We have reviewed the first two values of H5H already. “Serve others well” and “Take Responsibility” are important stepping stones towards excellence. Today we explore our ATTITUDES. As we continue, we will challenge each individual in our organization to examine themselves and where they stand in their belief and execution of each value on a daily basis. First, do you believe in the value or statement and then, secondly, do you behave like it?
In some ways, your attitude is the easiest thing to change because you can do it all by yourself. In other ways, your attitude is the most difficult thing to change because ultimately you must do it all by yourself. Most other limitations take significant time and energy to overcome. By contrast, a limiting attitude can be changed instantly into a positive, empowering one.
Even so, impacting an attitude to change can, at times, seem to be an insurmountable challenge. That usually is the case when you identify too closely with your attitude, thinking that it is you and you are it. No other person on earth has dominion over our attitude. People can affect our attitude by teaching us poor thinking habits or unintentionally misinforming us, or providing us with negative sources of influence, but no one can control our attitude unless we voluntarily surrender that control.
You are, in fact, not your attitude. You are the person who creates, controls and maintains that attitude; it is yours to use and direct as you see fit. Your attitude does not determine who you are but it can determine what you can accomplish. Your attitude does not define you, however, oftentimes it represents your modus operandi to the rest of the world.
No matter how things may be going, you can always — always — choose a positive, forward-looking and empowering attitude. It is not the least bit painful, nor does it require any special skills or resources. Your attitude is not the inevitable result of events that happen to you or circumstances that surround you….it is your response to those things.
Your actions affect your attitude and your attitude drives your actions. It is powerful when you get your actions and your attitude working consistently in the same direction. A small positive action can often make a big positive difference in your outlook on your shift today and in life. Even something quick and simple can shift your momentum.
Charles Swindoll wrote “The longer I live the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than success, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill.
It will make or break a company. A church. A home!!
The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change the past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude! I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you. We are all in Charge of our ATTITUDES!!!”
H5H ACTION STEPS:
- Do Not Wait for Happiness. – Do not wait for good things to happen to you. You need to work towards happiness. You need to create a happy environment around you today to remain happy tomorrow. This is called an attitude. If you adopt a positive attitude, life becomes a rewarding game instead of a challenge to ‘get through.’
- Clarify and Prioritize – Learn to know what you want. If you know what you expect from yourself, your future becomes clear and your goals become attainable. Clarify your purpose, Visualize your future and Set goals for yourself.
- Be Resilient – Resilient people are those who face setbacks but, ultimately, with perseverance, recover from them. Try and be strong and face life’s difficulties as challenges; respond accordingly with action, rather than with fear, self-pity, inferiority or blame. While life can be very challenging, an important step in becoming more resilient is to develop the habit of positive self-talk and to remind yourself that you are strong and can grow stronger and wiser as you handle life’s challenges.
- Seize the day – Carpe Diem, as the proverb goes. Always enjoy the moment. Do not worry about your past or future. Live for the day. What has happened is irreversible and what will happen is unknown, so try and enjoy what you have. It’s been said: “The past is history, the future is mystery, today is a Gift, That is why we call it the Present”
- Be an Optimist – This is the golden rule to maintaining a positive attitude. Always believe in yourself. Being an optimist does not only mean to see the brighter side of life. To be an optimist means to view the surroundings wherein you maximize your strengths and achievements and minimize your weaknesses and apprehensions.
“The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change their future by merely changing their attitude.” — Oprah Winfrey.
Lead The Way!
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