Positive Thinking: the best guide to success

We've all met people who are full of negativity and skepticism, always having second thoughts and criticising those around them. However, only positive thinking and the adoption of a positive mindset help in the flourishing of productive and actionable ideas.

By Mia Kollia
Translated by Alexandros Theodoropoulos

Positive thinking is critical to achieving our goals and dreams in our lives, and if we are willing to let ourselves through new ways of thinking, we can cultivate this mindset. 

Let's see what it takes to develop a positive thinking that will lead us to success:

Embrace a mindset of constant growth and development

The most important thing we can do is to adopt a mindset of development. This will allow us to dream what we want to achieve and will push us to new levels of thinking.

Instead of judging experiences in terms of failures and successes, let's support them with a positive background. For sure, we will face challenges and obstacles along the way. But we have to accept that all this can help us to develop and become better. If we constantly stick to what we are used to and don’t take new experiences, we will become bogged down and lose the ability to be driven to new achievements.

People who feel content with their basic qualities and don’t feel the need to develop their skills, even if those qualities include intelligence and talent, do not have a development potential unless they have acquired a mindset of constant growth. We should understand that everything in life evolves – and so do we. You don’t have to worry about how smart we are, how we look to others, or what will happen if we make a mistake. These challenges will lead to our growth.

If we don't take a risk, we won't gain anything

Sometimes we have to step out of our comfort zone – and then our minds will work more nimbly. As a result, we will learn to direct ourselves to new levels and accomplish new goals. Those who fail to step out of their comfort zone often end up with a rigid mindset.

Unwillingness to take risks hinders our progress. Pretty often, we have to go the extra mile. If we are afraid of making mistakes or tarnishing our image in the eyes of others, we will remain stagnant for life.  

We accept our mistakes and move on

Part of taking risks is being able to learn from our mistakes. Sometimes a mistake can act as a jumping off point to something new.

Careers usually look like stock market charts – lots of high frequency ups and downs and a slow uptrend over time. It’s almost impossible not to make mistakes. But instead of trying to hide or justify our wrongdoings all the time, let's think about what good we can keep from a negative experience and move forward to better decisions.

Curiosity keeps us thirsty for knowledge

Regardless of our level of education, we should never stop learning. The thirst for knowledge is something that can never be quenched and should be a lifelong pursuit.

When we are full of curiosity, we also have the “key” to see beyond what is in front of us, discover what we are truly capable of, and maintain a growth mindset. Because no "amount" of knowledge is ever enough for any man.

Here's how positive thinking supports us on the road to professional success:

We become grateful and happy for the success of others

Gratitude is the "key" to happiness. We should often remind ourselves of all that we have accomplished. Thus, the mind is trained to identify the positive elements and this, gradually, becomes a habit.

Also, when we recognise the successes of others and feel happy about them, we avoid the feelings of bitterness that may arise and slowly understand that there’s no need to compare ourselves to others, something that may upset us without any benefit at all.  

We avoid the negative and feed the positive

As a rule, we reflect the characteristics of the people we surround ourselves with. They even say that every person is the average of the five people with whom he/she spends most of his/her time.

In the same way, our mindset will reflect the information we feed it. That's why it's important to feed our minds with positive information on a daily basis and look for positive influences that can help us live better and work more efficiently.

We stay healthy in mind and body

Let's not underestimate the importance of both mental and physical agility. We need to take care of both, because the combination of these will keep us alert and focused.  

When we are fit and healthy, we think more positively and this helps us in our daily action, something that is considered necessary to achieve our goals and priorities. When our energy is low, we are much less likely to attract the presented opportunities. Energy equals momentum, which is especially important in business. It is about the power and endurance to manage our daily challenges.