5 Things that Affect Positive Thinking

No one is born with a positive or negative attitude. There are various factors that affect the way people think. These factors can determine whether you end up thinking positively or negatively. Most of these factors are factors that affect an individual during their formative years in life.

Key Takeaways:

1. Attitudes develop from environmental influences in formative years.
2. Positive environments and positive peers foster positivity.
3. Experiences shape our thoughts about people and things.
4. Education and wisdom lead to a better outlook on life.
5. Positive mentors play a crucial role in shaping our attitudes and beliefs.

Environment

The environment that you are in will determine the kind of life culture that you develop. This includes the home you grew up in, schools you went to, where you work and even the countries you have lived in.

If you spend a lot of time in an environment where people are honest and things are done in a straightforward manner, you will tend to develop the same attitude in life. The same way you will develop negative traits if you grow up in an environment that is dominated by negativity.

That is why you should consciously choose the kind of environment that you grow up in. To assess the kind of environment that you are living in, start your analysis from the top going down since culture starts top down, never the other way around. You will be hard pressed to think positively in a negative environment, so your key aim should be to get yourself in a positive environment so as to encourage positive thinking in your life.

Peers

You will become like the people you spend most of your time with. If you hang a lot around negative people, you will also grow to become negative. That is why it is important that you surround yourself with positive people.

A peer refers to your sibling, friend, neighbor or classmate. You will find yourself internalizing a lot of the attitudes that these people have.

Experiences

If you have a good experience with someone or something, you will think good thoughts of that person or thing. Same goes if you have negative experiences. So, if you find yourself having a lot of negative thoughts, assess the kind of experiences you have had with that particular thing or person.

Education

The more knowledgeable you are, the more you will be able to apply the knowledge you have in your life. If applied correctly, your knowledge will help you to be successful in what you do. Having wisdom in life will help you to have a better attitude towards various things and people in life since you will have a better understanding of them.

Mentors

Mentors influence how you think about things. If your mentor models a positive attitude, you will also have a positive attitude towards the same things that he has.

That is why if you want to stay positive, it is essential that you find a mentor who radiates positivity. Hanging out with a negative and bitter person will also make you have the same qualities in life.

Your mentor will influence your perception of a wide range of things in life. This includes what you eat, what you wear and what you believe in among other things.