A negative attitude has consequences, while a positive attitude brings rewards
– Kanayo Aniegboka
A positive attitude is one of lives greatest resource; it is like having money to spend. It’s our attitude that other people relate with, it is what they perceive when they encounter us. The greatest value you can possess is not knowledge (although it’s darn important), it’s not contacts (although it helps for contracts), it’s a lively and positive attitude. A positive attitude is like driving a car on full throttle; all the valves are open and the car is giving off its full potential. It’s like a pleasant smell that attracts others to you and makes people feel comfortable in your presence. Attitude is truly everything!
Our attitude is the way we interpret and respond to life; it is the periscope through which we see our world; it is the spice by which we flavour our lives. If we understand how important attitude is in shaping the experience we draw out of life, we would put more time and effort into creating a winning attitude. According to Winston Churchill,
“attitude is the little thing that makes a big difference.” I see it as the fuse that determines how well all the other part of our lives work and Lou Holtz agrees with me because he said that “
Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how you do it”. Your attitude defines you, differentiates you and ultimately dignifies or degrades you.
Developing a positive attitude to life is work and it requires time and effort. Like exercise or dieting, you feel the effect almost immediately, but it becomes visible and obvious over time.
Here are a few pointers to help you develop a great winning attitude every day.
- Be Optimistic: Have faith that all things will work out. Consciously believe that your efforts will pay off and that your failures and mistakes are lessons to make you better.
- Live sunny side up: Always look first for what is going right and is working well in your life before you notice the ones that are not. Consciously list the things you are grateful for every day.
- Develop the habit of self-pitching: Be your best and most enthusiastic coach, cheer leader and fan club. Talk to yourself all the time, and talk positive. Tell yourself how awesome and great you are and, during down times tell yourself you’ll make a head spinning comeback. When you do something right, praise yourself; even write yourself a poem.
- Invest in developing yourself: Continually developing yourself raises your level of competence and boosts your self-image and self-confidence. A good self-image is fuel for a great and positive attitude.
- Realise you are not perfect: You are an on-going project. You will fail sometimes, you will succeed sometimes, and you will improve all the time. Stop being too hard on yourself.
- Do what makes you happy. Discover what makes you happy and invest in it. Discover what makes you laugh; people that you enjoy being with, and places you love to be, and engage in them as often as is possible for you.
- Develop a can-do-attitude: Believe in yourself. Believe that all things are possible. Believe you have what it takes to be successful, even if you have not discovered it yet. Make an attempt at any challenge that faces you.
- Be friendly and kind to others: Make an effort to be friendly. Always look out for good things to comment people about. Make a conscious effort to encourage other people and be kind towards their weaknesses. Remember, to be kind and gentle with other people, we must first be kind and loving to ourselves.
