Training, skills and experience can only get you so far professionally. If you really want to get ahead, cultivating a positive attitude can help.
Some folks are naturally more optimistic than others. But, we can all learn to have a more positive approach to life and work. It turns out there are lots of great reasons for developing a sunnier outlook. Doing so could even kickstart your career.
You’ll Be Better Equipped When Trouble Strikes
Most professionals experience challenges at work on a semi-regular basis. It’s not a matter of whether or not difficulties will arise, it’s just a matter of when.
Thankfully, optimists are uniquely positioned to handle adversity.
The ability to turn lemons into lemonade comes in pretty handy when someone drops a big bushel of fruit right on top of your desk. Optimism allows you to dust yourself off, move forward and face challenges head on. This is tougher for types who feel a lot of fear about the doom and gloom that could be lurking around the next corner.
You’ll Find the Bright Side — And Show It to Others
Part of what helps optimists is to see the world the way they do is that they’re always on the lookout for the positive. Any situation, no matter how challenging, does have a bright side — hidden opportunities, or maybe the potential to learn something.
Embracing optimism and positive thinking helps you to identify these bright sides when challenges arise professionally. Then, you can share those insights with others. This way, your coworkers and your employer can benefit, too. Over time, they’ll recognize the power of this contribution.
You’ll Be Healthier
Your career is also sure to get a boost if your health improves. You’ll be more productive and more effective, because you’ll be at your best more consistently. And, you’ll take fewer sick days, too.
Positive thinking reduces negative self-talk. This reduces stress. You’ll be healthier and happier when your knee-jerk automatic thoughts become more positive. When you lose a big client you’ll think, “Well, I learned some valuable lessons for next time.” Instead of, “Of course I lost the account. I’m so stupid. I always screw things up.” It’s not difficult to see which approach is better for your health, and your general well-being.
The Mayo Clinic also notes that optimistic people tend to live healthier lifestyles. They exercise more, eat better, and tend to smoke less and drink less alcohol.
You’ll Have More Faith In Yourself And Your Company
Optimism changes the way you see the world, plain and simple. One result of positive thinking is an increased ability to have faith in yourself and your employer. This will help you face challenging situations with a better attitude, which could do wonders for your career.
“Exercising faith in the process of career advancement is believing that your career development unfolds in a series of challenges that equip you for a purpose higher than what you can see,” says Shai Littlejohn, a career development coach, in an interview with Monster. “These challenging situations very often require us to humbly serve others by helping in areas where they fall short.”
Optimism helps you to see the world, yourself and others, in a slightly better light than you would otherwise. This changes your perception, and it also shifts the way you interact with others and participate in what’s going on around you. If you want to improve your career circumstances, start by improving yourself. Working toward more optimism is a great place to start.
Tell Us What You Think
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