The way we think, behave, and generally live is ingrained through habits we have developed throughout our life. Becoming aware of these patterns in thinking and behaving is incredibly important to reaching greater efficiency and effectiveness. Habits can help us live a more comfortable and productive life, or they can lead to frustration and disappointment. Below are 10 habits to explore to help you develop a positive attitude, greater confidence, and the capability to overcome life’s obstacles.
1. Be honest
Having integrity is one of the most important qualities to reaching success. Learn be trustworthy, respectful to others, fair, and honest in all the decisions you make. People must know they can count on you and believe in what you say. Do what you say you will do and make it a habit to follow through and do the right thing.
2. Be positive
Having a positive attitude relates to everything from being optimistic and hopeful to being friendly and grateful. Develop a positive attitude and enthusiasm for your life is about finding moments of joy and pleasure by using your strengths and talents, and comes from managing your thinking. Positivity is a major factor in overcoming setbacks and staying resilient.
3. Be resilient
When life becomes stressful we need to take a step back and assess how we can work things out. Adversity and setbacks happen to everyone. Resilience then, is not about avoiding difficulties and struggles, but about turning these struggles into an opportunity to learn, and working through them by staying positive and keeping a healthy perspective on life. You can learn to take control of your life by controlling your response and reaction to life’s difficulties.
4. Be willing to learn
Learning is simply a lifelong endeavor that will never stop as long as you live. The sooner you grasp this idea the sooner you will see continued and immediate progress. Being a life-long learner is about making a commitment and habit of growing your knowledge and learning new skills. We live in a day in age where even the most competent and educated individuals have to focus on continual personal development to stay marketable. Accept feedback from others and always be willing to look for value and important lessons in any situation.
5. Be responsible
Take responsibility for what needs to be done in your life. Many people tend to blame their life circumstances on someone or something else, and neglect their own ability to change their life. Learning to be responsible provides empowerment and confidence in you capability. This comes through keeping agreements, sticking with your obligations, and always showing up prepared to do your part.
6. Be engaged
Be proactive and take life head on. Love what you do and stay active and attentive to what life brings your way. Don’t just sit back, coast through life on autopilot, and wait for life to happen. Be truly engaged and immersed in what you do. You’ll do your best work and get the most out of every experience this way.
7. Be supportive
Cultivating relationships is one of the most important aspects of happiness and success. Without a lasting connection with others all your success and achievements will cease to have any significance. Appreciate your relationships and work to show respect to others. Don’t be quick to criticize and belittle people for mistakes. Look for win-win opportunities where you can help others and they can help you.
8. Be creative
Everyone is capable of being creative and tapping into a larger source of inspiration. Start developing your imagination and work to use your creativity in everything you do. Think outside the box and whenever you get mentally stuck, reach deep down, think critically, and actively explore solutions.
9. Be disciplined
Are you someone that tends to finish things you start? Stay focused and committed to what you want to accomplish. Learning to cultivate time-management is a helpful part of discipline. Set clear goals with deadlines and focus on getting these goals accomplished. Keep up with your routine and don’t procrastinate.
10. Be grateful
Realize the good things you have. Make note of what goes right and what you’re thankful for each day. We all have things we can appreciate despite what may be going wrong. Approach each day with an attitude of gratitude where you seek to learn, grow, and expand yourself as a person. Even when we’re aware of bad habits they can be tough to change, but learning to embrace change means working through excuses and finding good reasons to change. It takes setting specific goals and starting small with one thing at a time. If you’re committed to acquiring more positive habits it can be done. Photo credit: B Rosen
