Could You Use an Attitude Makeover?

Even if you don't think you're in need of a total attitude makeover, check out some of the ideas below to discover positive approaches you can take to get the most out of your life.

Changing how you approach daily living might help you achieve your ultimate goals.

Are you "Stuck" in a Dominant Attitude?

If you find yourself feeling the same way about a variety of situations in life, maybe you're hanging on to the same attitude. If you have a particular, less-than-positive approach that dominates your life, it may be time for an attitude makeover.

Reflect on Your Feelings.

Take time to think about how you feel most of the time. How would you describe your dominant attitude? Is it contentment, sluggishness, happiness, annoyance, satisfaction, resentment, peace, envy, joy, worry, inquisitiveness, or even anger?

Examine Your Attitude Type.

As you can see, some attitudes are positive, optimistic and motivating. If you're blessed with a naturally positive dominant attitude, you're in solid command of your life. You're most likely already living the good life you deserve.

But if you notice that a less positive attitude is pervasive, make the decision now to alter how you think and feel.

Consider the following regarding these more challenging attitudes, and the ways in which they can detract from the quality of your life:

• Sluggishness. If you have a sluggish attitude toward life, you'll find yourself simply plodding along, doing barely what is required to get by. You might take little interest in anything and put your feet in front of the television at every spare moment. Chances are, you set few, if any, goals.
• Annoyance. If you find yourself consistently annoyed, you probably rarely feel satisfied with life. Something is usually amiss. When you're annoyed, you may often sit in judgment of others, whom you see as unable to "do things right."
• Resentment. Being resentful involves feeling rankled, troubled and worked up most of the time. When resentment is your dominant attitude, you may feel challenged to manifest positive events in your life or enjoy the ones that do occur.
• Envy. Feeling envious of others can include wanting what someone else has or feeling spiteful toward or competitive with others.
• Worry. A prevailing attitude of worry means you often experience nagging feelings that things are not quite okay. In advance of an event, you construct many possible scenarios, with few of them leading to a satisfying finish.
• Anger. An angry attitude is exhausting if you have to deal with it on a day-to-day basis, whether it's your own attitude or someone else's. When this attitude is dominant, usually there is a general sense of unhappiness.

Your Attitude Makeover.

Once you determine you might benefit from an attitude makeover, you can get started right away. As an adult, you most likely already have all the skills you need to change your challenging state of mind.

Try these strategies to experience the joys of a more positive dominant attitude:

1. Make a decision. Decide to rid yourself of the attitude that brings you down.
2. Use reminders. Post reminders on your mirror and refrigerator and in your car to "catch" and let go of your old attitude.
3. Replace the old. Select a more uplifting attitude as your dominant one. For example, happiness, joy, peace, satisfaction, or contentment as your chief attitude will strengthen your passion for life. When you notice your old attitude creeping in, replace it immediately with a more optimistic, motivating one. Refuse to surrender your power to that old state of mind.
4. Affirm your new attitude. Apply your new frame of mind. Every day, say to yourself, "No matter what, I am [your new attitude]." Remind yourself that you're stronger than your old, ineffective attitude.

If you identified any of the above challenging attitudes as your primary emotional state, you might get a lot of pleasure from an attitude makeover. By following these suggestions, you can begin to enjoy the good life you've always wanted.