Building a Positive AttitudeBuilding a Positive Attitude

Chapter 3, Lesson 2

OverviewOverview

• What are ways that positive and negative What are ways that positive and negative attitudes affect actions?attitudes affect actions?

• What are defense mechanisms?What are defense mechanisms?

• Why are integrity and credibility important Why are integrity and credibility important elements of a positive attitude?elements of a positive attitude?

Chapter 3, Lesson 2

OverviewOverview

• Why are humility and patience important Why are humility and patience important elements of a positive attitude?elements of a positive attitude?

• Why are respect and appreciation important Why are respect and appreciation important elements of a positive attitude?elements of a positive attitude?

• How to focus on task completionHow to focus on task completion

• How to focus on peopleHow to focus on people

Chapter 3, Lesson 2

Quick WriteQuick Write

List the two most important problems you’ve faced List the two most important problems you’ve faced in the past two years. For each problem, note in the past two years. For each problem, note whether it was a result of your own decision whether it was a result of your own decision

making and behavior or of something that was making and behavior or of something that was beyond your control.beyond your control.

How did you handle each kind of problem? Did you How did you handle each kind of problem? Did you tackle the issue head-on or try to avoid it? What tackle the issue head-on or try to avoid it? What

problem-solving strategy has worked best for you?problem-solving strategy has worked best for you?

Chapter 3, Lesson 2

Attitudes Affect ActionsAttitudes Affect Actions

• An An attitudeattitude is a is a thought, feeling, or thought, feeling, or belief belief

• Attitudes are internalAttitudes are internal

• A A behaviorbehavior is an action is an action that others can see you that others can see you doingdoing

• Behaviors are externalBehaviors are external

The attitudes and behaviors of a healthy, The attitudes and behaviors of a healthy, reasonable person are usually in harmonyreasonable person are usually in harmony

Chapter 3, Lesson 2

Why Do You Need a Why Do You Need a Positive Attitude?Positive Attitude?

• It will make you a more It will make you a more successful family member, successful family member, student, employee, and citizenstudent, employee, and citizen

• People are attracted to positive People are attracted to positive thinkersthinkers

• Positive thinkers make things Positive thinkers make things happenhappen

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Chapter 3, Lesson 2

Defense MechanismsDefense Mechanisms

• Why do some people Why do some people handle their mistakes handle their mistakes well while others don’t? well while others don’t?

• The difference often lies in a person’s The difference often lies in a person’s defensedefense mechanismsmechanisms——behaviors people use to deal withbehaviors people use to deal with anxiety, stress, or pressure anxiety, stress, or pressure

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Chapter 3, Lesson 2

Defense MechanismsDefense Mechanisms

• Everyone has anxieties, and defense Everyone has anxieties, and defense mechanisms provide a way to deal with mechanisms provide a way to deal with them them

• But if you’re not careful, defense But if you’re not careful, defense mechanisms can turn into excuses mechanisms can turn into excuses

• Constantly using defense mechanisms is a Constantly using defense mechanisms is a sign of an immature personality sign of an immature personality

Chapter 3, Lesson 2

How Defense MechanismsHow Defense MechanismsAffect RelationshipsAffect Relationships

DISPLACEMENT

REPRESSION

RATIONALIZATION

*

*

Chapter 3, Lesson 2

How Defense MechanismsHow Defense MechanismsAffect RelationshipsAffect Relationships

PROJECTION

ACTING OUT

DENIAL

*

*

Chapter 3, Lesson 2

Integrity and CredibilityIntegrity and Credibility

• IntegrityIntegrity is a commitment to a code of is a commitment to a code of values or beliefs that results in a positive values or beliefs that results in a positive attitude and approach to life attitude and approach to life

• People with integrity are trustworthyPeople with integrity are trustworthy

• CredibilityCredibility is a quality of character that is a quality of character that inspires confidence and trust inspires confidence and trust

