For the A to Z challenge this year, I’m posting about one of my favorite things: Living the life you were born to live. I’ve been so blessed with a family that constantly encourages me and builds me up and I want to pass that along to y’all! I’ll be traveling a lot during the month, so some of the posts are scheduled ahead of time and answering comments might take some time. I’ll try and keep up though. Thanks for stopping by!
A is for Attitude
A is for Attitude
Wow, I think I could spend the whole month writing just about attitude. It’s one of those things I’ve certainly not conquered, but I think about it and work on it almost daily. Having a positive attitude is so crazy important!
Winners focus on the things that they can control. Losers focus on the things they cannot control. I can control my attitude, how I spend my time and energy, who I associate with, how hard I work, how many books I read, what I watch, etc. I cannot control the economy, the national debt, oil prices, war, the way people drive, or they way they think and act or what they say. I’m learning to focus on the things I can control and make the best of the things I can’t control.
Having a Positive Mental Attitude allows us to accomplish more than we will with a Negative Mental Attitude… but it’s foolish to believe that having a Positive Mental Attitude will allow us to accomplish “anything your heart desires”. I think it’s wrong and misleading to tell children that when they grow up, they can “be anything they want to be”. (For example, a lot of people are too big to be a professional jockey or too small to be an NBA center.) But once again, I think it’s good to tell children (and adults) that if they have a Positive Mental Attitude, they will accomplish more than if they have a Negative Mental Attitude.
Lou Holtz said: Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.
Having a Positive Attitude is a choice. Having a Negative Attitude is also a choice. Allowing yourself to get discouraged is a choice. If you are tempted to feel sorry for yourself… don’t give in! There are MANY people would love to trade places with you.
You hear what you expect to hear, not what you actually hear. You think what you expect to think, not what you’re actually able to think. This is why it’s so important to have a Positive Mental Attitude. This is why it’s so important to focus on Solutions rather than Problems.
We all have limitations, but I think it’s safe to say that a Positive Attitude will allow you to do a better job than if you have a Negative Attitude. In 1914, Thomas Edison’s laboratory (and all the work inside) burned to the ground. Instead of being dismayed and quitting, he said, “All the mistakes are burned up – thank God we can start anew.” Amazing, right? What about you? Do you focus on having a positive attitude?
Noveltea 
I posted this on your Facebook status, but since then I looked up the quote and found that Zig Ziglar is the one who originated it. But a former pastor would often say “It is your attitude, not your aptitude, that will determine your altitude.” A person can have all the knowledge, degrees, diplomas, etc. that this world has to offer, but if they have a negative attitude, it can seriously limit how far they go. Like you, I struggle with having a positive attitude and really tend to “worry” over those things I can't control. It's something that I have to pray about daily.
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Awesome! I'm so excited to read all of these posts!
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hello! I'm popping in from the A-Z challenge. I tried to follow your blog, but the system did not let me. I did add you to my google+ friends, because I love finding other believers in the blogosphere! I love down to earth blogs such as yours. Maybe you could send me a facebook link, or add me to your google+, so I can stay connected. Without the follow feature working, I don't know how else to keep track of blogs I want to mark. Visit me, if you'd like. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Adventures-in-the-Ballpark-Marianne-Ball/394038163950377?ref=hl
Marianne
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Interesting thoughts about talking to kids in this post. It's true, attitude makes all the difference, and when you dream big, there's no telling what you might accomplish!
MJ, A to Z Challenge Co-Host
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I do agree with the “you can't actually do whatever you want to do”…I used to think you could, but, yeah, it ISN'T really plausible or probable. (Ah, I'm such a crusher of dreams.) I think attitude and mentality have SO much to do with everything! I kind of believe that if you think things are going to go wrong/suck, they will. We have powerful brains. 🙂 Very cool post, Lydia!
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Thanks, Cait. And powerful brains? No kidding! I'm often shocked at how powerful they are and how many people don't use that power to their advantage. 🙂
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Thanks M. J. for stopping by! And thanks for helping out with the A to Z Challenge. 🙂
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Oh, Zig Ziglar quotes? Those are some of the best. 🙂 And yes, I like that quote a lot. Keep up the positive attitude!
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Thanks for the support, Bekah!
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Rats! Sorry the system was messing up on you. I just went and followed your blog. 🙂 And I generally post a link to each new post on google+, except when I'm traveling and the Internet is slow… And since I'm in Asia for the month, that might be the case, but I'll try and keep up. 🙂
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