Mind Makeover: A Positive Attitude Can Change Your Life

• Single to satisfied. Being single is not the end of the world. So, you don’t have anyone special for now. this is an opportunity to meet lots of new friends. The world is up for the taking.
• Critic to “complimenter”. Make an effort to stop auto-scanning for errors. Try to compliment people instead. It doesn’t have to be anything concrete. A smile will work wonders.
• Late night crammer to early starter. After each lecture, go over your notes on the same day. Come exam time, they won’t seem as foreign to you.
• Rigid stick to spontaneous chick. Be open to new things. Don’t bash something till you’ve tried it. Instead of being so down on vegetarians, try an Indian veggie meal! You may not get hooked but at least you’ll see how other people enjoy life.
• Members-only to social butterfly. Don’t be tied to one circle of friends. Expand your circle! Hang with all sorts: musicians, writers, artists, doctors–all of whom have their own takes on life.
• Spotlight stealer to team player. You can’t do everything alone. When complimented on work well done, shift attention to your teammates. Say, “Thanks, but I couldn’t have done this without my group mates.”

Look On The Bright Side

• Lighten Up! If you smile at people, chances are they’ll smile back. Studies have shown facial expressions  and moods are infectious.
• Nip pessimism in the bud! Act happy and your brain will follow suit. One study made subjects hold a pen in their mouths, making them involuntarily “smile”. When asked to rate cartoons, they found them to be funnier (people asked to simply watch and rate same cartoons didn’t find them as funny).
• Explain success and failure like an optimist. After acing a killer math exam, don’t say, “I was lucky!” Try an attitude shift: “Studying really paid off!”
• Stack the deck in your favor. Stop comparing yourself to others! In one study, one group of subjects was asked to complete the sentence. ” I wish I were a ___.” While the other group said, “I’m glad I’m not a ___.” The second group rated higher on a life satisfaction scale.