Chapter 3, Lesson 2

Role ModelsRole Models

• People aren’t born with integrity and People aren’t born with integrity and credibility—they learn them from role credibility—they learn them from role models models

• AA positive positive role modelrole model is a person on is a person on whom others base their own attitudes and whom others base their own attitudes and actionsactions

Chapter 3, Lesson 2

Role ModelsRole Models

• Role models can be:Role models can be:– parents, guardians, parents, guardians,

grandparents, aunts, unclesgrandparents, aunts, uncles– big brothers or sistersbig brothers or sisters– neighbors, teachers, coaches, neighbors, teachers, coaches,

counselors, club adviserscounselors, club advisers– community leaders, religious community leaders, religious

leadersleaders

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Chapter 3, Lesson 2

MentorsMentors

• When a role model takes an active When a role model takes an active interest in you, he or she becomes your interest in you, he or she becomes your mentor mentor

• A A mentormentor is a life coach who guides, is a life coach who guides, advises, and advocates for you advises, and advocates for you

• A mentor provides positive feedback A mentor provides positive feedback that helps you growthat helps you grow

Chapter 3, Lesson 2

HumilityHumility

• HumilityHumility is the opposite of pride and is the opposite of pride and arrogancearrogance

• A humble person is willing to learn from A humble person is willing to learn from others others

• People with humility don’t think they People with humility don’t think they have all the answershave all the answers

Chapter 3, Lesson 2

• Several mental states can block your ability to Several mental states can block your ability to learn—these include fear, pride, and learn—these include fear, pride, and indifference:indifference:

– FearFear is an emotion that people may feel when is an emotion that people may feel when they face something new or unknown they face something new or unknown

– PridePride is an exaggerated feeling of self-worth is an exaggerated feeling of self-worth

– IndifferenceIndifference is the state of mind of a person who is the state of mind of a person who has no desire to get better at anything has no desire to get better at anything

Fear, Pride, IndifferenceFear, Pride, Indifference

Chapter 3, Lesson 2

PatiencePatience

• PatiencePatience is the ability to bear difficulty, is the ability to bear difficulty, delay, frustration, or pain without complaint delay, frustration, or pain without complaint

• Patience is a learning tool—if you don’t Patience is a learning tool—if you don’t understand something, you have to give it understand something, you have to give it time to sink in time to sink in

HumilityHumility and and patiencepatience are the keys to are the keys to defeating fear, pride, and indifferencedefeating fear, pride, and indifference

Chapter 3, Lesson 2

RespectRespect

• RespectRespect is the esteem, regard, and is the esteem, regard, and consideration that you pay others and that consideration that you pay others and that you earn from them you earn from them

• Every human being has a deep-seated need Every human being has a deep-seated need for respect for respect

• How do you get respect? The answer is How do you get respect? The answer is simple: You simple: You earnearn it by respecting others it by respecting others

Chapter 3, Lesson 2

How to Show Respect for OthersHow to Show Respect for Others

• Don’t spread gossip, rumors, or loose Don’t spread gossip, rumors, or loose talk about anyonetalk about anyone

• Be on timeBe on time

• Don’t interrupt people Don’t interrupt people

• ListenListen

• Always give people the benefit of the Always give people the benefit of the doubtdoubt

Chapter 3, Lesson 2

How to Show Respect for OthersHow to Show Respect for Others

• Practice the “abundance theory”—there’s Practice the “abundance theory”—there’s enough of everything to go around—credit, enough of everything to go around—credit, glory, admiration, friendship, smiles, laughter, glory, admiration, friendship, smiles, laughter, complimentscompliments

• Don’t take yourself too seriouslyDon’t take yourself too seriously

• Be flexibleBe flexible

• Stick with what’s important: people, their Stick with what’s important: people, their feelings, and their needsfeelings, and their needs

Chapter 3, Lesson 2

AppreciationAppreciation

• AppreciationAppreciation is the admiration, approval, is the admiration, approval,

or gratitude that you express to others and or gratitude that you express to others and receive from them receive from them

