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  There is a difference, however, between a genuinely good attitude and the appearance of a good attitude. This difference is crucial to your success. When you pretend to have a positive attitude, you are trying to convince others that you are happy and positive. If you have a genuinely good attitude there is no need to convince others; one simply is happy and positive. Additionally, a positive attitude orients you to benevolence. Benevolence is the general feeling of good will towards others without regard to individuals.

  The best way to cultivate a good attitude is to think positively. When I wrote my book on Purpose,[1] I discovered an excellent exercise to help in cultivating a positive attitude. Essentially, it involved positing positive

  attitudes against their opposite negative attitudes. This process enables you to solidify in your mind the kind of thinking you need to change negative attitudes into positive ones. Below is a table to use as an example. Below each attitude are blank lines that help you write your thoughts down. I have inserted some comments to give you the general approach that positivity entails.

  Life

  Death

  General Disposition

  Positive

  Negative

  The basic positive attitude requires reason and a focus upon reality. The primacy of existence is the idea that existence is primary and that understanding the nature of existence, the real, is paramount in having a positive attitude.

  The negative is a focus on the zero, death, un-being, nothingness – there is no argument for it.

  Light

  Darkness

  A metaphor that connotes positivity

  A metaphor that connotes negativity

  Peace of Mind – no worry about the future

  Panic – always worry about what will happen

  Peace of mind comes from certainty about metaphysical reality. Existence Exists.

  The future is uncertain because the mind is uncertain. The Supernatural can lead to doubt and fear.

  Love of Mankind

  Anger and Conflict with other men

  This is a general view of man’s nature. Is he good or evil by nature? If you think he is good by nature you are prone to have better relations with people.

  If you think men are evil by nature or weak, you will find lots of conflict with others and even yourself. Confusion is the result.

  Hope for good

  Dread/Despair about the future

  Hope is positive, an expectation that good will happen if one thinks and acts out of positive notions

  This is anti-hope, the opposite of positive expectations. It is a very powerful force that suppresses happiness

  Optimism

  Pessimism

  Optimism is another term for hope but more certain of a good outcome

  Another term for despair but more philosophical as it is supported by a general sense of reality

  Metaphysics

  Existence

  Non-existence/Nihilism (Primacy of Consciousness)

  How to tie the positive to existence:

  Understand that existence is the real and you can only be positive about what you know with certainty. Certainty is knowing reality/existence. Existence has primacy – but more than this, it is.

  Non-existence has no relation to existence/reality. It is a negative concept and, in reality, the negative does not exist and has no presence in reality and in the mind. Non-existence “is” “non”, it has no presence in reality

  Science

  Mysticism

  Science is the study of existence. It is based on the primacy of existence. Existence is the only presence, the only reality and in logic that means A is A.

  _

  Mysticism is the contemplation and adherence to non-existence. It is the essence of negativity and is based on the false premise that consciousness, by itself, is the only reality. It is the practice of non-existence, the negative.

  Truth/Good Epistemology

  Falsehood (False Characteristics create False Concepts

  Truth can only be found by connecting concepts to existence. This is done by the individual defining his concepts according to accurate “defining characteristics”

  Falsehood comes from bad epistemologies that lead to lies or mistakenly defined characteristics of things and/or adherence to them through false premises. It can lead to false notions and eventually nihilism.

  Knowledge

  Ignorance

  Knowledge results from good epistemology, good/true concepts which leads to true identification of reality and correct action based on reality.

  Ignorance is the opposite of knowledge. It is based on bad epistemology, concepts wrongly defined which lead, in action to poor decisions.

  Logical

  Illogical

  Takes the principle that “A is A” and applies it consistently to all thinking.

  Rejects the principle that “A is A” and seeks a none-standard that leads to anti-mind and anti-man thinking.

  Truth

  The Irrational and Untrue

  Truth = objectivity

  Truth is rejection of existence, the non-standard, the non-real, the non-man, the zombie.

  Reason

  Irrationality

  Logic and objectivity applied to all thinking from A is A to the widest abstractions.

  Logic is just a different opinion.

  Reality

  Supernatural

  A synonym for “Existence”, reality refers more specifically to the world of things and anything which is said to exist.

  A world presumed by mystics to exist outside of the natural world. It describes the essence of mysticism and religion, a false concept that has not been “proven” to exist.

