Make 2010 a Positive Year
2009 could be associated with many negative emotion; fear, anxiety, uncertainty, regret etc. This is not all bad because emotions have ‘motivational consequences’. If we view our emotions as a feedback system, we can use the information to change our behaviours or make better choices.
Positive Emotions
My opening paragraph is unlikely to be a surprise because there has been copious research into so called ‘negative’ emotions, in fact studies into negative emotions outnumbers those on positive emotions by 25 to 1!
What has been revealed is that negative emotions, narrow our focus and actions but feeling good broadens our interests and helps us build our capablilities. Positive emotions make us more curious and interested and therefore more likely to try new activities and develop new skills. Postive emotions have been shown to make people more creative and better problem solvers and therefore an essential ingredient for innovation.
Benefits of Positive Emotion
A 2005 article by Lyubomirsky, King and Diener in Psychological Bulletin listed the proven benefits of positive emotion. I have summarised them here for you to consider your outlook for 2010.
At Work
Being positive is associate with:
- Higher salaries
- Better supervisor evaluations
- Better customer evaluations
- Less absenteeism
- Less employee turnover
- Better organizational behavior
- Better relationship with colleagues
Health and Social
- Positive people are less likely than negative people to develop a cold, and when they did the symptoms were far less severe.
- Positivity linked to less pain, physical symptoms, fewer hospital visits.
- Good relationships associated with better health and mental health.
- Happiest 10% are more sociable, have stronger friendships, and romantic relationships.
- Positive people volunteer more and are more willing to help others.
- Positive people are more extroverted and are less selfish.
The list speaks for itself and I know having had a few days off at Christmas, spending time with family and exercising has increased my positivity. Speaking to friends and colleagues all have mentioned a more positive and optimistic outlook for 2010 and so I for one will be making ‘being more positive’ a goal for next year – how about you?
January 25th, 2010 at 8:15 pm
Always think that nothing is impossible.