I stumbled upon this article today. While reading it, I realized that it really hit home on some of the ideas I’ve been working into my own life outlook.

The 5 Myths of Positive Mental Attitude

I’ve been trying to be more positive in general over the last few months and I think it’s had a pretty big impact on what I have been able to achieve in that time frame. It’s not always easy to maintain this attitude in reality, but I’ve really been trying and I always stop myself when I realize that I thinking or acting negatively.

I’m not talking about some cosmic mumbo-jumbo like in The Secret or anything like that - you can’t simply think good things and have them happen out of nowhere. It’s more that you think positively and have positive expectations, putting yourself in the proper mindset to take action towards those expectations.

From the article:

“Have you ever heard a negative person say that they aren?t negative; they’re just being ‘realistic’? This myth keeps people locked in a negative reality of their own creation.

A person’s thoughts, whether positive or negative, do have an effect on their environment. If you think negatively, your mind will automatically seek out confirmation that the world is a terrible place. Seeing is believing, and your mind reinforces your belief that reality is negative. See how it’s a downward spiral of negativity? If you expect negative results, you are less likely to take risks and try new things. Negative thinking masks your impressions in fear.”

I believe this statement 100%. I have seen it happen before and I refuse to act in this way.

“Every person has sorrows and trials that test them to the core, but only some people have the courage to act positively and with grace. A positive mental attitude doesn’t mean a person has sidestepped a hard life. It simply means they choose to see and take part in the good things life has to offer, as opposed to only the negative.”

This is what I am striving to do right now. I am trying to see things positively and to see the opportunity in change. The way I see it, most of my life got turned upside down. If I truly want to change and improve, now is the time to do so. I am already being forced to adapt to new situations, so it’s really the best time to make the most of it and pick up some good habits.

Anyway - everyone is free to make their own choices and live however they choose to live. It’s not my place to judge. But if there are aspects of life you aren’t happy with, the only way to change those aspects is to take action on them.