The Magnitude of Attitude

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Optimistic people do not have their heads in the clouds believing nothing will go wrong because they have a positive att
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“The Magnitude of Attitude”

Harvard psychologist William's James said: “The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes of mine." Can it be? Can our lives actually be enhanced by altering our attitudes? Does success or failure have anything to do with mental attitude? Art Linkletter would respond affirmatively. Linkletter says, “Things turn out best for the people who make the best out of the way things turn out." For those of you tempted not to read on... not to endure another “sermon” and positive attitude, stick with me. Consider these attitude-altering axioms capable of pole vaulting you in to elevated living:

Attitude Axiom #1: Attitude affects quality of life. A positive attitude won't let you do anything, but it will help you to do everything better than negative attitude will. I've worked with winners and encountered losers. I've experienced the epitome of optimism as well as negativism. There have been people who lived life to the fullest and people who just existed. My conclusion is that what people possess inside will affect what is happening without. Author James Allen put it this way: “A person cannot travel within and stand still without." Like it or not, we become on the outside what we are inside.

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“Attitude is the reflection of a person," commented Earl Nightingale, “and our world mirrors our attitude." Simply put, our attitude is the way we see events, people, and circumstances in life. It is an internal belief system responsible for the quality of our lice experiences. Ultimately, what we produce or experience depends on attitude.

Attitude Axiom #2: Attitude is a choice. Robert Louis Stevenson was bed ridden much of his life with tuberculosis. One day, his wife heard him hacking wildly and said, “I suppose you still believe it's a wonderful day." Turning toward a window ablaze with sunlight, Stevenson responded, “I do! I'll never let a medicine bottles block my horizon." Circumstances are uncontrollable. Life's events happen. Our responsibility is to choose our responses-our attitude. Situations may color your view of life, but you have been given the power to choose what the color will be.

Attitude Axiom #3: Attitudes alter abilities. Professor Erwin H. Schell, one of America's most respected authorities on leadership, says, “Obviously, there is something more than facilities and competence that makes for accomplishment. I have come to believe that this linkage factor, this catalyst, if you will, can be defined in a single word-attitude. When our attitude is right, our abilities reach a maximum effectiveness and good results inevitably follow." People who believe they can't do something are usually right-and so are those who believe they can. Our attitude toward a task will trigger the body's ability to respond to it. Football coaching great Lou Holtz speaks frequently concerning the correlation between ability and attitude. He believes, “Ability is what you are capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it." So, to cultivate abilities, sow a healthy attitude.

Attitude Axiom #4: People with a positive attitude anticipate adversity. That's right. Optimistic people do not have their heads in the clouds believing nothing will go wrong because they have a positive attitude. Actually, the opposite is true.

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Positive people know challenging events, adversity, and tough situations are inevitable. J. Sidlow Baxter in his book Awake, My Heart, beautifully addresses this concept. “What is the difference between an obstacle and adversity? Our attitude toward it. Every opportunity as a difficulty in every difficulty as an opportunity area if the best things are not immediately possible, then immediately make the best of the things that are possible." Remember the words of Ellen Gasgow, an American novelist who wrote many realistic novels about life in the South after the Civil War: “No life is so hard that you can't make it easier by the way you take it." A person with a healthy attitude takes difficult situations in stride, learns from each experience, Emperor Parrish for the new encounter. It's a great approach and fosters a winning lifestyle.

Attitude Axiom #5: Attitude affirms success… and failure. A man attending a business convention in Las Vegas decided to spend the evening “observing” the events on the casino floor. Tempted by the opportunity to make it big, he placed a two dollar bet at the roulette table. His number won. He continued betting and winning. Within a short time, he had accumulated $50,000 in winnings. Elated with his good fortune, he made his way to the cashier. Before reaching the window, he felt the urge to bet one more time. He went back to the roulette table and wagered his entire winnings on 14 red. The wheel spun round and round and finally stopped on 12 black. His entire winnings were lost. The fellow turn from the table and made his way back to the hotel room. “Well,” his wife asked, “did you bet any money?" “Sure did.” “How did you do?” “Not bad,” he responded. “I lost two dollars.” Now that's a positive attitude. Positive people keep success and failure in perspective. In fact, these people tend to remove the word failure from their vocabulary. Words such as experience, results, challenge, temporary setback, an unsuccessful attempt are preferred.

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But, you say, this is just a matter of semantics. No, it is a process of conditioning our minds to use (forgive me) failure as a stepping stone to success. I am convinced that with the right attitude, all the setbacks in the world will not make you a failure. On the flip side, with the wrong mental attitude, all the help in the world will not make you a success.

Attitude Axiom #6: Actions alter attitudes. Making the magnitude of attitude work for you begins with acting in a manner consistent with the mental state you desire. William James said, “I don't sing because I'm happy, I'm happy because I sing." Behavior is not always subject to emotion but the way we feel is a direct result of our actions. Psychologists William Glasser advises: “If you want to change attitudes, start with a change in behavior." You are who and what you are today because of the attitudes you choose. Will the future be a repeat of the past? The choice is yours

(This is an excerpt from Speakers Sourcebook II by Glenn Van Ekeren.)

You are the one that decides how to approach your job search. It will require less energy to get the habit of maintaining a positive attitude than to listen to and give into negative self defeating thoughts. I know a job search can be frustrating and challenging. In order to win the game you cannot give up or let it get you done. Stay on the top of your game and your will land the job you want and desire faster! I believe you will succeed. I know you will succeed. Warmly,

Eleanor Anne Sweet

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