From political campaigns to late night infomercials, it seems like the general public is obsessed with the benefits of having a positive mental attitude. However, thanks to their training in dealing with observable phenomena, scientists can often have a tough time grappling with the whole concept of a positive mental attitude. by its very nature, people”s attitudes tend to be complex and hard to quantify. And while there have been lots of studies, we”re unlikely to see a solidly designed double-blind study on the effects of a positive attitude. Of course, part of the problem is that this is a complex topic, everyone”s attitudes are continually changing and there seems to be quite a bit of variability in the definitions of good attitudes. Who”s to say whether a relentlessly cheerful person has a positive attitude or is just ignoring reality? Despite these inherent difficulties, I will take a rational look at the value of maintaining a positive mental attitude.
For the purposes of this article, I am defining a person with a positive mental attitude as someone with three specific characteristics. First, they maintain a positive perspective. At any given time we are all surrounded with a wide variety of events competing for our attention. A positive perspective makes it easier to focus on the most useful things and expect good things to happen. Second, they tend to believe in their abilities and believe that they have some control over there destiny. With this attitude firmly in place it is only natural to display persistence even in the most trying of conditions. Finally, they have a clear view of reality and work towards a purpose that goes beyond merely finishing the task of the moment. Now that we have a basic definition of what makes up a positive attitude, we can begin to work towards a better understanding of how this type of attitude can enhance our lives.
One way to learn about the benefits of a positive attitude is to simply examine our immediate environment – the people around us and our personal experiences. As you consider the attitudes of the various people you know and the level of their success, you can begin to get some idea of the power of a positive attitude. Of course we all know that correlation does not prove causation, but it can be an interesting bit of information in any case. Another set of clues can come from examining your own past and studying when you were the most effective and successful. On average, you will probably find that you have had more success when you had the best attitude. Of course, even the best attitude won”t immunize you from setbacks. However, with a strong attitude you can be better prepared to handle what life throws your way.
A second way to evaluate the worth of positive mental attitude is to determine exactly how a positive mental attitude may be beneficial. Just as you would want any drug you took to have a well understood mode of action, it make sense to be sure that there is a reasonable chance that any philosophy you would adapt would be worth the trouble. Perhaps the best way to understand the power of a positive mental attitude is to establish a mechanistic understanding of how a positive attitude can support you. With the right attitude you simply can withstand more adversity. For many years Olympic athletes have been exerting significant effort to develop just the right attitude to push themselves to achieve just a little bit more in training so that they can prevail when it comes time for competition. If the right attitude can help these elite athletes to push themselves to the limit of endurance, it should also be able to help you get through a tough day! Another important consideration is that people with positive attitudes can have an easier time getting along with different types of people. This ability to get along with many people is very useful when it comes time to network or request assistance from others. Finally, having a positive attitude can simply be more fun. Dealing with a stressful situation is much easier when, instead of getting bogged down in negative thinking, you can see the positive aspects and laugh at the absurd.
Maintaining a positive mental attitude can be a very powerful tool in the development of a successful career in science. As a scientist, it is critical to always be able to always bring a critical frame of mind to any idea or data interpretation. However, when dealing with the frustrations of experiments that are not working or other possible distractions, a positive outlook can help you respond in the most effective way possible. You may be surprised by how a positive mental attitude can help you to effectively solve problems and seek out new opportunities. In the end you might well experiment with maintaining a positive attitude, after all you have nothing to lose except perhaps a bad attitude.
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