A positive attitude is as important a contribution as IQ for being good at something!
A new and recent study by Stanford University, reported in Inc.com, looked at children, their attitude to and success in maths and according to the lead author Lang Chen, found that ”attitude is really important…based on our data, the unique contribution of positive attitude to math achievement is as large as the contribution from IQ.”
In the test, as one would expect, those who liked maths, did well, with the opposite also true, but the brain scan results also found something significant; that the hippocampus, the brain area linked with memory and learning, was significantly more active in those with a positive attitude. It appears that liking a subject helps students’ brains work better. Researchers don’t know from this study how much achievement is down to aptitude or the effect of attitude on the brain, but the researchers think that ‘‘ …. the relationship between positive attitude and math achievement is mutual, bi-directional… like bootstrapping: A good attitude opens the door to high achievement, which means you then have a better attitude, getting you into a good circle of learning.”
Lang Chen uses the phrase ‘bootstrapping’ which comes from the saying ‘to pull oneself up by the bootstraps’; using one’s own resources in situations without external help, and is used widely nowadays to describe businesses that are started with very little.
It’s understandable and very human, that our aptitude at something impacts our attitude to it, think least favourite subjects at school, however we can choose how we view things we either dislike or don’t feel good at, we can re-frame any experience. By being mindful of our own thoughts and attitudes we have control, and can rely on ourselves.
We’ve mentioned research before that highlights the power of having a positive attitude:
- Increases creative problem solving by 20% and improves mood. Michele Gielan.
- Invigorates human beings and makes them 12% more productive. Warwick Uni.
Researchers also tell us it’s good for dealing with stress, increases our immunity and our resilience, and it’s estimated that much of happiness is under personal control.
Our clients report an improvement of 88% in their positivity and happiness when working with us. This isn’t a magic happiness pill that we hand out at induction, it’s about creating a mind-set that we can all experience. One of the reasons we have such an impact is that we put your power back in your hands, influencing the relationship you have with yourself and the world around you. Creating a positive attitude and happiness from the inside and not relying or hoping about what happens outside. Creating a strong relationship with yourself is part of an inside out positivity and happiness plan. This isn’t about having a Pollyanna approach to life – this is about choosing how to interpret events. Psychologists suggest that positive thinkers look at problems or disappointments realistically, search for ways that they can improve the situation, try to learn from their experiences, and make the best of things. Positive thinking is about belief in your abilities, a positive approach to challenges, and trying to make the most of all situations.
For 2019 take responsibility for your positivity and experience so that you can achieve and live at your optimum.