1. Character Trait: Positive Attitude
Based on pages of What Do You Stand For? For Teens: A Guide to Building Character by Barbara A. Lewis

2. What does this mean?
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms – to choose one’s own attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
-Viktor Frankel

3. Consider Helen Keller
“An illness left Helen Keller blind, deaf, and mute at 21 months of age. Although she lived in a world of silence and darkness, she became a voice of hope and light. It wasn’t easy for her. She struggled in her mind to find a connection to others, a door to the world. When she did, she held the door for others, making it possible for many people to believe in themselves.”

4. Consider Malcolm X
“When Malcolm X was in prison from , he could have vegetated. Instead, he spent those years educating himself. He copied every word from the dictionary, learned about the Black Muslims, and became a convert. Upon his release from prison, he drew national attention for his writings and powerful speeches.”

5. 10 Ways to Have a Positive Attitude

6. 1. Choose to be Optimistic
The optimist sees a glass of water as half full
The pessimist sees the glass of water as half empty.
Choose to see the glass as half full!

7. 2. Accept Things as They Are
Don’t struggle, whine, and bang your head against a brick wall when things don’t go right – behaviors that make you the helpless victim
Some things will never change, but you can choose how to respond

8. 3. Choose to be Resilient Trees that bend in a storm continue to stand
Like a tree, you can bend and sway and bounce back again supported by your strong deep roots.

9. 4. Choose to be Enthusiastic
Greet each day with excitement
Hang around people who are enthusiastic
Use affirmations
Example: “I can do this!”

10. 5. Have a Sense of Humor
Humor is the best medicine to help you maintain a positive attitude
Laughing increases endorphins, a chemical that is known to make people feel good
Laugh at yourself
Be silly

11. 6. Be a Good Sport
Being a good sport means losing gracefully – smiling, shaking hands with the winner, not blaming other people or circumstances for your loss

12. 7. Be Humble Don’t toot your own horn Pride comes before a fall
Let others notice your good qualities

13. 8. Be Grateful
Focusing on your blessings helps you maintain a positive attitude

14. 9. Have Hope Without hope, life has no meaning
Hope keeps you going when times are tough

15. 10. Create Positive Self-Fulfilling Prophecies
A self-fulfilling prophecy is a prediction that directly or indirectly causes itself to become true
Example: The instructor of a college class goes over the syllabus. The student figures the best he can get in the class is a “B”. He ends up getting a “B” in the class.
Make your prediction positive!

16. Activity Cards Divide into groups of 3-5 students.
Read and discuss the questions on the 8 activity cards.

17. On Your Own