Maintaining a positive attitude

Life always has its ups and downs, and things seem to run in cycles. Many people allow these cycles to affect their mood, while others seem to remain cheerful, no matter what is happening.

How do they manage to do this?

An attitude, be it negative or positive, is a prolonged feeling or emotion. This raises the question: "Can we choose and control our emotions?"

The answer, of course, is yes. I'm not saying this is always easy, but with practice, one can become quite good at it.

How, you may ask?

I think the most important thing is to understand and accept the fact that everything in life is always changing. Nothing in nature, including us human beings, remains the same. No matter how bad things may seem at the moment, it will pass. Recognise the emotion, realise that you have a right to it and then let it go. Remember a previous time when you felt this way and what it took to change it. Understand that you have the power to change things and then take things in your hands and change them!

I have found that one of the best things to do when you are experiencing bad emotions, is to help someone else. This helps us realise that there are many people worse off than we are and helps us focus on helping another person, rather than on our own situation.

Another approach that works for me is to stop and think about all the people and things in my life for which I am grateful. No two thoughts can occupy the mind at the same time. In fact, I start every day that way. By beginning the day in a grateful mood, I find it much more difficult to get into a dark state. Try it!

By Dr Bill Gould

Human Resources director

Wall Street Institute, Thailand

www.wallstreet.in.th