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Positive Attitude: If You Believe You Can, You Can

The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitude of mind – William James Psychologist

A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with bricks others have thrown at him – David Brinkley

Most people credited Edison’s ability to creative genius. He credited it to hard work. He stated Genius is 90% perspiration and 10% inspiration. Perhaps Edison was overlooking something else – Positive Attitude!

On a day in December 1914 Edison’s lab caught fire. It is reported that he told the children to run and get your mother because she will never see a fire like this again.

After the fire Edison stated that I am 67, but not to old to begin again. He rebuilt the lab and worked for another 17 years before passing.

If you desire to be an effective leader, having a positive attitude is essential. It not only determines your level of contentment, but also how others will interact with you. Consider these four things.

Your Attitude Is A Choice

The average person is waiting on someone else to motivate them. In this it is perceived that circumstances are responsible for the way a person may think. No matter what happened to you yesterday your attitude is a choice today.

Psychologist Victor Frankl, survivor of the Nazi death camps stated the last of our human freedoms is to choose our attitude in any given circumstance. In the face of death he chose joy.

Your Attitude Determines Your Actions

Family Life expert Denis Waitley states the winners edge is not in a gifted birth or a high IQ, or in talent. The winners edge is all in the attitude not in the aptitude. Attitude is the criterion for success. Your attitude determines your action.

Your People Are A Mirror of Your Attitude

It is amazing at how people who exhibit a bad attitude are always surprised that others are not displaying a positive attitude. Who you are is who you attract. If you can leave only one thing behind, leave an attitude of enthusiasm. You can’t put a price tag on that.

Maintaining A Good Attitude Is Easier Than Regaining One

In the book “Earth and Altar, Eugene Peterson writes that pity is one of the noblest emotions available, self pity is the most ignoble. It cripples the emotions and distorts reality.

If you have a positive attitude, I want to encourage you to keep it up. On the other hand, if you have a difficult time expecting the best of yourself and others, do not despair. You can choose your attitude, you can change it.

Martin Lloyd Jones the English heart surgeon stated that most unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself rather than talking to yourself.

Here are some suggestions on improving your attitude…

Feed Yourself The Right Food – Start taking in a regular diet of motivational material. Read books that encourage a positive attitude. Listen to motivational podcasts. The more negative that you are the longer amount of time will be required to turn your situation around. When you take in a regular amount of the right motivational content you will begin to improve and change.

Achieve A Goal Each Day – Negativity reinforces sluggish behavior and goal setting. A pattern of positive accomplishments leads to a positive attitude.

Write It On Your Wall – We all need reminders to keep thinking correctly. Alex Haley used to keep a picture of a turtle on a fence post to remind him that everybody needs the help of others from time to time.

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Music: “Gratitude Mood” by David Arivett. You can learn more about his music by clicking on his name. THANKS DAVID!

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