Positive thinking is a mental and emotional attitude that focuses on the bright side of life and always expects positive results ignoring the circumstances even if they are unfavorable. A positive person anticipates happiness, health and success, and believes he or she can overcome any obstacle and difficulty.

I’m sure you have heard the analogy of your glass being half empty or half full. So if you see a glass half empty your considered a pessimist and the person seeing the glass half full is an optimist. Optimism comes from the Latin word optimus, meaning “best,” which describes how an optimistic person is always looking for the best in any situation and expecting good things to happen. Optimism is the tendency to believe, expect or hope that things will turn out well.

Positive thinking is not accepted or lived out by everyone. Some, consider it nonsense, and laugh at people who follow it, but there are many people, who accept positive thinking and believe in its effectiveness. I am one of them even though I fail often.

This simple story shows how it works:

So, Allan applies for a new job, but he didn’t believe he’ll get it. Due to low self-esteem, and he considered himself as a failure and unworthy of success.

Beacuse he had a negative attitude toward himself, he believed that the other applicants were better than him and more qualified. Allan’s mind was occupied with negative thoughts and fears concerning the job, for the whole week preceding the job interview. He actually, anticipated failure. On the day of the interview, he got up late, and to his horror he discovered that the shirt he planned to wear was dirty, and the other one needed ironing. As it was already too late, he went out wearing a wrinkled shirt and without eating breakfast. During the interview, he was tense, negative, hungry and worried about his shirt. All this, distracted his mind and made it difficult for him to focus on the interview. His overall behavior made a bad impression, and consequently, he materialized his fear and did not get the job.

Jim applied for the same job too, but approached the matter in a different way. He was sure that he was going to get the job. During the week preceding the interview, he often visualized himself making a good impression and getting the job. In the evening before the interview, he prepared the clothes he was going to wear, and went to sleep a little earlier. On day of the interview, he woke up earlier than usual, and had ample time to eat breakfast, and then to arrive to the interview before the scheduled time.

Jim made a good impression and got the job.

What do we learn from these two stories? Was there any magic used? No, everything happened the way it should, no one likes a negative attitude. Everyone is drawn to a positive attitude. It’s contagious.

What’s this got to do with me you ask?

In the fitness world, many people with health problems or those trying to lose weight have often developed a very negative attitude towards themselves and their dreams. We see this all the time. I understand it can be a very difficult and desolate place to be. By being positive thinking will help you to succeed in many ways. With that said, a negative will make your hopes and dreams almost impossible. I have coached many people to their goals by helping chang the way they view themselves and their lives. There is immense power in positivity. All the ability, will power and discipline they needed were always there. They just needed to be able to see it.

So, stay positive and be blessed today. See the good in everything. Try it for just one day and watch the results and the effect you have on yourself and others around you.