  Morality

  Concerned about Positive Values and Achieving them

  Concerned about what people think or do

  Positive values are based on the standard of life. They lead to life and are based upon love of existence which is the source of all life and happiness.

  Negative values are focused on the secondary on the views of others and therefore are disconnected from existence. They are haphazard and eventually destructive.

  Active Living

  Depression and Doubt

  This is the development and active pursuit of values by means of integrating action to the goal of value pursuit.

  This is the avoidance of active living by negative thinking.

  Personal Situation

  Freedom of Action

  Tension

  Only a rational person, one connected to reality, can be free to act rationally.

  The negative person is not free to act rationally. He has no order or consistency because he is not connected to reality. His actions are controlled because that is the only action he can take.

  In Charge of Your Life

  Life is Controlled by others

  Requires life-serving decisions and actions. Requires reason.

  Requires altruism and collectivism, dependence and inability to make life-serving decisions.

  Liberty

  Fight/Flight/Freeze

  Liberty refers to your freedom to make your own decisions in life and to live for your own self-interest.

  The restriction of liberty (within the individual) is the response to fear of the opinions of others as they relate to your personal choices. Altruism is the source of these opinions of others.

  Grounded

  Uprooted

  Grounded. Conceptual with good concepts.

  Separated from reality. The anti-conceptual mentality.

  Happiness

  Depression

  The successful state of life when the mind is connected to reality and integrated with the body and its needs.

  The failed condition when the mind is disconnected from reality by negative and faulty thinking methods and rationalizations.

  Solid Personhood

  Vulnerable

  Habitual reliance on reason builds a solid person. Reason is the sourc
e of the human power to affect reality and survive well.

  Vulnerable to the vicissitudes of reality-cause and effect because weak or disconnected from reality. Vulnerable to evil men because one does not know they must be fought.

  Independence of Mind and Ideas

  Dependence of Mind and Ideas

  Reason can only come from an independent mind.

  The mind mired to dependence upon the ideas of other people will always be dependent.

  Living

  Dying

  This is the ultimate choice that guides all thinking and acting.

  The opposite (negative) of living.

  Thinking

  Brooding

  True thinking is focusing on reality which yields tangible positive results and confidence.

  Brooding is negative thinking about something wrong and negative emotions of anger and futility.

  Consciousness

  Unthinking and Unconsciousness

  Consciousness of reality means a positive view of “what is”. It is a process for knowing not for making reality.

  Unthinking is relinquishing the responsibility. Unconsciousness is the absence of focus and un-thinking about the real.

  Mindfulness

  Refusal to Think

  The ability to use your mind in a self-directed way that will positively affect your life.

  The conscious choice to let emotions guide your choices, sometimes automatized and automatic after a time.

  Mind/Body Unity

  Mind/Body Split

  When mind and body are a unit, there is no conflict and the individual functions more efficiently and can achieve happiness.

  When mind and body are split, there is conflict, disorder and unhappiness.

  Winning at Life

  Losing at Life

  Good values, good actions = love of life = happiness.

  Disvalues, wrong actions = hatred of life = unhappiness.

  Objective Philosophy

  Subjective Philosophy

  Objective reality – Primacy of Existence.

  Primacy of Consciousness – Duty.

  Full Relaxation

  Unease and High Blood Pressure

  Stress-free living – moral living, primacy of existence, peace of mind, integrated mind and body.

  Immoral living, primacy of consciousness, out of context thinking, concrete-bound thinking, anti-conceptual mentality, dis-ease, mental disorder.

  Healthy Eating

  Unhealthy Eating

  Count calories, sugar, cholesterol, sodium, etc. And eat right.

  Eat to die, et to make you feel better, to avoid life.

  Happiness/Moral Living

  Immoral Living

  Defining values and making rational choices = happiness.

  Having no standards of value. Making decisions emotionally = unhappiness. Refusal to think = misery.

  Creating

  Destroying or Not Creating

  Creating requires combining the parts of reality for life-enhancing uses. It requires knowledge of reality, imagination and integration as well as value-definition.

  These require nothing and lead to depression and unhappiness. They lead eventually to “acting out” and nihilism.

  Exercise/Activity

  Sedentary/Inactivity

  Keep energy flowing. Keep life flowing. Keep body active and efficacious.

  Give life away. Cease activity. Give up. Die.

