During an afternoon at work one day (we worked for a composite door company), aged as I say twenty-two, a colleague I was working with started to talk to me. What he said was a shock to me, however would have a profound effect on my future. He said to me:

“Your are somebody who always thinks in a negative way, you a right depressive person, aren’t you?”

“Am I?”

I said in a rather cautious voice – I had not realised that I was negative in comparison to other people. There were reasons for my often depressive state; I had a stuttering speech impediment for a start.

He continued:

“Yes you are. You very rarely smile, you are negative about most issues and you always seem to be carrying the world on your shoulders”.

This man was aged around fifty three and continued:

“I used to be like you and then I was given some advice, of which I am now going to relay to you. Whenever you start to become slightly depressed or in the state of feeling sorry for yourself – start to watch the news on the TV. By doing this should soon make you realise that you are not so unlucky after all.”

I had a long think about what he had said. I had never been a big reader or watcher of the news, but decided to give it a go. The advice he gave me was totally correct, the news from around the world and even my own country was quite shocking. I realised that the worries I had were actually quite trivial and that I needed to cherish everyday and start to look on the bright side of life.

I have now commenced a new career in the pet insurance sector and have taken my new found positive attitude with me.

Conclusion: Start to appreciate what you have and the contentment will soon come.

Words Of Wisdom

• How to Build a Positive Attitude – Tips, Resources
• PsyDir » Clinical Correlates of Comorbid Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder and Depression in Youth
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From reading life coaching and positive thinking books, I realised I had to become a far stronger person, more care-free and to have more respect for myself. The new me was a person that was only going to go to places that I wanted to – no more accepting second best for me. I was well aware that it would be tough to ensure that I kept up this new found attitude but I knew I had to give it my best shot.

I was soon to be tested, it was at one of my friends(Ian)houses. He is a very successful business man; he sells front doors for a living and can be quite an assertive person, he also works with a group of cost reduction experts. He and some of the other “boys” had organised an evening out for the following weekend. There were numerous reasons why I did not want to go out on that particular night. Ian soon asked if I was interested in going out to which I answered in the negative.

That answer was not enough for him and he proceeded to question my reasons for not wanting to go. I felt all of the eyes of the people present descend on me and I felt quite awkward. Normally in this situation I would give some excuse but instead I asked him why I needed to give a reason and why my answer of no was not enough for him. He seemed quite shocked at my strong response and moved on to question and nag someone else.

I am now a much more assertive person myself and I am pleased to report that I have now managed to overcome the stutter thanks mainly due to the expert therapy offered at the How To Stop Stammering Center in Birmingham.