14 Unit 1 Your Development and Relationships
Develop a Positive Attitude
Have you ever said “I like her attitude” or “He has a positive
attitude”? Everyone has attitudes. What are they though? Attitudes are
feelings and opinions about someone or something. They determine how
you react to situations. Attitudes affect your decisions and actions. They
also affect your self-esteem.
You were not born with your attitudes. Just like the other acquired traits
that make up your personality, your attitudes are learned. You learn from the
people around you and from the experiences you have every day.
People who have positive attitudes are optimists. Optimistic teens feel
good about life and look on the bright side of situations. They have a can-do
approach to challenges. They are certain they can fi nd solutions. They feel
good about themselves and have a healthy self-esteem.
People who have negative
attitudes are pessimists. They fi nd
something wrong with everything.
They often put themselves down,
and others as well. You cannot
please them. Pessimists would
cancel a picnic if there was the
slightest chance of rain. Optimists,
on the other hand, would go on the
picnic and enjoy the excitement of
running for shelter if it rained.
Learn to Smile and
Laugh
Learning to smile is one of
the most effective ways to change
a negative attitude into a positive
one. A smile refl ects healthy
self-esteem, 1-9. A genuine smile
comes from the heart by way of
the face. It is not just on the face
alone. There is a story about a small
boy who asked his father if he was
feeling good. The father said he was
feeling great. The boy replied, “Why
don’t you tell your face about it?”
A laugh is just a step beyond
a smile. It is important to enjoy
life. You are able to laugh with,
not at, your friends. You are also
able to laugh at yourself. This is a
sign of healthy self-esteem and a
well-rounded personality.
1-9 This girl’s smile reveals a healthy level of self-esteem.
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