Pearls of Wisdom: The Tremendous Power of Attitude

It is not that the man of positive attitude refuses to recognise the negative side of life. Life has a negative side, a dark side. Life is full of difficulties and dangers. But the man with the positive attitude refuses to dwell on the negative side of life. He looks for the best results from the worst conditions. Conditions may be very adverse, yet he continues to expect good things

They asked a great American philosopher what is the greatest discovery of our generation? He said that the greatest discovery of our generation is that by changing our attitude, we can change our life. All that you have to do is to change your attitude.

There are people whose thinking is always negative. Speak to them something, and they will tell you: “It cannot be done!” “It is impossible!” There are people who always think in terms of disease and death. Those are the ones who, through the magnetic power of their own thoughts, draw disease to themselves. They are their own enemies.

You can be your own friend.

You can be your own foe.

What would you like to be?

It is very easy, in difficult and trying circumstances, to throw the blame on others. No one outside of us can do us harm. It is we who are our own foes: it is we who can be our own friends. If we would be our own friends, let us adopt a positive attitude, a friendly attitude towards life.

The man, with a friendly attitude, is cheerful and buoyant and has the strength to face the difficulties of life in the right spirit.

The man, with the friendly attitude, has a singing heart: his heart keeps on singing all the time.

Psychologists have always told us that attitudes can influence results. Two scientists decided to conduct an experiment to find out if attitudes could affect seeds.

Two identical cans were taken. Into each was poured soil and fertilizer of the same quality and quantity, and 23 seeds were dropped into each can. They were both placed in a greenhouse so that they could have the same conditions of weather and temperature.

There was only one variable in the experiment, all other things being the same. Everyday, the two scientists came to the greenhouse, and standing before the first can, poured into it all the negativism of which they were capable.

They said to the seeds, "You are good for nothing. Nothing is ever going to come out of you, and even if something comes out, it is not going to last," and so on and so forth.

Then they came and stood in front of the second can and poured into it all the positivism of which they were capable.

"You are so wonderful," they said to the seeds, "And you are going to show wonderful results. It will be a sight to see what is coming out of you," and so on and so forth.

This was repeated thrice a day for three weeks.

At the end of the three weeks, the scientists found that while there came forth only two or three shoots of grass out of the first can, out of the second can, there came forth whole strands of grass, so strong that they could clutch it and lift up the entire can with its soil and fertiliser. If this is what attitude can do to seeds what can it not do to human beings?

What is it to have the positive attitude? It is not that the man of positive attitude refuses to recognise the negative side of life. Life has a negative side, a dark side. Life is full of difficulties and dangers. But the man with the positive attitude refuses to dwell on the negative side of life. He looks for the best results from the worst conditions. Conditions may be very adverse, yet he continues to expect good things. Remember your expectations have magnetic power—they draw unto themselves what you expect.

What is it to have the positive attitude? It is not that the man of positive attitude refuses to recognise the negative side of life

Here are few practical tips for developing positive attitude:

• Being non-judgmental – when something or someone annoys you, you analyse your own feelings, instead of blaming others. Thus, you will not say, "My friend hurt me by her behaviour." Rather, you will ask yourself, "Why did I feel hurt and upset by my friend's behaviour?"
• Cultivating the spirit of acceptance – this involves overcoming selfish expectations and demands. We expect certain things from our parents, spouse, children and friends. When your expectations are not met, frustration and unhappiness follow. Fathers want their sons to become doctors or engineers; mothers expect their daughters to get married and 'settle down'; when the children wish to pursue their own dreams and aspirations, the poor parents are unhappy.
• Developing optimism – this includes the practice of positive thinking, as well as belief in ourselves and our capacity to change for the better. As philosophers and sages tell us again and again, "This too, shall pass away". Even the worst of the conditions will change, sooner or later.
• Developing a sense of maturity – this will enable us to view ourselves and our life with dispassion and detachment, and not give in to negative emotions.

By Dada J P Vaswani