We all know that one person that always seems to be happy no matter what life throws at them.  Then there's the really "lucky" guy at work who gets the promotions and bonuses.  These people always seem so calm and collected.  Do you suppose they ever get stressed out at work or home?  

Why do these people seem to have fewer problems in life than the rest of us?  Even when they have trouble, things always seem to have a way of working out for the best.  What do you suppose the secret is?  Are they just very lucky?  It certainly makes you wonder sometimes. 

I believe the likely answer to this puzzle is having a positive attitude.  If you really look past the surface, these lucky people have just as many problems as the rest of us.  However, they have learned that having a positive attitude helps them make the best of most situations.   

There are a few things I have found that help me maintain a positive outlook and thereby reduce stress.  I am constantly looking for techniques that will help accomplish a more stress free life. 

Positive thinking can help turn around most stressful situations.  Even in the most difficult of circumstances, maintaining a positive attitude can make a world of difference in your stress level. You can train yourself to think in a more optimistic mode and make stressful situations seem less overwhelming.

Removing negative people from your life when possible is one of the best ways to reduce stress and maintain your own positive way of thinking.  One way to add to your stress is to spend your lunch hour complaining about everything to your friends.  As tempting as that is, stop it.  Think about that for a moment.  If you spend that time being negative, what do you think you will get in return?  Instead of finding positive answers to your problems, you just get more of the same of course.  A better investment of your time would be to spend it with that really lucky person you know.  How long do you think it would take for some of that luck (positive attitude) to rub off on you?  Getting some of that will certainly go a long way in reducing stress. 

Another method I have found is making sure the positive outweighs any negative.  For example, for every negative thought I look for at least two positive things about the situation.  When worries come along, sometimes it is a challenge to find the positive, never mind two positives.  Doing this though will help you focus your energy away from your stress.  Even the smallest positive thoughts can take your attention away from problems.

Completely eliminating stress is probably not something that is going to happen.  However, keeping a positive attitude will help reduce stress dramatically.  It is a challenge to retrain yourself to think more positive, but switching your thinking can be life changing if you make a commitment to use positive techniques in your life.

Here are some handy resources that you might give a try in the challenge of changing your thinking.  I hope it helps!