• If you respect people, they If you respect people, they

will be grateful and will will be grateful and will

show you their appreciation show you their appreciation

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Chapter 3, Lesson 2

Task CompletionTask Completion

• Task completionTask completion is the process of doing is the process of doing things expected of you in a timely, orderly, things expected of you in a timely, orderly, accurate, and honest manner accurate, and honest manner

– Gain control of your greatest asset: time Gain control of your greatest asset: time

– A A black holeblack hole is a period of time that eats into is a period of time that eats into your productivity your productivity

– One main cause of black holes isOne main cause of black holes is procrastinationprocrastination

– A second cause of black holes isA second cause of black holes is distractiondistraction

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Chapter 3, Lesson 2

Focusing on PeopleFocusing on People

• If you’re able to stop wasting time, you’ll If you’re able to stop wasting time, you’ll have time to devote to people have time to devote to people

• What does a What does a positive attitudepositive attitude have to do with have to do with focusing on people? focusing on people?

– Having a positive attitude means trying to be on Having a positive attitude means trying to be on good terms with everyone good terms with everyone

– You must be able to work with other people in You must be able to work with other people in teams and focus on helping themteams and focus on helping them

Chapter 3, Lesson 2

ReviewReview

• The The attitudesattitudes and and behaviorsbehaviors of a healthy, of a healthy, reasonable person are usually in harmonyreasonable person are usually in harmony

• People are attracted to positive thinkersPeople are attracted to positive thinkers• Defense mechanismsDefense mechanisms are behaviors that are behaviors that

people use to deal with anxiety, stress, or people use to deal with anxiety, stress, or pressurepressure

• If you’re not careful, defense mechanisms If you’re not careful, defense mechanisms can turn into excuses can turn into excuses

Chapter 3, Lesson 2

ReviewReview

• IntegrityIntegrity is a commitment to a code of values or is a commitment to a code of values or beliefs that results in a unified, positive attitude beliefs that results in a unified, positive attitude and approach to life and approach to life

• CredibilityCredibility is a quality of character that inspires is a quality of character that inspires confidence and trust in others confidence and trust in others

• AA positive positive role modelrole model is person on whom others is person on whom others base their own attitudes and actions base their own attitudes and actions

• A A mentormentor is a life coach who guides, advises, and is a life coach who guides, advises, and advocates for you advocates for you

Chapter 3, Lesson 2

ReviewReview

• HumilityHumility and and patiencepatience are the keys to defeating are the keys to defeating fear, pride, and indifference fear, pride, and indifference

• RespectRespect is the esteem, regard, and consideration is the esteem, regard, and consideration that you pay others and that you earn from themthat you pay others and that you earn from them

• Task completionTask completion is the process of doing things is the process of doing things expected of you in a timely, orderly, accurate, expected of you in a timely, orderly, accurate, and honest manner and honest manner

• If you’re able to stop wasting time, you’ll have If you’re able to stop wasting time, you’ll have time to devote to peopletime to devote to people

Chapter 3, Lesson 2

SummarySummary

• What are ways that positive and negative What are ways that positive and negative attitudes affect actions?attitudes affect actions?

• What are defense mechanisms?What are defense mechanisms?

• Why are integrity and credibility important Why are integrity and credibility important elements of a positive attitude?elements of a positive attitude?

Chapter 3, Lesson 2

SummarySummary

• Why are humility and patience important Why are humility and patience important elements of a positive attitude?elements of a positive attitude?

• Why are respect and appreciation Why are respect and appreciation important elements of a positive attitude?important elements of a positive attitude?

• How to focus on task completionHow to focus on task completion

• How to focus on peopleHow to focus on people

Chapter 3, Lesson 2

NextNext

• Done—building a positive attitudeDone—building a positive attitude

• Next—overcoming challenging Next—overcoming challenging experiencesexperiences

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