The concept that your “attitude is everything” is more true today than ever before.
I started my career when business was very much a “man’s world.” But I didn’t complain, or try to make excuses; I accepted the challenge to succeed in spite of being a woman, and being a woman has never deterred me from seeking and reaching success.
For all individuals, male and female, it’s important to stay positive if you want to reach your goals.
After all, it is all too easy in today’s environment to get caught up in what is not working, whose fault it is, and why it is never going to change.
One truth remains the same for everyone: a positive outlook will accomplish more in any area of life than negativity, complaining, or competitive scheming. You need to stop complaining and start changing the negative.
Here are five steps that you can take today to cultivate a mindset of success.
How To Stop All Your Complaining So You Can Start Doing
1. Practice the Law of Attraction – for real
We have all heard of the Law of Attraction: think positive thoughts, and you will attract positive results.
Related: How To Achieve Your Goals: The Law of Attraction Vs. Mental Toughness
Stop complaining and start focusing on the good. By changing our dialogue to one of celebration of the progress that has already been made, we will attract even more progress.
2. Get your priorities straight
Progress occurs when your vision is transformed into a cohesive plan, which gets transformed into action, and thus, real results.
Unfortunately, that vision often gets lost in mundane, tedious, or time-consuming tasks. If you are stuck somewhere in this process, it can be frustrating. But you can change it. It is time to re-evaluate how you can be most effective.
If you are constantly having to focus your energy on the day-to-day trivialities rather than staying focused on achieving your goal, the time has come to figure out a way to stop letting those little tasks get in your way—or else your priorities are out of whack.
Related: Brutal Basics of Time Management
3. Surround yourself with positive people
Consider the five people closest to you in your life. You tend to become most like those you spend the most time with. If these people are not lifting you up, but are rather tearing you down with negativity, you’re more likely to the same.
To be clear, I am not saying to abandon your family or closest friends; however, I do suggest limiting your time with those that are dragging you down. Seek out relationships that inspire you to be better and achieve more.
4. Always try to help others
Being of service to others is something we should always be trying to do. Obviously, it’s the right thing to do, but you are also opening up opportunities for success with your positivity. When you help someone, they’ll be more likely to help you when you hit a wall.
Related: The Kindness Cure: 4 Ways Being Nice Can Be Good For Your Health
As an added step, get involved in your community. Donate your time or skill set to an organization that serves others.
Not only will you be creating value for that organization, but you will be helping those who rely on by the organization and are bound to meet others who have a similar mindset of being of service.
Who knows…you may just find the person who will help you get to the next step in your life!
5. Be mindful of your communication style
Again, positive over negative. It’s easier to get the results you want by acknowledging, flattering and simply being polite to others than by complaining or making demands of them. For example, a polite, logical request is always received better than a barked command.
Related: The 7 C’s of Happy Relationships
Stop and take notice as you communicate with others. Do you generally frame things negatively? When you identify problems, do you respond with frustration or panic, or do you immediately begin to look for solutions? Is your tone generally upbeat and pleasant, or do you tend to be short, gruff, or even monotone?
All of these factors will influence how others respond to you.
The Takeaway
It is really that simple: if you stop complaining about the bad and start to celebrate the wins, you will not only become happier (and nicer to be around): you will also energize and accelerate progress.
The more we can accomplish this through the spirit of harmony and collaboration, the faster we will see the rewards.
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Sharon Lechter, CPA CGMA, is the author of THINK AND GROW RICH FOR WOMEN: Using Your Power to Create Success and Significance and co-author of Outwitting the Devil, Think and Grow Rich: Three Feet From Gold, and the bestselling Rich Dad Poor Dad series. She is the CEO and Founder of Pay Your Family First, a financial education organization, and YOUTHpreneur, an innovative new way to spark the entrepreneurial spirit in our children.
Photo by rikaard