How Positive Words Can Change Your Outlook
“A man’s character may be learned from the adjectives which he habitually uses in conversation.” – Mark Twain
It is true what we’ve heard that the very words we use can change how we are perceived by others and how we perceive ourselves. Knowing that this is true gives you added incentive to use positive words, both when speaking about yourself and when addressing others, as well.
Can You Create a Positive Outlook on Life?
Dr. Seligman is a psychologist who leads the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania. He has had a long and distinguished career treating depression through techniques designed to adjust the way people view their situation.
His hypothesis was that many people suffered from learned helplessness which kept them from achieving desired success. By implementing a routine which, among other things, required individuals to actually document on a daily basis their successes, he developed an effective treatment protocol; this was dubbed learned optimism.
We can all take a lesson from this practice. Too often people focus on the negative aspects of a day and ignore those things which went well. Changing that pattern to embrace positive thinking may take practice, but it is extremely helpful in altering one’s perspective.
Which Benefits Will A Positive Attitude Give You?
There has been much concrete research correlating a positive attitude and health, so there no doubt as to the power of positive words. In a study conducted in Australia related to post-operative pain, it was found that when nurses used negative words to describe discomfort, patients reported more pain than if the nurses used neutral or positive words. This same technique can be applied to the psychological pain you encounter when dealing with all types of people from the colleagues who are less than cooperative to the instigating next door neighbor. It’s the difference between saying “I can’t stand the fact that my colleague is never on-time” or rephrasing that idea to reflect positive words by saying “My colleague continues to help me gain more patience”. With the former idea, you might feel stressed and irritated, but with the latter idea, you free your mind to focus on an aspect of your character which is gaining more power. By cultivating a positive attitude, you can see that you have gained something valuable thru the wait. Thus, that time spent waiting for your collegue can then be put to much more positive and practical good use.
Personal Development Goals: The World Around You
It’s also useful to remember that using positive words and presenting a positive attitude can have a profound effect upon both you and those around you too. Optimistic people are generally more successful
and happier than those who are pessimistic. One study even found optimism may even offer some level of protection from mental and/or physical illness (Taylor et al., 2000). This is one of the reasons why we propose Laughter Therapy to help you maintain a positive outlook on life. It is natural to desire to have better family relations, more productivity in your profession and a healthy social life, so why not employ every technique you can to attain these fundamental goals? Even if you’ve never tried Laughter Therapy before, now is a great time to start!
Steps Toward Positive Words
If you are searching for a way to increase your positive vocabulary, the below is a process that can really help you alot and it is fairly simple to apply.
• Evaluate how often you use negative or pessimistic language throughout your day.
• Find ways to rephrase negative language in a positive fashion. For example, rather than tell people what
they can’t do, help them see what they can do. This applies to yourself, as well!
• Start each day with positive affirmations. Pick your own or find a positive quote on our quotes pages. Repeat them throughout the day to help you keep your thoughts on track.
• Each night, write down three things that went well during your day or that you liked about your day.
Your New Positive Outlook On Life!
Dale Carnegie said “If we think happy thoughts, we will be happy. If we think miserable thoughts, we will be miserable.” Simply becoming aware of the negative thoughts you may have previously inadvertently allowed to become part of your day will help you to decrease them. It’s beginning the process of pinpointing these negative thoughts that is so fundamental and paramount to your being able to see where you can implement your positive affirmations and inspirational words. Are the negative thoughts things you say to yourself while rushing out of the door or while having dinner? Are they most seen when you’re relaxing and joking with friends or perhaps, spoken by the gathering spot in the office? Look for where these negative thought creep into your life so that you’ll have a clear idea of where you can eliminate them from your life. By taking small steps, such as using more positive, inspirational words, you can change your perceptions over time, allowing yourself to enjoy life more fully.
