Attitude is defined as the way you dedicate yourself to the way you think. Think negative or think positive is a choice and a process. Negative is (unfortunately) an instinctive process. Positive is a learned self-discipline that must be studied and practiced every day.

To achieve a positive attitude, you must take physical, verbal and mental actions. Here are a few short chunks of attitude – awareness and actions – that will help put you (or keep you) on the positive path:

1. Admit it is the fault of no one but your own. The more you blame others, the less chance you have to think positive thoughts, see a positive solution, or take positive action toward solution. The opposite of blame is responsibility. Your first responsibility is to control your inner thoughts and thought direction.

2. Understand you always have (had) a choice. Attitude is a choice and most people select from the negative column. Reason? It is more natural to blame and defend than it is to admit and take responsibility.

3. If you think it is OK, it is; if you think it is not OK, than it is not. Your thoughts direct your attitude to a path. If you think: this is crappy, why does this always happen to me, then you have chosen a path. If you think, wow, this may not be the greatest, but look what I am learning, than you learn what not to do again.

4. Invest time, do not spend it. Ignore the local junk news. Find a project, or make a plan to sell something or meet with someone who buys or teaches instead. You will become a world-class expert in five years. The only question is: at what? Spend (invest) an hour a day in anything and in five years you will be a world-class expert.

5. Study the thoughts and writings of positive people. Read Napoleon Hills Think & Grow Rich.

6. Listen to tapes and CDs by positive thinkers of the world: Zig Ziglar, Denis Waitley, Wayne Dyer and as many others as you can find.

7. Attend seminars and take courses. Enroll in a Dale Carnegie program.

8. Check your language gauge. Do you say half full or half empty, partly cloudy or partly sunny? They are just words, but they are a reflection of how your mind sees things and an indication of how you process thoughts. Avoid confrontational and negative words. The worst ones are: why, ca not, will not and should.

9. Say why you LIKE things and people, not why you do not I like my job because I love my family. Say things from the positive side enough and it becomes a habit you will revel in for life.

10. Help others without expectation or measuring. If you give it away freely, you do not every have to worry about the measurement. The world will reward you 10 times over.

11. Think about your winning and losing words. Lose with: They do not pay me enough to. That is not my job. IF you say: Why should I when he… then really, who loses? Think learn, lessons, experience and solutions before you make a statement.

12. Think about your mood and your mood swings. How long do you stay in a bad mood? If it is more than five minutes, something is wrong. And your attitude (and relationships, results and success) will suffer.

13. Are you the head of the complaint department and the chief complainer? Many people slip into cynicism day by day. They become bitter because of jealousy or envy of other people or their own misfortune. Big mistake.

List the lessons you can learn from those you have bitterness for and the results will turn your thinking toward your own success and away from theirs.

1. Celebrate victory and defeat. Winning and losing are part of life and apart from attitude. Visit a childrens hospital. Get comfortable with the plight of others and feel good about the minuteness your problems compared to theirs.

2. Count your blessings every day. Start with health if you are fortunate enough to have it. Add the love of children and family. From there it is easy to build the list. Want an instant lesson? Go out and buy a copy of The Little Engine That Could. It is a philosophy for a lifetime!