You’ve undoubtedly heard the expression about getting out of the wrong side of the bed. It means someone has a bad attitude for the day, implying if they had chosen to roll out of the bed the opposite way they would be happy and positive instead of grumpy and sporting a bad attitude. In reality, attitude does come down to choice. We do control how we react to things and how we choose to present an attitude to the world and the events of the world. Most of us do seem to have natural inclinations more toward optimism or pessimism, seeing the glass half full or half empty, but we can learn to work with—or against—those natural inclinations, refiltering to improve our outlook and reactions.
There are instances where we aren’t in control of how we react; hormones can do amazing things to our tear ducts and our temperaments. But with those exceptions and a few others, we can stop, use our head and yes even our hearts and emotions and change our attitudes and improve how life looks and what we are getting out of it.
If we see everyone against us, they are. If we reach to help others, most will reach out to help us. Not all things will be rosy; putting on rose colored glasses and looking at the world unrealistically is not going to help you, but taking a chip off your shoulder will certainly improve your prospects for accomplishing your goals and objectives.
A positive attitude translates into an aura of confidence and a persona of approachability and people will want to be with you and to help you. The only time positives and negatives attract are battery connections and magnets. If you want positive things to happen, do and project positive things.
Don’t Accept Less
One of the other challenges we face in changing our lives and our attitudes is that we frequently accept less than we deserve: less respect, less salary, less credit, less of everything. This doesn’t mean we should be demanding or overvalue our skills or contributions, but we should be willing to stand up for ourselves and ask for no less than and I hate to use the phrase but our “fair share.” Women have historically accepted less in salary and raises and in many other areas of our lives because we’ve not been raised to ask for or expect the equivalent. We believe we should be treated equally without having to demand it, fight for it, or check to make sure we are getting it … and also without asking for it. The same is true for men in some positions, and for minorities too. The truth is that as individuals regardless of gender, race, etc. many of us leave respect and money—and success—on the table for others to achieve and receive because our own attitude and perspective are skewed to believe we can’t get it, we can’t achieve it or we don’t deserve it.
Look around and you will see someone from every background and every race and other discriminated category who has “made it” in the face of the same challenges and against all the odds. What was the difference between their ability to succeed and others who haven’t? Belief, resolve … and attitude.