Have you ever had to attend an event that you were dreading? Maybe it was a wedding or a social outing with neighbours that you can’t stand, or maybe it was work-related. Did you feel resentful or angry that you were expected to attend? We all have situations where we must ‘grin and bear it’, but have you ever stopped to think about your attitude going into such an event?

Your Attitude Is More Important Than You Think

Your attitude can affect all aspects of your life. If you are generally unhappy, it will show in your interactions with others. If you are a firm pessimist, other people you work with and live with will notice your negative cues. It doesn’t mean you should be sugary happy ALL the time, but you can modulate your own attitude. And science is saying that’s a good thing.

A recent study examined patients released from intensive care, after suffering from a critical illness. Having a positive life outlook was found to be important as these patients returned to typical daily life and positive coping skills was strongly associated with an improved quality of life.

Scientists report that patients may have improved outcomes after a severe illness if they have developed strong coping skills leading to more positive outlooks (Hashem, 2016).

What Do You Really Want To Project To The World?

Do you know someone who always has something negative to say? Always a little something to complain about? Is this person maybe YOU? Seeing the world and people around you with a negative attitude is like wearing very dark sunglasses. Your world is missing the colour and light and joy.

Science is unlocking the secrets of how we think, and what motivates us to be who we are. This knowledge is helping to usher in a new age, the Imagination Age. Leadership styles are changing, and how you express yourself, carry yourself physically, your tone of voice, and your attitude matters.

Retrain Your Brain To Look For The Positives

The i4 Neuroleader Model & Methodology can help you adjust your attitude and train your brain to seek out the positives instead of focusing and zooming in on the negatives. There will always be negatives forces and emotions around us, and that is just part of being human. We all have to cope with terrible things sometimes. But you can use brain-based science to rework your thought processes.

Having the right attitude will improve your quality of life, and in turn, improve your personal and professional lives. To be the leader that you should be, give yourself the knowledge and embrace opportunities for innovation and creation.

When you think positive, good things happen.

Matt Kemp

The next time you get dragged to a luncheon or a long board meeting, take a moment and think about your attitude. Are you seeking the positives, or are you only focusing on the negatives?

To improve the quality of our lives, it is important to notice the positive things around us, even when we face unhappy events or circumstances.

Citations
Hashem, M. D., Nallagangula, A., Nalamalapu, S., Nunna, K., Nausran, U., Robinson, K. A., … Eakin, M. N. (2016). Patient outcomes after critical illness: a systematic review of qualitative studies following hospital discharge. Critical Care, 20, 345. http://doi.org/10.1186/s13054-016-1516-x

Originally posted on: 21 December 2017
Last updated on: 24 March 2024

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Silvia Damiano

Silvia Damiano

Founder & CEO
About my Brain Institute

Scientist, educator, author, speaker, coach, award-winning leadership specialist, filmmaker and creator of the i4 Neuroleader Model & Methodology.

Silvia's scientific background and curiosity about the human brain led her to a decade long journey of research into optimal brain functioning and the application of neuroscience in leadership and daily life. Her past and current roles have uniquely prepared her for the current undertaking, that of leadership activist & change agent.

Silvia Damiano founded The About my Brain Institute in 2009, with the purpose of democratising leadership & neuroscience. She has a passionately held belief, that leaders in our 21st century global economy and their organisations must radically change long-held ideas of what constitutes effective leadership

In her ground-breaking books ‘Leadership is Upside Down’, ‘Brain-Friendly Leadership’ and the 2018 documentary ‘Make Me A Leader’, Silvia provides both compelling evidence and explores the importance of leadership in our personal and professional lives and what it takes to develop the human behind the leader.

Silvia has worked in different countries, across many industries, helping teams and organisations improve business performance. Silvia’s clients have described her as a passionate, dynamic, a highly experienced speaker and master facilitator on the topics of Emotional Intelligence, Cultural Change, Neuroleadership & Engagement.

Silvia is passionate about leaving a legacy of well-rounded leaders who can act and decide in a way that better serves humanity. Her clients include Microsoft, Australian Stock Exchange, NSW Government, VISA, Fuji Xerox and Manpower amongst many other global companies.

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