Americans are among the wealthiest people in the world, yet according to a study by the World Health Organization, the United States has a higher reported rate of depression than any other country. Ronald Kessler of Harvard Medical School, who led the study, attributes the depression rate in part to societal pressure. Americans compete with one another for success, wealth and possessions. Unreasonable expectations set people up for failure, leading to overall unhappiness and low self-esteem.
What Is Positive Mental Attitude Training?
A positive mental attitude is a key component of overall mental wellness, which the World Health Organization defines as recognizing and utilizing your abilities, dealing with life's stressors in healthy ways and contributing to your community. A person with a positive mental attitude is realistically optimistic and chooses to focus on the positive aspects of a given situation rather than dwelling on the negative. Positive mental attitude training is the process by which you break the habit of responding negatively to a situation and develop a new habit of a positive reaction.
Importance
The mental health clinic at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Yokosuka, Japan, states that about 22 percent of Americans suffer from mental disorders, and that 27 percent of people seeking care for a physical illness actually have an emotional disorder. The Navy clinic further states that a positive attitude improves interpersonal relationships and job performance. It can decrease mental health problems such as depression, anxiety disorders and substance abuse, and it may even have a positive effect on physical health.
Positive Attitude Training in the Workplace
A positive attitude may account for as much as 80 percent of professional success, according to Expert Magazine. Positive attitude is particularly important in the fields of sales and management. According to Dr. David Forrest for the Keep Employees organization, employer attitude is the key to retaining quality employees. Companies can either choose to accept a high turnover rate or they can implement changes among managers that will have a positive effect on lower-level employees. There are dozens of resources for positive attitude training in the workplace. These include speakers, seminars, workshops, websites, videos, books and other publications. It is important that the principles of a positive attitude apply to employees at all levels, not just those at the "front lines" of customer service.
Self-Help
Self-help measures can often correct a negative outlook, whereas clinical depression requires professional treatment. If you are not sure whether you suffer from clinical depression, seek evaluation from a mental health professional as soon as possible. Self-help in attaining a positive attitude can range from repeating daily affirmations to attending workshops or classes. There is no shortage of books on the subject, and a number of websites, such as the National Association for Self-Esteem, offer advice and resources for improving mental outlook.
Cognitive Therapy
If you feel that self-help measures will not adequately deal with your negative mental attitude, or if you have tried self-help in the past and been unsuccessful, consider seeing a professional for cognitive therapy. Cognitive therapy helps you recognize negative thoughts, understand why they are untrue or detrimental and replace these thoughts with a rational response.
References
- Forbes: How Depressed Is Your Country?
- �??American Psychologist�?�; Promoting and Protecting Mental Health as Flourishing; Corey L. M. Keyes; March 2007
- Navy: Positive Attitude Is Good for Health
- Expert Magazine: Our Attitude More than Our Aptitude Determines Our Altitude
- Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance: Saying No to Negative Thinking
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