How Our Attitude Affects Things
This may seem like an odd topic for a Chamber of Commerce, but I assure you, it is very relevant. Especially in today’s charged climate. Taking control of your life sometimes seems impossible, as we are pulled in many directions. For us to survive and even thrive, we must look deep into ourselves and take an honest evaluation.
Personal growth is a choice. Everything that we are today is because of the people we’ve met, the jobs we’ve had and the sum total of all our previous life experiences up to this point. To put it bluntly, our past has determined our present and who we are today. Can we agree on that? That being said, let me ask you: do you like who you are today??
So where does human change begin? The process of human change begins within us. We all have tremendous, unused potential. We all desire good results from our efforts. Most of us are willing to work hard and to pay the price that success and happiness demand.
Each of us has the ability to put our unique human potential into action and to acquire a desired result but the one thing that determines the level of our potential, that produces the intensity of our activity and that predicts the quality of the result we receive is our attitude.
Attitude determines how much of the future we are allowed to see. It decides the size of our dreams and influences our determination when we are faced with new challenges. No other person on earth has dominion or control 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.
No one can “make us angry.” We make ourselves angry when we surrender control of our attitude or feelings. What someone may have done is irrelevant. We choose, not them. They merely put our attitude to the test! If we select a volatile attitude by becoming hostile, angry, jealous or suspicious, then we have failed the test. Yes, we may be provoked by something someone said or did but that doesn’t mean we have to succumb to any negative feelings or actions. This ultimately hurts us and can even set us back.
If we care at all about ourselves, then we must accept full responsibility for our feelings and actions. If we want to receive the rewards the future holds in trust for us, then we must exercise the most important choice given to us and that is by keeping total control over our attitude. It can seem hard, but the results will speak for themselves. Having a “bad attitude” in business will not ensure success.
We will be covering other “business-related” topics over the coming weeks and my hope is that these topics may help. Not just in business but also in real life. I know that if life hands you lemons, you’re supposed to make lemonade, not margaritas! Go with the flow and keep your cool. Always.
Having the right attitude is one of the basics that success requires. The choice is always yours! To quote Henry Ford; “Think you can or think you can’t, either you’re right”.
Kevin Martin
Executive Director Kindersley’s Chamber of Commerce
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