It's All About Attitude

“The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitude.” - William James. I love that quote. It speaks to the problem with so many in our society today. Attitude. You hear it about coworkers. “He is such a hard worker, but his attitude sucks.” Students. “Her attitude is so negative; it’s amazing she has any friends.” Sometimes, she doesn’t. Even family members. “His attitude is going to get his ass kicked out soon if he doesn’t change it.” It’s all about one’s attitude.

It can be a challenge, because it is easier to be negative than it is to be positive. Yet, if you want to live a peaceful life, you have to make peace within yourself first and that begins with your attitude. We all respond to life differently, but you alone choose how you are going to react to what goes on around you. If you are going to live a peaceful life in 2014, the first thing you are going to need to work on is your attitude, not the attitudes of the people around you. I know, you think it should work the other way around. “I could live peacefully if she wasn’t nagging at me all of the time.” Time to change your attitude and maybe get some ear plugs.

My father was my example of this growing up as I didn’t see much that made him upset. Oh, he did get angry, don’t get me wrong. However, when he did, you can be sure it was something to be angry about. For the most part, though, my father just went with the flow. A nice sentiment, but sometimes scary. It’s easy to go with the flow if you’re being carried along a lazy river, just meandering at a gentle pace.

However, when that flow seems more like riding the rapids it’s time to change rivers in my opinion.

My father just didn’t see any sense in allowing the smaller things to get his feathers ruffled. He understood people were who they were. You either choose to accept them or you don’t. Either way, you do not allow them to dictate your moods or course of action.

That has been our goal as a family, to live in a peaceful, harmonious sanctuary that is an inviting place for others. We choose to surround ourselves with positive, upbeat people and cut the negative downers out of our lives. That’s not to say people cannot have bad days. Everyone does and I hope our home is a place of refuge where people can unburden themselves on welcoming shoulders. However, some people have bad lives because they have bad dispositions. They definitely need an attitude adjustment.

We cannot change their attitudes, but we can change ours. And we have. Do you want to make strides in the New Year? Then start with doing an inventory on your attitude, how you view the things and people around you. Look at the people around you, as well. Negativity feeds on other negativity. It’s a virus you may need to inoculate against to prevent a cancer from devouring your personality and future. Make this be the year you change your focus to go after your dreams with positive, determination. With the right attitude, you will go far in 2014 and every year thereafter. You can do it, I’m sure of it.

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