"I've just lost my job!"

"Our salaries have been frozen and the year end bonus will be cut off next year..."

We all panicked since the acquisition by another company. We are afraid of losing our job?"

"My husband/wife has suddenly asked for a divorce."

My property continues to devalue..."

In our everyday lives, there are numerous changes happened around us. Some are predictable but some are not. Some are positive and some are negative. If we can cope with the negativity of change, the resulting adjustment will bring about personal growth. In contrast, when change results in frustration and uncertainty, it is vital for us to equip ourselves in fighting against the adversity. "Positive Thinking" will be a powerful weapon to change your fate and help us combat the battle!

"Positive Thinking" refers applying an optimistic attitude and skills to cope with negativity. It is well researched that applying such attitude and skills leads to increase in personal motivation, which in turn boosts up personal potentials and productivity. Hence, it turns people's fate from negativity to success.

Factors that trigger a person's positive thinking include: Beliefs, Perceptions and Interpretations. Beliefs are what we hold to be true which are shaped by our life experience. Perceptions are our impressions of people and events. Interpretation is how we understand a situation and event. These three factors interplay in the way that people's beliefs affect their perceptions, which in turn affect their interpretations about changes. Undoubtedly, how people interpret the change has substantial impact on their emotions, motives as well as actions. For example, when you hear a person said, "I'm a loser! I'll never succeed in the future." Do you think that he/she will have the motive and energy to fight against his/her adversity?

In order to have "positive thinking", we must fight against our "negative thinking" first. Issues that instigate "negative thinking" include lack of sense of control, support network and confidence. Strategies to cope with these can be as follows:

1. Learn to differentiate between what we can and what we cannot control;
2. Choice is the control. Try to consider all options available and act on one.
3. Strengthen the personal network through improving one's interpersonal skills;
4. Take part in groups or projects which promote interpersonal interactions and form mutual support group with team members, colleagues or friends;
5. Reward oneself for any contributions made and recognize one's own value and efforts;
6. Undertake tasks that you like or represent chances to successful experiences so as to create accomplishment and achievements for ourselves;
7. Make use of community resources to foster our personal and professional development;
8. Eliminate "perfectionist" thinking.

There are indeed two forms of negativity. One is situational and one is habitual which is characterized by worrying the worst, chronic complaining and self-defeating. The best way to overcome situational negativity is to confront the situation and to cope with it. However, more efforts should be paid to combat habitual negativity. Four don't principles and I-CAN model are tools to "positive thinking" and optimism.

Four don't principles to face negativity are:

1. Don't put down and shut down
2. Don't get personal
3. Don't give up
4. Don't take it personal

Steps of I-CAN model are:

1. Identify the negative situation
2. Construct an optimistic response deliberately in four aspects composing of duration, scope, cause and effect. For example, the adversity is passing (duration); this is a particular situation (scope); objective reasons that explain such adversity (cause); and hopefulness (effect).
3. Assess what options you can have and choose one to act on.
4. Name as many resources as possible that would be helpful in dealing with the situation.

When we can apply the principles and strategies to defeat our "negative thinking", "positive thinking" will be cultivated and led them to a happier and optimistic life. Whenever you are facing adversity, remind yourself that "Change yourself, then you can change your fate".