Building a Better Attitude: An Effective and Practical Guide to Changing Your Life

Building a Better Attitude: An Effective and Practical Guide to Changing Your Life

You’ve probably heard the saying that “attitude is everything” enough times to be sick of it. But you may not realize just how much impact your attitude has on every aspect of your life. It can impact what other people think of you, how successful you are in your career, and even the direction of your entire life. An optimist vs pessimist outlook can have a significant effect on where you go in life, so it’s important to understand how to build a better attitude and improve your outlook on life. Working on your attitude isn’t always easy. Changing lifelong habits isn’t always simple, but there are some great techniques and strategies for shifting the way you see the world. This guide will help you understand why building a better attitude is so important, give tips on how to change your bad habits, and introduce several practical ways to make it happen sooner rather than later.

Why is a Good Attitude So Important?

If this all sounds like a bunch of fluff, that’s because it is. You don’t just want to be a happy person, you want to be a productive, happy person. The better your attitude is, the more likely you are to be successful in everything you do. If you’re always in a bad mood, you’ll have a hard time making friends, let alone finding romantic partners. If you’re constantly worried about everything, you’ll fall behind in your work and miss opportunities for advancement. A positive, can-do attitude can get you further than any other skill - and it’s something you can actively work on.

Define What a Good Attitude Means to You

The first step in building a better attitude is to figure out what a positive attitude actually means to you. For some people, that positive outlook might mean being cheerful and always having a smile on their face. It might mean being a “glass half full” type of person who sees the good in everything. For others, a positive attitude might mean never getting too excited or happy - always keeping a level head and being unemotional. To figure out what a good attitude means to you, you first need to know what your bad attitude is. Think back to a time when you were upset or unhappy - why were you feeling this way? What were you thinking or feeling that influenced your mood? You can also think about the times you were happy, what were you thinking that made you feel this way?

Stop Dwelling on the Past

If you’ve ever delved into positive psychology, you’ve probably come across this tip when it comes to building a better attitude: “don’t focus on the past”. While that’s certainly true, it misses the wider point that dwelling on the past is a very bad habit. If you ever find yourself dwelling on the past, tear yourself away from it as quickly as possible. Don’t let your mind wander to the times you made mistakes, or the times things didn’t go the way you wanted them to. Dwelling on the past is a sure-fire way to bring yourself down. If you want to build a better attitude, you need to learn to let go of the past. You don’t have any control over it anymore, so there’s no use worrying yourself sick over it. Move on, and focus your attention on the present and the future.

Be Conscious of the Things That Make You Happy

If you want to build a better attitude, you need to first be aware of the things that make you happy. What activities or thoughts make you feel content or joyful? What things make your anxiety or frustration melt away? People’s happiness is closely tied to their expectations. If you expect everything to go your way, and things don’t go your way, you’ll be more likely to be upset. If you expect the world to be a happy and joyful place, you’ll be happier in general. To build a better attitude, start paying attention to the things that make you happy. When you notice these things, take a second to appreciate them. Let them have an effect on you and change the way you feel.

Learn to Let Go

If you want to build a better attitude, you need to learn to let go. Let go of your expectations, let go of your worries, and most importantly let go of your grudges. You can’t control other people, or what they do or say. If you let your emotions control you, you'll always be disappointed. If you let go of the things you can’t control, you’ll be happier and less frustrated in general. Letting go doesn’t mean you’re ignoring your problems or letting yourself be walked on. It just means you’re trying to avoid dwelling on your problems and frustrations, and you’re trying to come to terms with the fact that you can’t do anything about them.


Building a better attitude isn’t an easy process, but it’s a worthwhile one. Having a positive, happy outlook on life will make your life easier and happier, as well as make you more appealing to others. You’ll be less anxious and worried, and more likely to take advantage of opportunities. You’ll be able to make friends easier, and have a better romantic relationship with your partner. Let go of your past, be conscious of your thoughts and feelings that make you happy, and learn to let go of things you can’t control. Once you’re able to do this, you’ll be one step closer to building a better attitude and having a happier and more productive life.