Managing expectations is a key part of business strategy, particularly when it comes to customer service. But managing your own expectations can be vital to your own sense of wellbeing. Positive thinking – expecting good things to happen – is an effective tool in helping with people’s mental health, both in and out of the workplace.
The Psychology of Positivity
Having a positive mental attitude does not boil down to a simplistic “don’t worry, be happy” approach to life. A scientific understanding of optimism underpins the real value that positivity has for helping people cope with everyday pressures, and for helping them make real progress in their lives.
Judith Green, Managing Director of , is a keen advocate of this approach, to the extent that she is launching her own support programme about wellbeing. “Positive thoughts have a definite value and can actually help people develop new skills and resources,” she points out. “The reason for this is that having this kind of positive mindset broadens your sense of possibilities, making you more open to new things.”
Judith explains that having a positive mental attitude is not just a way of thinking; it is in fact an enormously useful tool in engaging with many aspects of work and life in general.
“It’s deceptively simple,” she says, “but it can absolutely transform people’s lives if applied practically.”
Drawing on Positive Resources
Using positive thinking as an active tool requires certain techniques. These are not complicated to pick up, and they help develop and reinforce a positive mental attitude. These techniques include:
- Awareness – this is simply about becoming sensitive to what you are thinking. If you have negative thoughts, let them run their course then write them down. This will enable you to see patterns emerging, and once this happens, you can begin to challenge your negative thinking.
- Rationality – this is how challenging negative thoughts works, you examine them and see if they really stand up to scrutiny. This is particularly effective around issues of low self-esteem.
- Affirmation – counter negative thinking by basing affirmations on rational assessments of positive things about yourself and what you do.
Combating negative thoughts is a vital step to then developing positive ones, and creating a more optimistic outlook.
“Positive thinking is a process,” Judith states, “and it’s one you can learn and develop. It’s not fluffy or vague, it’s real and it can make a noticeable difference in people’s lives.”
HR Aspects Magazine appreciates Judith Green’s contribution to this article.
