Choose Your Attitude

“Do you need an attitude adjustment?”  “You sure have an attitude today.”  “Watch that attitude.”  You may have said these statements, or someone may have spoken them to you.  Attitude is a way of thinking or feeling that reflects a person’s behavior.  Your attitude is expressed in how you react to a situation and what you are inclined to do.  It is based on how you see life, your values, and your point of view.

Attitudes are either negative or positive and are usually expressed in some type of body language or non-verbal movement such as eye rolling or a laugh and smile.  Attitude is a choice.  You choose how you view life and how you react to situations and people.

Attitude reflects your outlook on life.  Some people see themselves as victims and life is out to get them.  Nothing goes right or is ever good, and everyone is against them.  If this is you, then your predominate attitude will be negative, reactive, and you see no joy or hope in life.  While the circumstances in life may not have been entirely your choice, it is a choice how you act and behave.

If your attitude is more positive and upbeat, you do not let the circumstances of life control you.  You choose joy and look for the good in life and in other people.  You do not live in a fantasy world or ignore reality; it is that you just choose how you react and deal with what life gives you.  You choose joy as an attitude and do not let situations and people control you.

As the new year begins, this is a good time to make different choices.  Yes, resolutions and goals are usually made and quickly broken in the new year.  What if this year, you choose to adjust your attitude and outlook toward life?  You decide to choose not to be reactive but more proactive in dealing with situations.  Reactive is usually a quick response to something that frustrated you and triggered a negative response in words or actions.  To be proactive is to first admit that there are people and situations you allow to affect your attitude and behavior.  You acknowledge it and not deny your feelings.  And then you make a plan to change how you deal with the inevitable situations.

Learn to pause, take a deep breath, and say a short prayer before responding.  When dealing with people, it is accepting people for who they are and not giving them power and control over your attitude.  Do not throw more negativity on an already negative person.  When you choose to respond differently, you change the only thing you can change – your attitude and behavior.  You may not change the other person, but you did not add to the drama.

When you find yourself in a situation not of your own choosing or have to interact with people you prefer not to be with but are required to, be proactive and decide to change your mood, grumbling, and resentment.  Choose to find something good.  Choose to interact with joy.  Choose a person to talk with and ask them questions about things the person is interested in.  Give yourself a purpose and focus other than having an attitude and being miserable.

You have power to change how you react and interact.  Choose to find good in situations and keep your attitude in check.  Being positive and finding good makes life much more pleasant for you and those around you.

Elaine J. Sturtz

Living In The Different

Elaine will be leading a seminar “Living Life Forward” on Saturday, March 21st at Trinity Evangelical Church in Upper beginning at 9 AM.  Mark your calendars now.  More information to follow.