January 20, 2010

Making Work "Work": Resources for Busy Professionals

Make Optimism a Cornerstone of Your Success

Positive thinking alone may not ensure success, but it’s certainly an important start. If you don’t believe in yourself, you’ll have a hard time persevering against any obstacles and setbacks you encounter.

Here are a few tips for maintaining the right attitude in the face of adversity:

• Tell yourself you can change. Think of how you’ve changed throughout your life—not only physically, but emotionally. You’re probably a different person today than you were five years ago, so don’t assume you can’t evolve further.
• Use positive language. Banish words and phrases like “impossible” and “I can’t” from your vocabulary. Replace them with words and phrases that emphasize strength and success: “challenging” instead of “impossible,” and “I must” for “I can’t.”
• Create the right environment. Listen to music that uplifts you and watch inspirational movies and shows. You don’t have to devote yourself to a life of singing “Tomorrow” and watching Rocky, but limit the time you spend absorbing downbeat material. Mix it up and lean toward the positive.
• Appreciate your life. Focusing on what you don’t have can crowd out your appreciation for what you do have. Take some time every so often to enjoy what you’ve already achieved. Think about what you did to get where you are, and use that as a reminder of your capabilities.
• Let go of mistakes. For many, this is the hardest step. You’re bound to fail at some things; don’t obsess over them. Learn what you can and move on instead of beating yourself up over and over.