How to Improve a Negative Attitude

Having a negative attitude can not only impact your life for the worse, but can also be a burden to the other people surrounding you, as bad energy can be infectious and draining. If your pessimistic attitude is preventing you from living the life of your dreams and achieving all of your goals, the first thing you need to do is drastically overhaul your outlook and attitude.

Instructions

• 1

  Refrain from allowing toxic people to get the better of you. Too much pessimism is rooted in the people who are closest to you. If you have negative people in your life, whether coworkers or family members, either be around them less or try to drown out their damaging words and attitudes. Instead of letting bad attitudes rub off on you, seek out people who have the opposite effect, with positive energy and a strong mental outlook.

• 2

  Seek out your passion. A negative attitude can come from feelings of apathy in life. If you lack a goal or dream in life, it can cause you to feel aimless and listless. Avoid this pitfall by discovering your true passion -- something that will keep you waking up every morning full of energy and drive. Whether it is a career, environmental cause or hobby, unlock the key to what you are missing in your day-to-day existence.

• 3

  Concentrate on the positive elements in life. Although it can be hard not to focus on the things and situations in life that frustrate and worry you, it also can be extremely mentally taxing and contribute to a very bad attitude. Take a little bit of time out in your daily routine to truly be grateful for the things in life that are good, whether you think about the fact that you have a roof over your head, close friends or a supportive family unit.

• 4

  Work out frequently. To enhance your attitude, take control of your body. Start regularly exercising several times a week. Not only can physical fitness improve your outer appearance and self-image, but it can also improve the way you feel about yourself and your life in general. Exercise increases your levels of serotonin, which is a hormone that is responsible for monitoring mood.

• 5

  Tell yourself that you want to be happy. Make a concerted effort to have joy in your life. Begin the process by trying to smile, no matter how down you may feel. Going out of your way to smile can help your attitude, as body language is closely intertwined with emotions and feelings.

• 6

  Lend a helping hand to others. It can be very easy to get wrapped up in your own life and troubles, and also really easy to forget about how other people feel. Take the spotlight off of yourself for a while and try to do something positive for another person. You may notice that seeing someone else happy can have a strong influence on how you feel, yourself.