Overcoming social anxiety with a positive mental attitude
Life will not be all plain sailing. Indeed, hardship, trials and tribulations are part and parcel of being. Encountering problems is not a bad thing, what matters is the approach we take to deal with it. A positive frame of mind is significant for so many reasons. Positive thinking is proven to boost performance in productivity and quality. We are typically more confident and perform better when we are feeling positive and well.
There are biological examples of this. A positive frame of mind is due to enhanced levels of neuro transmitters like serotonin that regulate the performance abilities of the mind. The knock effects of a positive frame of mind also include improved wellbeing not just improved mental health but better in the physical sense aswell. This is due to the increase to the immune system that a positive frame of mind can give you.
The reverse is also true, when we are depressed we are far more liable to getting other diseases and mental health issues. Our relationships with people deteriorate, we begin to think irrationally and our confidents can fall. In short this is a frame of mind that is best to avoid at all costs. Feeling unhappy ever so often is not unusual but the way in which we decide to deal with a problem comes from our state of mind.
A positive mental attitude is also about giving you a can do attitude. Individuals who think positively are far more likely to see challenges instead of issues or possibilities as opposed to difficulties. For example, entrepreneurs that are successful often are because they are able to spot opportunities for growth in a sector which others only see problems in. The positive mental attitude of a successful person means that opportunity becomes a reality; because they also have the drive and motivation to ensure success and make their vision come true. So as you can see there is much to be gained from a positive mental attitude. The issue for most people is in developing one in the first place.
Creating a positive frame of mind is not some new aged fad. For ages religious men and scholars alike sought out and created ways to harness an inner tranquility. While this may have begun to make mankind closer to god the essence of this idea is just as relevant today. That a positive frame of mind makes us closer to the divine while a negative frame of mind can only direct us in to ways of being that are a detriment to our lives. Monks realised this long ago which is why they devote themselves to a life of abstinence and mental and spiritual fulfilment.
One of the easiest ways to determine your frame of mind is to think about how you are with other people. A great way to do this is to picture how you behave towards people you do not know. Are you confident and open to meeting and talking with other people? Or are you insular and scared. Believe it or not one of the best ways to conquer a negative frame of mind is to change your attitude to the world around you and that means the people in it too. If you are generally uncomfortable around other people then try this experiment.
One night force yourself to strike up a conversation at random in a public place. Do not be concerned about how you look or appear or what you talk about. A reference about the weather or anything will do. Just try it and note how you feel afterwards.
You see, how you are with other people will influence the opportunities you get offered. Consider it like this who is the most likely to get a job between two people of identical ability and experience except for one difference, One is uptight and uncomforable with people and the other is laid back and comfortable with people. If I was the boss I know which one I would pick for the Job.
Are you feeling down and unable to shift that negative frame of mind? If so check out Quentin’s free seminar on Overcoming social anxiety.
