It seems that just about everyone has those days where they are down in the dumps, and nothing seems to go right. Waking up on the wrong side of the bed, or a few unfortunate instances can ruin one’s day entirely if allowed. One can choose to have a bad attitude toward his or her daily situations or choose to react optimistically. The outcome of one’s day rides on this decision.

“I think [attitude] is huge…the more negativity that is around, the less we are able to clear our minds to be able to hear the information we need to hear, like to learn new things,” explained Bingham High School counselor, Mr. Richard Farley. Having a positive outlook on life is the key to success,whether it’s academically, socially, or spiritually.

While most people’s emotions fluctuate from being super smiley, to super depressed, to extremely irritable, there is always that one person with a 24/7 smile. Whether or not he or she is having a good or bad day this extraordinary person always seems to be happy. As soon as he or she walks into a room everyone else’s mood seems to lighten up. People often wonder how it’s possible for a single person to affect so many people in such a way. Mr. Scott Sommer, Bingham High School psychology teacher, said, “We have a saying we use with the baseball team at Bingham which states, ‘Attitude is a decision.’” You can’t control many of the things that happen to you and around you, but you can control how you feel about it and how you respond to it. The quality of your day and your life and the happiness you feel can be controlled in some regard by how you choose to respond to the things that happen to you.

Infectiously positive people understand that being grumpy is not worth their time and will not fix any of their problems. They have realized that attitude is like an infectious disease which attracts and spreads similar attitudes.”Negativity does bring negativity, that is why we need to try and be as positive as we can,” said Farley.

Many wonder how they too can achieve daily optimism. “You kind of have to get outside of yourself…you have to practice looking for good in people. As you find good in others you will be able to see it better in yourself,” said Farley.

When people are focused on themselves and what may be wrong with their life, it is easy for them to be miserable. Sommer said, “Complaining does not ‘vent’ anger/frustration so that it will be less likely in the future, but actually makes anger/frustration more likely in the next adverse situation.”

When things aren’t going your way, don’t wallow in self-pity. Instead go out and serve someone else. As you help lighten someone else’s burdens, you will forget your own.

Losing yourself in service is the best way to stop wallowing in your own despair. Mr. Farley feels that a good challenge for the students at Bingham is to commit to doing random acts of kindness for others to improve your own attitude: help others to indirectly help you.

It is harmful to one’s self-esteem to think negatively and, quite frankly, it’s not very fun. Sommer said, “[Negativity can result in] increased stress response, which can be related to things like higher blood pressure, impacted immune system, etc. Increased patterns of negative thought for the person, which can impact motivation and performance on tasks.

Only you can determine if the glass is half empty, or half full. You make or break your own day by the kind of attitude you choose to have.

What are ways you stay positive?  Comment below, let us know. If you want more Bingham Prospector Online, subscribe with your email.