This document discusses various thinkers and approaches related to cultivating a positive attitude and mindset. It covers champions of positive thinking from Dale Carnegie to Rhonda Byrne. Other topics covered include positive psychology, self-talk, cognitive distortions, thought stopping/starting, developing self-esteem and locus of control, reducing cognitive dissonance, forming good habits, goal setting, meditation, and emotional intelligence. The overall message is that our mindset, thoughts, and behaviors can be intentionally developed to support well-being and success.

1. POSITIVE ATTITUDE
Thoughts Feelings Actions

2. Champions of a Positive
Attitude
 Dale Carnegie – “How to Win Friends and
Influence People” 1936
 Norman Vincent Peale – “The Power of
Positive Thinking” 1952
 Anthony Robbins – “Awakening the Giant
Within” 1992
 Rhonda Byrne – “The Secret” 2006
 Martin Seligman – “Positive Psychology”

3. Positive Psychology
 Martin Seligman – Human Strengths
 Optimism, Gratitude, and Happiness
 New Courses in Psychology
 Happiness: engagement, meaning, pleasure

4. Self-Talk (Listen to Yourself)
 Usually automatic, unchallenged, and
accepted to be true
 Positive or negative depending on
upbringing, experience, and habits of mind
 Can be changed through self-awareness,
re-phrasing, substitution, and practice

5. Negative Thoughts and
Cognitive Distortions
 Disputing and challenging negative
thoughts
 Identifying and correcting cognitive
distortions
 It is not the event, but our interpretation of
it, that causes our emotional reaction

6. Thought Stopping and
Thought Starting
 Stopping negative thoughts, worries, and
anxieties – “Neuroplasticity”
 Substituting positive thoughts, images,
hopes, and goals
 Creating positive thoughts, behaviors, and
expectations
 Planning and taking constructive action

7. A Complaint Free World
 Will Bowen – Minister from Kansas City
 Purple Bracelet – 21 Day Challenge
 Complain – “To express pain, grief, or
discontent.” Switch wrists when complain.
 4 million bracelets in 80 countries
 Stick to the facts and positive action
 Average person takes 4 to 10 months
 www.acomplaintfreeworld.org

8. Positive Visualization and
Affirmations
 See yourself doing well and succeeding
 Create affirmations that boost your
confidence and self-esteem
 Create affirmations that support your goals,
incorporate your strengths and motivate you
 Utilize self-fulfilling prophecy

9. Self-Esteem and Self-Efficacy
 View yourself as a good, capable person
 Believe you are worthy of respect and love
 Believe that you can learn, change, and
improve
 Remind yourself of your strengths and
accomplishments
 Believe you can make a difference and a
valuable contribution

10. Locus of Control
 Free Will or Destiny
 Causality:Internal or External
 Purposefulness or Intention
 “To be or not to be.” William Shakespeare
 “Tuum Est” – Motto of U.B.C.
 “Nous Somme Pret” – Motto of S.F.U.

11. Cognitive Dissonance
 Inconsistency between our words or beliefs
and actions
 Creates anxiety, stress, guilt, and confusion
 We want to live with intent and purpose
 We want to be a “together person”
 We don’t want to be a hypocrite

12. Habits and Neuroplasticity
 Ingrained, reflexive response
 Good and bad habits
 Habit change (21 days)
 Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
 We can re-wire our brains through
meditation, thought-stopping, and positive
thinking (Practice, Practice, Practice)

13. The Four Human Gifts
 Self-Awareness
 Conscience
 Imagination
 Independent Will

14. The Virtues
 Positive human values or principles
 Personal traits that support good behaviours
 Common to all world religions
 Character education
 Honesty, Gratitude, Compassion, Courage,
Forgiveness, Patience, Peacefulness, Humility,
Self-discipline, Joyfulness, Creativity, Respect,
Generosity, Purposefulness, Understanding,
Enthusiasm, etc…

15. SELF-DISCIPLINE
 “The one quality which sets one man apart
from another – the key which lifts one to
every aspiration while others are caught up
in the mire of mediocrity – is not talent,
formal education, nor intellectual brightness
– it is self-discipline. With self-discipline,
all things are possible. Without it, even the
simplest goal can seem like the impossible
dream.” Theodore Roosevelt

16. Purposefulness
 Be Relaxed, Alert, and Focus Attention
 Think of Purpose or Intent
 Choose Words to Support Purpose
 Align Voice Tone, Body Language, and
Emotions
 Choose Supportive Gestures and Actions
 Check for Understanding

17. Goal-Setting and Time
Management
 Living our values and beliefs
 Creating a vision of a better tomorrow
 Focusing our efforts and resources
 Achieving our goals and success
 Management: Reaching our goals through
Planning, Organizing, Leading, and
Controlling

18. Meditation and Contemplation
 Improving self-control, focus and awareness
 Reducing stress and anxieties
 Acting with purpose and intention
 Increasing happiness and compassion
 Calming and relaxing the mind and body

19. Emotional Intelligence
 Controlling impulse and delaying
gratification
 Regulating and managing our emotions
 Reading others emotions and showing
empathy and understanding
 Self-awareness, motivation, and persistence
 Maintaining good interpersonal relations