  Organization of Life

  Disorganization and Unconcern about Life

  Focus on values and goals with life as the standard. Keep a written record of your values and order them hierarchically.

  Floating through life. Give little thought to values. Ignore goals and plans.

  Know that metaphysical world is not conscious

  Think that physical reality is a thinking entity

  Accept the real and that it is the only universe but it operates according to its nature and has no thought of choice.

  Mysticism – Reality is conscious – the world’s worst and most dangerous concept. Reality does not think or act or choose.

  Judge the man-made

  Fear men and what they do

  This is an issue of justice and identifying whether the acts of people are positive or negative.

  Fear of the thoughts of men and the refusal to judge represents and inordinate amount of fear of human consciousness. It implies the Primacy of Consciousness.

  Competence (in myself)

  Incompetence (in myself)

  An active mind, practiced in reason, will achieve competence and moral acumen.

  An inactive mind is an insecure mind.

  Doing the right thing

  Doing the wrong thing

  The right thing is the moral thing. It requires looking at reality and thinking, the result is happiness and satisfaction.

  Refusal to think leads to doing the wrong thing and leads to failure and unhappiness.

  Admiration of competence in others

  No admiration for Inefficacy

  This is a matter of justice – knowing of good and rewarding it.

  Results from not thinking clearly or refusing to think. Admiring inefficacy is nihilism.

  Reward value

  Reward disvalue

  Justice for the good is more important than punishing the evil.

  Rewarding disvalue is the opposite of justice and harms the good.

  Rational

  Irrational

  The rational mind is consistent in its adherence to reality. To be rational is to be correct.

  The irrational avoids reason and is therefore wrong and failed.

  Conceptual Definition accuracy

  Conceptual Land Mine (poorly defined characteristics of concepts)

  Clear, precise definition mean clear, precise thinking. Not all concepts are created equal. Is there an issue you are dealing with that conceptual clarity can help you with?

  Conceptual moral equivalency is a mixture of vague concepts with clear concepts – sloppy thinking. Moral travesty is thereby enabled. I call this the mixed economy of human thought.

  Cognitive Precision

  Cognitive Imprecision

  Concepts are units of consciousness of reality. They are how I see. Their precision determines my accuracy of learning reality.

  Poorly defined concepts are the cause of failure and understanding.

  Integration of Knowledge

  Disintegration of Knowledge

  Since reality is an integrated whole, knowledge must be integrated with other knowledge. This yields full understanding.

  Miss-integration is the splitting or separation of non-knowledge. Miss-integration is “knowledge” based on mysticism and/or rationalism. They destroy man’s focus (or scatter it) on reality and his acquisition of consistent knowledge.

  Integration of Knowledge

  Miss-integration of Knowledge

  Same as above.

  Miss-integration is the splitting out of non-knowledge. Miss-integration is “knowledge” based on mysticism and/or rationalism. These concepts destroy man’s focus (or scatter it) on reality and his acquisition of integrated knowledge.

  Truth

  Contradiction

  Truth is the expression of what is real and actual.

  Contradiction is the expression of what is not real or actual.

  Personal Hygiene

  Shaved

  Unshaved

  Well-groomed

  Scruffy/Dusty

  Bathed

  Unbathed

  Teeth Brushed

  Teeth Un-brushed

  Physical Health

  Exercise Daily with Weights

  Skip Exercise with Weights

  Walk Daily

  Skip Walk

  Yoga Daily

  Skip Yoga

  Meditation Daily

  Skip Meditation

  Smiling/Laughing

  Frowning/Crying

  Healthy-range Blood Pressu
re Under 120/80

  High Blood Pressure (Above 140 Systolic)

  Relations with Others

  Trust

  Prejudiced

  Recognition that there is Nothing to Fear from People – Love of People – Expressing Love or Appreciation to People – Thinking Positively about People

  Fear of People/Need to Escape – Thinking that I Don’t have the Energy for it – Wanting to Get Away from Them

  An important issue related to attitude is the decision to take on leadership. A good leader “jumps in” and acts when it is called for. When other people are looking around to see who is going to act, the future leader will take it upon himself to act and guide others to a successful solution. He isn’t afraid of what people will think. In fact, he is looking for precisely this situation in order to express his value and he seizes the opportunity to give value to his company. And when the union member criticizes him for doing something he is not paid to do, he ignores him and keeps on giving value.