One Christmas, I visited Las Vegas with my partner. While there, we booked a trip to the Grand Canyon. Although it was warm (and wet) in Vegas, the day that we travelled to the Grand Canyon was cold and there was a chance of snow.
As we were driving there by bus, the tour guide could read the audience on the bus. People were talking about how it was snowing. There would be low visibility. There wouldn't be anything to see. Finally, when we passed one of the gates to the Grand Canyon, the park ranger said not to expect very much on this cold day. The tour guide immediately said "hey, be optimistic! The day could warm and clear up by the time we get there."
That short story has made me realize the power of positive thinking, especially at work.
I've been to meetings where the boss has announced restrictions or changes in the organization creating uncertainty. They ask the team what their reaction is and I can see one by one the negative reactions people have.
"I'm afraid"
"Sounds scary"
"Will I still have a job?"
But when it gets to me, it's not that I don't have the same reaction as others, but I instead choose to see things in a positive light.
"I see opportunity"
When you are positive, good things happen:
Your positivity rubs off on others and rather than getting sucked into a whirlpool of negativity, you are the light tower towards land.
Things are never as bad (or as good) as they seem.
Between being worried about the future, and looking forward to the future, I would rather look forward to what the future holds.
Since being positive OR negative does not change the outcome (assuming these things are out of your hands), then why not be positive?