Over our nearly four decades of operating SuperCamp and Quantum Learning school programs, we’ve learned a lot about students . . . about what holds them back and about what propels them forward. Maintaining a positive attitude is well up there on the list of what propels students forward—in school and in life!
Choose a Winning Attitude!
When it comes to learning—and in fact, to your success in life—what’s your most valuable asset? Is it your intelligence? Your genes? How hard you work? These all have a role in your ability to learn and succeed, yet there is something else that can have a much greater effect than all of them.
When it comes to excelling in learning and life, your most valuable asset is a positive attitude. If you have high expectations for yourself, high self-esteem, and the belief that you will succeed, you will have high achievement. It’s an old saying, and it’s still true: What you think about, comes about . . . and as Henry Ford put it, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t—you’re right.”
Your thoughts are powerful! Think like a winner, and you will win! When you expect the best, you’re inviting the best to become reality. Expect the worst, and you’re inviting disaster.
Although you aren’t always in control of the circumstances, you’re totally and absolutely and always in control of how you react to them. If you have a tendency to walk into situations (such as a classroom, whether in person or virtual) and think This is going to be boring, try making a simple change. Instead of thinking I’m bored, say to yourself I choose to be engaged! You do choose your reactions, and the way you think and talk to yourself defines your attitude—it can make you high or make you low, make you productive or make you procrastinate, make you win or make you lose! Choose high, choose productive, choose win!
When you choose to have a positive attitude no matter what your endeavor, possibilities become probabilities, and limitations become opportunities. Positive emotions smooth the way toward success.
“The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change his future
by merely changing his attitude.”
—Oprah Winfrey
Here are some ideas to help you cultivate that life-changing winning attitude!
Think Like a Winner!
Throughout life, there are obstacles to overcome. How you handle those obstacles can often make the difference between success and failure. If you approach situations with a negative attitude, chances are you will live up to those low expectations and have a difficult time succeeding. But by developing positive self-talk, you can find the courage to handle almost anything—and win!
The next time you’re faced with a difficult situation, try some of the following positive messages or create your own that fit the situation:
- I know I can make this work.
- My mind is uniquely capable.
- I am committed to making this happen.
- Everything is supporting me in reaching my goal.
- The more I practice, the better I get.
- I get better every day.
- I am really proud of myself.
Act Like a Winner!
Your physiology—the way you hold your body—usually reflects how you feel and think. What’s interesting here is that you can actually control your frame of mind by controlling your physiology. For example, when you’re feeling good about yourself, you probably stand and sit tall, you hold your chin up and move with energy. Practice this physiology whenever you’re feeling down, and your positive attitude should kick in. Try the following and see how they influence the way you feel:
- Walk tall. Put a bounce in your step and swing your arms.
- Sit up straight, shoulders back.
- Use large gestures when you speak.
- Speak loud and clear.
- Smile!
Cultivating a winning attitude takes practice, but eventually it becomes second nature. You’ll be amazed at the things you can accomplish when you think and act like a winner. It’s a choice: change you attitude and you change your future! So choose that winning attitude—and win!
(Adapted from Quantum Learning by Bobbi DePorter)