Half-full or half-empty scoring

members

Which answers show positive thinking?

  1. B
  2. A
  3. B
  4. B
  5. A
  6. A
  7. B
  8. B

What makes an answer “positive?”

  • You give yourself credit for your positive outcomes and “wins”
  • When you succeed, you can identify your actions and strengths that made your success possible
  • When you fail, you see it as a learning experience rather than a personal flaw

What makes an answer “negative?”

  • When you succeed, you chalk it up to luck or external factors
  • You see success as random, having nothing to do with your personal strengths or hard work
  • You often assume you’re going to fail at something and you put yourself down for it

What does it all mean?

People get into the habit of reacting positively or negatively because of their life experiences and expectations.

Negativity can sometimes be a protective “shell” to keep ourselves from being disappointed, hurt or let down. It can reflect low self-esteem and a sense of having little or no control over how your life goes.

Positive thinking places you more in control of your actions, reactions and things that happen to you. You tend to put a positive spin on things, even if they don’t go as planned. You may be more self-confident and have less need to protect against disappointment. You’re optimistic that you can rise to challenges and make an impact on how your life evolves.

How to become a more positive thinker

Positive thinking puts you in the driver’s seat of your life. It’s not about being a Pollyanna: It’s about seeing the opportunities in situations, even when things don’t turn out perfectly.

The best part is that anyone can become a more positive person with some insight and work. Here are just a few tips:

  • Believe that problems can be solved
  • Visualize yourself being successful
  • Become aware of your self-talk: Is it encouraging or pessimistic?
  • Practice acceptance and gratitude every day

Take what you’ve learned out into the world

Positive thinking is less stressful and more beneficial than negative thinking. Try to use the results of this self-assessment to continue or start more positive thinking in your everyday life.