Attitudes are composed of thoughts, just as houses are composed of bricks. For this reason, positive thoughts build good attitudes while negative thoughts build bad attitudes. A serious controversy surrounds the definition of "good attitude." It is certainly not wise to cross the street without looking on the optimistic assumption that no cars will be coming; a true positive attitude is something different from unjustified optimism.
Positive Thinking vs. Blind Optimism
Blind optimism is the assumption that things you can't control will go your way, regardless of uncertainty or evidence to the contrary. Positive thinkers focus as much as possible on those aspects of reality they can control, and realize that most people can do more than they think they can. Although realistic about their limitations and shortcomings, they seek to transcend them through consistent effort. In this way they are able to see options that pessimists miss or dismiss, and thereby bring the best out of themselves and others.
Negative Thinking
Negative thoughts proceed along habitual pathways until they become permanent negative attitudes. The Mayo Clinic has identified a few of the many types of negative thinking patterns that are common to humanity. Catastrophizing is assuming the worst possible outcome of any contingency, which is something different from preparing for it. Filtering is screening out positive aspects of situations, most of which contain both positive and negative aspects. Polarizing is the tendency to classify any outcome as either wholly good or wholly bad---with no middle ground---and setting the standards for a good outcome unrealistically high. Finally, personalizing is automatically blaming yourself for consequences that aren't necessarily anyone's fault.
Thought Control
Psychology Today magazine reports that the human brain generates up to 50,000 thoughts every day. Thought control is the gradual process of becoming aware of your thoughts, identifying them as positive or negative, and intentionally replacing negative thoughts with positive ones. This process, if pursued diligently over a period of several months, will turn a bad attitude into a good attitude.
Health Benefits of a Good Attitude
The Mayo Clinic reports that a good attitude results in lower stress, a stronger immune system and lowered risk of heart disease, among other health benefits. Psychological benefits include reduced risk of depression, fewer psychosomatic illnesses and a better sense of overall well-being. The increase in focus and concentration that results from positive thinking can also enhance your ability to work, while better moods are likely to improve your social relationships.
Transformation Techniques
In order to revolutionize your thinking, commit to asking and answering the question, "What am I thinking right now?" several dozen times a day. Study known negative thinking patterns. Remember: a negative thinking pattern is any pattern of thought that is counterproductive or serves no useful purpose. Next, make a practice of identifying your own negative thoughts. Add these negative thinking patterns to your list, so that you have a "catalog" of negative thoughts at the tip of your tongue at all times. The final step is to create positive thinking patterns to replace your negative ones, and intervene in your own thinking by replacing the negative with the positive.
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