We look with our eyes but see through our mind.
– Chidi Ejikeugwu
Have you ever wondered why same thing happen to a different
individuals and one person seem to respond different from the other?. The simple
answer is attitude. The reason is because in life, it is not what happens to
you or what does not happen to you that determines how you fare. You will
realize that attitude does not just affect our relationship with the people and
things around us, it goes far to determine how we look at life and how we
respond to it. No saying how many opportunities have been missed, how many
relationships dented as a result of wrong attitude. The most significant point
to note about attitude is that it can shape the way we think. And we know
pretty well that our life goes in the direction of our thought. But here is the
sad thing, most people don’t recognize the wrong attitudes which they exhibit,
they see it as a part of their personality, so they believe that’s the way they are. No
that’s not who you are. Personality may be fixed but attitude puts a color on
it.
You may not easily observe the day to day effects of a
negative attitude until one of those defining moments when accumulated cause takes
effect or is expressed, when things happen to us or otherwise. To really see a person’s
attitude about life, things, work, people, see them on one of those days when
the wind blows against their direction. “your attitude does not only shape your
response to life but it also shapes how you experience life”. Here are some you
must watch out for.
Complaining attitude: you can't complain and
create at the same time; and we all are creators for we were made in that
image. Complaining can deal your chances a surreptitious blow because it allows
you to focus only on the things that are wrong so that you can’t notice what is
right. Complaining does not allow you to see the opportunity to change and create. And some people
mature in such a way that they always find something to complain about
everything. What a poor way to live. If you are dealing with people and
every time you relate with them, you always fond something to complain about,
you are destroying them (or in a polite way, their self image). No matter how
well you mean for them, the picture you are painting by your constant
complaining attitude does not in any way attract them to the better intentions
you may have for them.
Scarcity attitude: A few doze of this one would run any
economy down in no time. Not believing that there could be enough for
everyone, even if there’s not enough, this attitude keep most people from setting
out to create more to satisfy the need – we are creators by design, most people
choose to benefit only then making themselves consumers. People with the
scarcity attitude tend to hold on to what they have as well as grab all they
can at the slightest opportunity. What a small way to live. Two of such kind
can run the company down. Don’t build your life and live on what is
available, rather think of what is possible and pursue it. There is no limit to
what is possible.
Yes it’s possible you can change, for change is one of the
greatest human abilities. We pick up attitudes from when we were young, we continually change and reinforce them as we grow. No matter how long you have
exhibited a certain kind of attitude, the moment you realize how it’s affecting
you, you work, life, relationship and you decide it’s not what you want, you
can begin to change it.
However, identifying a negative attitude does not solve the problem.
You must not only decide to stop it, you must exert yourself to take on new
habits and attitudes which replace the negative one. It’s like pouring clean water
into a glass of dirty water UNTIL the dirty one runs out. But you must continue
to focus on the clean one and using it long enough to replace the old one. So here
are some of such graceful attitudes that can begin to change your perception and
experience consequently your life.
Gratitude : an attitude of appreciation puts a whole new
look on life. The reason is because, “anything you appreciate tends to
appreciate.” Begin to be grateful for the things you have or care about. Be grateful
for life, be grateful for small things as much as the big ones, be grateful for
family and friends, be grateful for what you have no matter how little because “what
you have is really all you need to get what you want”. And if you keep complaining
about how small or insufficient the thing is, I promise you can't make much good
out of it because you have not been able to see any good in it. He that does
not have the little he has will be taken from him. So you have to see it (even
when it is little) to ever have it – and that by gratitude. “The best things in
life are still free, like air and ideas”. Be grateful for the past, be hopeful
for the future and be thankful for the moment.
Giving attitude: Living is giving. To live is to give, give
love, give hope, give happiness, for the greatest thing you can give… is
yourself. And we are all giving it, every day of our lives, with every action,
with every interaction. We daily give a piece of who we are when we talk, when
we act. So rid the idea that those who give are those who have, for we all have
little in the least. Nobody has more advantage than the giver because a vacuum
is created on his side which must be filled. It’s a natural law of the
universe. Put yourself in my shoe and feel what great good I gain by pouring out
these few lines of lessons that have changed my life, and by sharing it with
you hoping that you find some inspiration and ideas, I empty my self of content
ready to reach for higher knowledge and ideals waiting to be filled by them
again. Imagine enjoying this experience every other day. The beautiful part is
when I get those lovely comments like “thank you for sharing this post”, it
makes up any down day. I have learned to be hungry and remain so, and I wish
that for you. That’s the only way you get to fill up. So the key is always be
hungry. Why? Because you want to be filled again so that you may have something
to give. Holding on to what you have or know is the surest way to the never
grow syndrome.
Attitude is key.
Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.
John F. Kennedy
