Positivity: Attitude Shifters
To help yourself be more positive, it is extremely helpful to have attitude shifters.
What is an attitude shifter? A shifter is something you can think about or focus on that will make you feel good.
Shifters can come in any number of forms. A picture of a person, place or thing that makes you feel happy. A song or movie dialogue or comedy routine that puts you in a good mood. A scent, the smell of something that brings your mind to positive thoughts. Pretty much anything that stimulates your senses in a manner that makes you feel good can serve as an attitude shifter.
Because shifters can take on so many forms and can come from a vast landscape of lifetime experiences, it is a good idea to choose specific shifters. It is also a good idea to have certain shifters that can be used in particular circumstances, as some may be more readily reached than others.
Attitude shifters are more often than not memory. It is the recollection of the thing, whatever sense it stimulates, that is most useful in changing your mood. Because you are working on a memory, you do not need to have a physical object in order to use the shifter. This can be very useful when you are somewhere you cannot physically change, but mentally take a new approach – meetings, waiting in line, horrid traffic, etc.
How do you know if something is an attitude shifter for you? When you think about that image, that scent, that touch, that taste, that sound, that emotion – does it put a smile on your face? Does it make your heart happy? Does it make you feel good? If the answer is yes – you have found a shifter.
Using attitude shifters takes work. It is not hard work, it is conscious work. All too often we get caught up in the goings-on around us, and let the neutrality or negativity overwhelm us. To use a shifter, all you have to do is this:
1. Ask yourself this question – How do I feel? You might be amazed how seldom you actually pause to ask that. If you are feeling good or feeling positive, you don’t need an attitude shifter. In fact, the experience may create a new shifter for future use. When you find that you are feeling nothing or you are feeling negative, go to:
2. Choose an attitude shifter. Sometimes this takes more work than others, depending on whether the situation you are in is passive or active. Remember that child’s laugh, think about that song that makes you want to dance, remember holding your lover’s hand – or whatever shifter you can use to change your attitude. If one is not working – choose another.
The great thing about attitude shifters is that they are many and varied and constantly being renewed. It is not so difficult to take a moment in your mind to bring forth that memory in order to change how you are feeling.
Here is how I would suggest getting started with this (this idea is as much for me as it is for you): Consciously choose five things that make you happy. Take some time to firmly place them in your memory. Even when you are feeling good, focus on them, so that they are clearer and easier to reach to. When you need to shift your attitude, you will have five readily available options. After a month, choose five more. Guess what? Now there are ten options readily available.
Finding positivity is not hard, it just requires action. Attitude shifters are a great tool on the road to Positivity. Positive attitude begets positive energy, and that is always a good thing.
This is the second entry of my Positivity series. It is my hope these weekly messages might help spread positive energies for everyone.
Follow me here!
