Does Attitude Really Count - YES
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We�ve all heard the sayings about attitude. Things
like: �Your attitude determines your altitude�, �Attitude is
everything�, and �The only thing you can control is your
attitude�. Let�s face it. No one is against having
a positive attitude. It�s kind of like mom and apple
pie. There�s nothing to be against.
But attitude has an interesting dynamic around it.
I�ve observed, for instance, that people with a positive attitude tend
to hang out together and people with a negative attitude also hang out
together. Of course, each group tends to support the views of
each other person within their group. The positive people see
themselves as optimistic and forward thinking. The negative
people see themselves as realists. Also, each group tends to
view the other group somewhat unfavorably. The people in the
positive group tend to look at the negative group as complainers and
pessimists, while the negative group tends to view the positive group
as na�ve and unrealistic. I guess it�s a matter of your
perspective. Each group feels they have an accurate view of
reality � or more precisely, THE accurate view of reality.
I�ve also noticed very different behaviors in people depending
on their attitude. Attitude not only determines how a person
sees things, but it affects their actions as well. Our
attitude determines our perspective, which in turn determines our
reality. How does attitude and perspective affect our
reality? Let me share a story as an example. A
number of years ago I had a friend who became focused on the potential
problems surrounding the change of the millennium (Y2K). As
he began to �research� the topic (read that as �obsess� over it), the
foretelling of upcoming disaster became his reality. The more
he listened to radio talk shows the more he accepted their topics as
�reality�. The more articles he read on the subject the more
he accepted those doomsday reports as �reality�. And the more
websites he visited, the more he accepted their perspectives about Y2K
as �reality�. By the end of December he had stockpiled water
and food, and was pleading with me to move up to the mountains to
escape the impending terrorist attacks, falling planes, food shortages,
crashing cars, and lack of water. Of course, January 1, 2000
came and went without incident.
Our attitude creates our reality. But be clear, it�s
OUR reality, not THE reality. I�ve observed that positive
people tend to view challenges as speed bumps while negative people see
them as obstacles standing in the way of success. Negative
people have their thoughts and energies focused on the problems and the
consequences of the problems, and often adopt a defeatist mindset,
taking on the role of a victim. In contrast, positive people
generally focus their thoughts and energies on succeeding despite the
problems, adopting a solution-oriented mindset and set about creating
their own opportunities.
Having a positive attitude indeed makes a significant
difference not only in a person�s level of success, but also in their
enjoyment of their life. It even determines whether they
succeed at all. Therefore, it becomes imperative to adopt a
positive attitude.
But here�s the unusual thing� No one
views himself or herself as a negative person!
People who take a negative view consider themselves to be
�realistic�. (Wait a minute� isn�t �reality� a matter of
perspective?) How can you determine whether you are realistic
and not someone who is �negative�? Here are a few points to
reflect on:
- If you feel that your course in life and business is
determined by others, then you need to adjust your attitude so you can
shift your reality.
- If you feel that the cards are often stacked against you,
then you need to adjust your attitude so you can change your reality.
- If you feel that your company, manager, and/or clients
don�t support you, then you need to adjust your attitude so you can
change your reality.
How does someone turn a negative attitude into a positive
one? The same way someone with a positive attitude maintains
it. You need to eliminate the negative inputs, influences,
and factors in your life and replace them with positive ones.
We�re bombarded with messages from family, friends, co-workers, radio,
newspaper, TV, music, the internet, billboards, books, and magazines
throughout the day and night. Some of them are good and some
of them are just plain bad for you. If YOU don�t decide what
goes into your head, then someone else will. Here are some
steps to take to adjust and maintain your attitude:
Eliminate Negatives:
- Stop reading the newspaper
- Stop watching TV news
- Stop seeking the negative on the internet
- Stop hanging around negative people
Introduce Positives:
- Start hanging around positive people
- Start reading motivational or inspirational books �
biographies, personal growth, success principles, etc.
- Start listening to positive programs � motivational,
personal growth, uplifting music, etc.
Does attitude really count? Can attitude really change your
reality? I guess it depends on your perspective�
About the Author
Written
by Michael Beck, an Executive Coach and Strategist specializing in
employee engagement, executive development, and leadership
effectiveness. Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mjbeck
and visit www.michaeljbeck.com
to learn more.
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Article Published/Sorted/Amended on Scopulus 2014-11-11 09:00:22 in Personal Articles
