in any given moment - and acting includes ALL the physical elements of you, your body language, the words you use, as well your conscious movements and actions. Therefore, your thoughts about the sales meeting have more power over the outcome than almost anything else. Wouldn't you rather have a positive expectation than steeling yourself for a blow of "worst case scenario" variety?
Put it to use: Consider the next meeting, conversation, or event you have coming up where you really care about the outcome. Take a few moments to state what you want to happen and think of at least 3 reasons why this could actually happen. Allow yourself to be excited about this imminent success, and for best results, do this just before you talk or meet with others.
2. It changes your awareness of opportunities, consequently you can take advantage of more of them. Similar to when you get a new car and suddenly you see them all over town, and yet you hardly ever saw them before...a different level of awareness allows you to notice things you ignored before. Even better: when you are looking for something with the expectation of finding it, you will encounter more of it.
Put it to use: Consider your top goal and make a statement about what you'd really like to see happen with it. Ask yourself "How Can I?" and then turn the accomplishment into a positive expectation. In other words, have faith and expect that you will achieve your goal and that the right ideas, people, and situations will reveal themselves when needed. Go about your days as normal but with your new-found awareness, and notice what happens in just a few minutes, hours, days, and weeks.
3. You feel good. Or at least you feel better. We've all heard about studies showing that even if you don't feel like it, forcing yourself to smile actually changes your mood by setting off a series of unseen events in the body and within seconds, you are wearing a genuine smile. Forcing a positive attitude or sunny disposition at least once in a while has the same effect: it actually works.
Put it to use: Try it now; picture wearing a sunny outlook/positive attitude like you would a raincoat; you can put it on and take it off any time you like. You can slip it on when you need protection from a 'storm' or on days when you'd like to boost your confidence and performance. Imagine having a little bit of a glow, the hint of a smile, and having peace of mind knowing everything really will be Okay. Most people will appreciate being around you more (and even if a few others are green with envy, that's probably Okay too).
To your consistently enhanced success,
Heather A. Legge