Attitude is Everything

Attitude is everything, and I know – I used to have a chronic bad one. It’s amazing the ways that my life has changed and the roads that God has guided me down once I lifted my head out of you know where. I can remember exactly when my perspective and attitude on life events changed, and how dramatically up my life seemed to go after.  I started talking to someone who became and will probably remain a great friend in my life. Remembering his amazing optimism and kindness helps me when I get it in one of my ruts. “No one likes a negative facebooker!,” I heard him say once. It’s funny, we all get so tied up in social media and I don’t think we realize that even though we aren’t consciously absorbing the negativity always, we are allowing it to be brought to our attention. Be sure to not let it effect you.

We all have those days. The – this really sucks, why me, I deserve better kind of days. And good for you for realizing that very fact... YOU DESERVE BETTER, so go out there and get it. Pity parties are sometimes necessary… With a pint of ben and jerrys, a bottle of wine, and a romantic comedy – but then get up, get dressed, and get over it.

If you’ve ever played a sport or been to a seminar on attitude, you’ve probably heard these famous words by Charles Swindoll, but kindly let me reiterate:

I’m not perfect. I sat down to do a workout circuit yesterday with a piss-poor attitude. Going in to it, my trainer told me to stop psyching myself out and I was going to do great… I was talking about how I wasn’t going to be able to finish, I was going to throw up, I was going to make a fool of myself… Welp! I finished, I wanted to die, and I could have done way better. Attitude is everything. I am doing that same circuit tomorrow and I am absolutely going to KILL IT!

If you've never watched the Ted talk by Shawn Achor, you need to (http://www.ted.com/talks/shawn_achor_the_happy_secret_to_better_work). Less than 15 minutes and it can change your life. Shawn studied happiness at Harvard University and has been speaking at companies in countries around the world to increase positivity and productivity in classrooms and companies alike. In this Ted talk, he talks about how "it's not really the reality that shapes us, but the lens through which your brain views the world that shapes your reality." I love that. It speaks volumes to attitude and perspective and the importance of how we view our lives.

In addition to having an outstanding attitude and perspective yourself, it is important to surround yourself with positive people who want to see you succeed. You are the five most people you spend time with – choose wisely. Don’t be trapped by dogma, get out and see the world through a positive lens. Spend a day with a 5 year old, you’ll see how much beauty there really is.