Imagine waking up each morning eager and energetic, filled with hope and enthusiasm about life, prepared to handle any challenge.
For an optimist, this happens every day. When you feel inspired, nothing stands in your way, which is why optimists find the most success in life.
A positive mental outlook is important because it can enhance all areas of your life, from your friendships to your career. If you can find the positive, even in a challenging situation, you are more likely to overcome these challenges and see a route forward. At Careerwise, we know what helps a career to shine. Candidates with a positive outlook stand out straight away, as problem solvers who are easy to work with – sought after by every employer! Mental strength and resilience are at the root of this positive attitude, and so it is vital to cultivate this aspect of your mental health. Whether to help you in your career or to improve your social life, taking action to improve your outlook can change your life.
So what can you do to be more positive and create positive change? Check out my 20 tips below:
1. Spend Time with Positive People
Spend time with positive friends and family members to increase the likelihood that their positive thinking habits will become your habits as well.
2. Take Responsibility for Your Behaviour
Acknowledge your role in any situation and take responsibility for your behaviour. Accepting responsibility can help you learn from mistakes and prevent you from blaming others unfairly.
3. Read / Listen to Positive and Inspirational Material
Spend time each day reading or listening to something that encourages positive thinking.
4. Recognize and Replace Negative Thoughts
You won’t be successful at positive thinking if you’re still plagued by frequent negative thoughts. Learn to recognize and replace overly negative thoughts.
5. Establish and Work Toward Goals
Goals will give you motivation to overcome those obstacles when you encounter problems along the way. Without clear goals, it’s harder to make decisions and gauge your progress.
6. Offer Compliments to Others
Be genuine in your praise and compliments.
7. Practice Self-Care
Get plenty of rest and exercise and practice managing your stress well. Taking care of your physical and mental health will provide you with more energy to focus on positive thinking.
8. Don’t Waste Time Feeling Sorry for yourself
Mentally strong people don’t sit around feeling sorry about their circumstances or how others have treated them. Instead, they take responsibility for their role in life and understand that life isn’t always easy or fair.
9. Don’t Shy Away from Change
Mentally strong people don’t try to avoid change. Instead, they welcome positive change and are willing to be flexible. They understand that change is inevitable and believe in their abilities to adapt.
10. Don’t Waste Energy on Things you can’t Control
You won’t hear a mentally strong person complaining over lost luggage or traffic jams. Instead, they focus on what they can control in their lives. They recognize that sometimes, the only thing they can control is their attitude.
11. Don’t Worry About Pleasing Everyone
Mentally strong people recognize that they don’t need to please everyone all the time. They’re not afraid to say no or speak up when necessary. They strive to be kind and fair but can handle other people being upset if they don’t make them happy.
12. Don’t Fear Taking Calculated Risks
Mentally strong people don’t take reckless or foolish risks but don’t mind taking calculated risks. Mentally strong people spend time weighing the risks and benefits before making a big decision, and they’re fully informed of the potential downsides before they take action.
13. Don’t Dwell on the Past
Mentally strong people don’t waste time dwelling on the past and wishing things could be different. They acknowledge their past and can say what they’ve learned from it.
14. Don’t Make the Same Mistakes Over and Over
Mentally strong people accept responsibility for their Behavior and learn from their past mistakes. As a result, they don’t keep repeating those mistakes over and over
15. Don’t Resent Other People’s Success
Mentally strong people can appreciate and celebrate other people’s success in life. They don’t grow jealous or feel cheated when others surpass them.
16. Be honest with yourself and others.
Happy people often exhibit the virtues of honesty and trustworthiness. They would rather give you candid feedback, even when the truth hurts, and they expect the same in return. Happy people respect people who give them honest opinions.
17. Show signs of happiness.
This one may sound obvious but it’s a key differentiator between happy and unhappy people. Think about your happiest friends. Chances are, the mental image you form is of them smiling, laughing, and appearing genuinely happy. On the flip side, those who aren’t happy tend to look the part. Their posture may be slouched and you may perceive a lack of confidence.
18. Be passionate
Another thing happy people have in common is their ability to find their passions in life and pursue those passions to the fullest.
19. See challenges as opportunities
Happy people accept challenges and use them as opportunities to learn and grow. They turn negatives into positives and make the best out of seemingly bad situations.
20. Happy people live in the present.
While unhappy people tend to dwell on the past and worry about the future, happy people live in the moment. They are grateful for “the now” and focus their efforts on living life to the fullest in the present.
“Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action.”
– Benjamin Disraeli
Whether you are a natural optimist, or you have worked on yourself to cultivate a positive attitude, there is no doubt that having a job you love is a key component of everyday happiness. If you need a change and are looking for a job in Ireland, get in touch with CareerWise today. We Ireland’s leading specialist recruitment firm, based in Cork, Shannon and Galway, Mayo and Dublin and we can help you to find your ideal new job in Ireland. We specialise in the Engineering, Supply Chain, Science/Pharma, IT and Accounting industries in Ireland, and we look forward to working with you. Contact us online now or call us at +353 (0) 21 206 1900 to arrange a consultation.
Joe Robbins is co-founder of CareerWise Recruitment. A graduate of the University of Limerick (Degree in Business Studies, 1985), Joe worked in the UK for five years where he specialised in materials management, production management and plant management for a number of companies.
He returned to Ireland in 1992 to become Operations Manager for a Cork-based start-up, FMC Automotive Division which was subsequently taken over by Snap-on Equipment. Joe managed the business re-location of this company to Shannon in 1997 before setting up CareerWise Recruitment in 1999.
He is a committee member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Mid-West region, and a former Director and Vice President of the Shannon Chamber of Commerce. Joe is former Chairperson of the Sixmilebridge Camogie Club and current Chairperson of the Clare County Camogie Board.
CareerWise Recruitment. EastGate Village, EastGate, Little Island, Cork.
Phone: +353 (0) 21 206 1900
Email: info@careerwise.ie