Changing Your Attitude
Attitudes Shape Your Life
By: Ashley Smith
Attitude
- A thought, accepted as true, that leads to one to think, feel, or at positively or negatively toward a person, idea, or event.
- An emotional readiness to behave in a particular way
- You learn them and can change them
The Relationship
What is the relationship between core values, attitudes, and behaviors?
ABC Model of Attitudes
Affective Component:
How the person is feeling/emotions about the person, idea, or event.
Example: "I am scared of sharks"
Behavioral Component:
"The way the attitude we have influences how we act or behave"
Example: "I will avoid sharks, scream, and swim to shore as fast as possible"
Cognitive Component:
"This involves a person’s belief / knowledge about [the person, idea, or event]"
Example: "I believe that sharks are dangerous"
The powerful influence of attitudes
Positive vs. Negative Attitudes:
Postive Attitude
- People with positive attitudes are more likely to achieve personal and professional goals.
- "Positive energy"
Negative Attitude
- People with negative attitudes find it difficult to achieve contentment or satisfaction in life.
- "Negative energy"
How to change your attitude?
Negative to Positive
This shift in thinking has a tremendous affect on someone. However, changing one's attitude is extremely difficult but not impossible. To foster positive thinking, an individual must:
- Choose happiness
- Embrace optimism
- Think independently
- Keep an open mind
Step 1: Choose Happiness
"... a state of mind that permits us to live life enthusiastically"
Happy People
- more sociable
- flexible
- creative
Unhappy People
- self-focused
- socially withdrawn
- antagonistic
Step 2: Embrace Optimism
"Optimistic thoughts give rise to good moods, which help develop positive attitudes"
Optimism - a disposition or tendency to look on the more favorable side of eventsor conditions and to expect the most favorable outcome. (dictionary.com)
"Avoid Pessimism which leads to cynicism"
Pessimism - the tendency to see, anticipate, or emphasize only bad or undesirable outcomes, results, conditions, problems, etc.: (dictionary.com)
Cynicism (cynic) -a person who believes the worst about people or the outcome of events (dictionary.com)
Step 3: Think for Yourself
"Evaluate situations based on your values"
Avoid "group think" by not intermixing personal and professional relationships.
- Can lose control of your attitude due to group thinking
Step 4: Keep an open mind
"Grow more flexible by exposing yourself to new experiences and information"