So are you a cup half empty sort of guy/girl, or are you a cup half full person?

How about some homework to find out: For the next 24 hours listen to your thoughts. When stuff happens during your day jot down what you are thinking and feeling. You ace your math test and you think “I’m a genius, move over Einstein.” And you are feeling great! Or do you tell yourself, “it was just dumb luck, I know I’ll blow the next test.”  You feel kind of uncertain and scared. So keep track of your inner thoughts and feelings for 24 hours. Then identify if you are a half full or half empty kind of person.

This guy named Winston Churchill once said, “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”  Most of us react to stuff and experience positive or negative feelings. What comes next is we try to do something to make ourselves feel better. We act out of our feelings. The trouble is that our feelings are not necessarily always accurate. The other problem is that our attitude, our interpretations, usually dictates our feelings. Somebody else once said, “We cannot control the wind but we can adjust our sails.”(Author unknown)  If we focus on our attitude and work to make them more positive, our feelings WILL be more positive and our actions will be more proactive. We do what we think and we feel what we think. So let’s adjust the sails by doing an attitude adjustment.

OK, so how do I get a more positive attitude? (I know what you’re thinking!)  Here are some suggestions:

o  Check out your core beliefs – do the 24 hour exercise. These are your core beliefs about you, others and your world view. Make them conscious, accurate and more positive. If you are unsure about the accurate part, check out your beliefs with trusted friends and even your parents.

o  Hang out with positive people. Nothing brings you down faster than being around trash-talking, negative “friends.” 

o  Help others. Helping others in need will ALWAYS make you feel better about yourself and be more positive. Eat lunch with that kid who always sits alone. Take your little bother to McD’s. Go volunteer at a soup kitchen. 

o  Communicate your needs directly. Let those positive friends of yours know when you need to talk, play, get some Starbucks, or whatever you need. Don’t assume people know and don’t be afraid to ask. People who care about you, care about you!  (Hey, you can quote me on that one.)

o  Laugh and have fun. If you need someone to explain this to you, go see a therapist!

o  Be grateful. When you go to bed at night write down 5 things you are grateful for. Make them different every day. Do this for a month and it will not only change your attitude, it will improve your brain biochemistry. (It really will!)