The power of a positive attitude Published Oct. 24, 2019 By Col. Mark Knitz 60th Medical Operations Squadron TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude” – Maya Angelou. The concept of having a positive attitude is certainly not new, and it’s easy to discount this as something we all know, or think we know. I doubt you’ll find many people who would argue a negative attitude is better than a positive one; but as common as this wisdom is, we all probably know somebody who is so predominantly negative about almost any circumstance that it permeates their thoughts and behavior. I’m not saying the appropriate periods of grieving, or disappointment, we all feel from time to time are bad. Or that you have to be happy all the time. But when you allow the challenges of your personal and professional life to affect you in a negative way, it begins to permeate your thoughts and behavior. You may have noticed I said ‘when you allow.’ That’s because we each make our own decision about how we let our thoughts and feelings affect our attitudes and actions. Most people have a natural inclination to positivity or negativity, and don’t spend much time thinking about their attitude in a conscious or deliberate way, but that’s where the magic happens. The ability to be mindful of your perception of events and your environment, and understand how that affects your outlook and behavior enables you to make a deliberate decision about the attitude you want. I would argue the military does a better job than most at instilling the importance of a positive attitude in their members. We train people to endure austere conditions with a positive attitude as the cornerstone of resilience. We can fully embrace a decision we may not agree with because we understand the principles of leadership and followership. Why, then, do I consider this worth mentioning? As leaders we help set the tone for those we lead, as well as everyone around us. We can foster a negative environment, or a positive environment with the attitude we present. For even the best intentioned of us, it’s easy to lapse into negative thoughts and feelings without realizing it. Choosing a positive attitude takes constant vigilance and self-awareness to stay attuned to our actions and behaviors. How can you build the necessary vigilance for positivity into your daily practice? Do a self-check every morning and before making a decision. Be mindful of the attitudes of others and what you accept or surround yourself with. Be mindful of the attitude you want to see from your team and make that the attitude you exude. For those of you who aren’t convinced of the influence a positive attitude can have in your life, or may need a different motivation, I’ll leave you with this quote from Herm Albright, “A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.”