Psychologists and researchers know that attitude can be positive, negative, or neutral. Attitude can be formed by observing our early-childhood role models and seeing how these people handle transitions. Attitude can also be altered as we bring our own beliefs, personality, and preferences into play. No two people will have the exact same attitude about everything because we are all unique.
What is your attitude?
Kendra Cherry, author of the article Attitudes: How They Form, Change, and Shape Behavior, wrote about attitude’s ABCs:
• Affective: how the event, issue, or person makes you feel
• Behavioral: how your behavior is influenced by your attitude
• Cognitive: your beliefs and thoughts about the event or person
When you look at a transition point in your life, what is your attitude?
• Is your glass half empty or half full or do you need a smaller (or bigger) glass?
• Do you look for alternatives when things don’t go as expected?
• Are you a victim or a martyr?
• Can you find the silver lining or the life lesson in the trial or loss?
• Are you defeated and depressed?
Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, a psychology professor at the University of California, Riverside, has been studying happiness for years. She discovered that 40% of our happiness is our choice—determined by our attitude, behavior, and habits.
Improve your attitude
• Get the support you need from family, friends, and trusted professionals
• Look for at least one positive outcome of every transition
• Keep a gratitude list
• Make a list of skills you can use now to “bounce back”
• Build your confidence by reflecting on past successes
Define your own attitude. It’s up to you to choose to be positive or negative, happy or sad, pressing on toward the future or dwelling on the past, etc.