Director's Message: Ten Ways to Build and Keep a Positive Attitude

Attitude can affect how we feel and how others respond to us. A positive attitude can impact our physical health and emotional well-being. Research shows us that positive people are:

• More productive at work and more creative
• Make more money and have superior jobs
• Are better leaders and negotiators
• Have more friends and social support
• Have stronger immune systems, physically healthier, even live longer
• Cope better with stress and trauma.

This is not to say that a positive attitude is a magic potion that will ward off any problems, but an optimistic outlook helps people work through the rough times with a belief in themselves and trust in the ultimate good (i.e., make hard things easier, easy things more fun).

Try these ten suggestions for building and maintaining a positive attitude.

1. Associate with positive people.
2. Take some action every day toward accomplishing a goal.
3. Exercise your body and your mind (three times a week for at least 30 minutes).
4. Eat fresh, healthy food and get some sleep.
5. Do something kind for someone or the planet.
6. Notice something beautiful every day.
7. Turn off bad news — radio, television, newspaper.
8. Look for what's right instead of what's wrong (i.e. be a benefit finder vs. a fault finder).
9. Celebrate and appreciate the ordinary. Ask yourself: "Must something external and extraordinary happen before I learn to appreciate the ordinary?"
10. For every "no," say five "yes" times.

Try these suggestions for 21 days. Begin to chip away the negativity. It works or your money back.

Bonus: A close friend once said "I love to laugh!" So one extra suggestion: Remember to laugh.

Positively,
Kristine A. Hodsdon RDH, BS
Director, eVillage