Keeping a Positive Attitude
in Negative Situations:
It's all in your Attitude

A Positive Attitude is not always easy to maintain.

However, it is usually worth it in how much less stress and anxiety you feel.

Recently my car broke down. I had just renewed my car insurance and had several large household expenses coming up so this was not a good time to be landed with an unexpected and extremely significant bill!

Not an easy thing to have a positive attitude about.

I paid it – I need my car. That was one choice I made.

Another choice I had to make was what my response to the situation would be.

I could be mad.

I could be upset or depressed.

Or I could look for the positives in the situation.

I decided on the latter course of action.

After all, the work was going to cost the same whether I was mad, upset, depressed or deliriously happy! Deliriously happy I couldn’t quite manage, but I did find several positives to get me through.

Firstly, my car died as I drove through a mall parking lot. So all I had to do was coast into to a parking spot and I was safe. It could have happened on the highway.

Secondly, I was within sight of the nearest auto repair shop. I still had to pay for a tow truck, since the auto mechanics are no longer allowed to push cars, but at least I didn’t have far to go.

The tow truck took only 20 minutes to arrive (I have waited over 2 hours before.)

I was within walking distance of my home – which turned out to be useful, since after waiting for 4 hours, they told me the part they had tried to install was the wrong size and they would have to wait till the next day for another part.

During the 4 hours wait, I had a warm mall to sit it, a coffee shop for refreshments, and endless shopping right at hand.

I wasn’t in a rush to do anywhere. It was my day off. Perhaps it was not the way of my choice to spend that day but better than feeling stressed because I was late for an appointment.

All in all, it wasn’t so bad.

I was a bit shaken up at the cost, but by focusing on the positives, I didn’t allow it to get me down.

Happiness is a choice. Your attitude is entirely up to you.

It is not the fault of the person who upsets you, cheats on you or otherwise makes your life more difficult. It is not the fault of "the world."

Your attitude at all times and in all situations is your choice.

I am glad I managed to deliberately make the choices it took to get through this will the least emotional trauma.

And I encourage you to try it next time the world smacks you in the face. Ask yourself, what is good about this situation – even though it feels silly to be trying to find good in some amazingly difficult circumstance.

You’ll be amazed what you can find.

Reading attitude quotes can be a great help too.