Sunny Side Up! How to Stay Positive at Work

Your happiness is in your hands. It’s a matter of perspective. 

We’ve all known people who can turn lemons into lemonade. Rather than seeing a failed project, they’re quick to remind themselves that they’re now one step closer to doing things right. Quick to tally the small components that did work or the advantages of learning what they learned now instead of later.

Imagine you find out your favorite boss is leaving your organization. The person who will replace them has a reputation for playing favorites and making unreasonable, last-minute requests. How can you stay positive and control your building anxiety?

Negative thinking takes many forms: 

1. All-or-nothing thinking: 

   You set unrealistic standards. Anything less than perfect is failure.

2. Disqualifying the positives: 

   Life is just one disappointment after another

3. Negative self-labeling: 

   You’re flawed in some way

4. Catastrophizing: 

   You imagine the worst

5. Dwelling on pain: 

   Dwelling on something in the hope that it will make you feel better

Psychologists tell us that there are benefits to turning your thinking around. Feeling joyful can improve your physical health. Research links happiness to things like blood pressure, inflammation and heart health. So, there’s good reason to make this mental shift.

Here are some ways to stay positive when faced with a negative situation:

• Control your reaction. 

  Take time to calm down and respond with intention, so you don’t say or do something you’ll regret later.  

• Stay focused on the present. 

  Anything can happen. In a situation like the one above with the new boss, continue producing your usual high-quality work.

• Smile. 

  Once you've processed the information and found the bright side, smile. It helps change your mood.

• Rephrase the situation. 

  Stop speaking of the person or situation in negative ways. Change your words to help change how you feel.  

• Remember you always have choices. 

  Almost every situation has a way out should things become unbearable.

• Consider the positives. 

  Take time to seek out and think about the good aspects of the situation.

• Try not to jump to conclusions. 

  Rumors and opinions are not always objective (or true). Stay open-minded and discover the truth on your own. 

You can learn to see the glass as half full. Don’t overreact when faced with a negative situation. Stay calm, focused and rational. Accentuate the positives and practice speaking about them. You have power over your own point of view. 

Happiness isn’t a function of the situation, but rather how you SEE the situation. 

Practice finding and seeing the positive.