A Kick in the Attitude for 2008!
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by Sam Glenn
http://www.samglenn.com
The new year presents a benchmark for us to
make new resolutions, set goals and live better. But, where does
achieving this really start? The last place people look is in
the nerve center of their attitude. This is where it starts.
Attitude is the life line that flows through our mind and
behaviors that determines if we give up or stick with it,
achieve our goals or fall short. If our attitude is poor and
weak, so too will be our results. But, if our attitude is rich
with energy and passion, we will stick to achieving our
resolutions and ultimately get the results we want.
I have a simple philosophy, make a decision
to put a kick into your attitude everyday. That kick is what
drives your attitude to work at it’s best. What happens is
life has a way of knocking the kick out of us, which is our
enthusiasm, drive, focus and energy. Putting a little kick into
your attitude is easy and doesn’t take a lot of time, actually
less than 5 minutes a day. Lets lay out 6 Attitude Kickers to
keep your attitude working for you in 2008.
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1. Feed your attitude daily.
Whatever you feed your attitude is what it becomes. Your attitude is
something that is always at work – working for you or against you –
personally and professionally. It’s the first thing people experience
when they meet you. What you feed your mind will be processed and output
through your work, relationships and life. If you don’t like your
behavior (your output), then you need to begin to change your input.
Begin to read good material. Listen to positive words and music.
Surround yourself with people of character. This means you have to get
rid of some of the "trash" – the negative stuff you are
feeding your life. A lot of times we want to change others or
situations, but the key is in knowing that we can’t... But that we can
change ourselves and our attitude by how we deal with others and
situations.
2. Keep Your Right Mind.
It’s easy to lose your right mind when you get stressed out and
frustrated. You want to snap at people, your blood boils and you become
toxic. The key is finding what keeps you in perspective. When you lose
perspective, you lose yourself. Years ago, I lost my perspective; I sold
my car to pay for gas. The key to keeping your right mind is to step
away from any situation that is making you hot - Take some deep breaths.
Take a shower. Go for a walk. Rest. Separating yourself from something
that frustrates you is healthy because it allows you to think over your
response, so you don’t overreact. When you overreact, nothing good can
come from it. Overreactions equal regrets.
3. Renew Your Mind & Muscles
Its hard to keep going when there is nothing fueling the fire. We live
in times where its rush, go, do. So relaxing is not our societal custom.
Think it about it like this, if you rely on a cell phone daily, you
understand you have to recharge it daily. You give your phone a break to
refuel. If you want to rely on your best self, you need to take a break.
Find what relaxes you; meditation, reading, a shower, walk, a nap.
Thomas Edison had a cot in his office and he would take power naps
during the day to recharge his mind. I am not suggesting you bring your
bed to work, but find ways to just relax your mind and muscles. Let them
recharge and regain energy. The value is fresh ideas, solutions and
empowering thoughts will fill your mind.
The human body can also help determine the state of our attitude. When
we are tired, hungry or overly stressed, then our attitude will struggle
and be susceptible to taking on negative forms. That is why you need to
eat well, sleep right and exercise regularly. Your body will thank you
for these actions by releasing good chemicals such as endorphins that
will give you a natural high, and help you sleep better, fight off
depression, and release unmanaged stress, as well as give you a clear
mind to think better, which will help you respond better to whatever
information comes your way.
4. Practice. Practice. Practice.
Whatever you want to transpire in your life, you have to do it over and
over and over again. Developing a proactive attitude begins by making a
choice that when life throws you a wrench, you will respond with grace,
and treat the “problem” as an “opportunity” to learn and
overcome. This doesn’t mean you can’t ever be upset or frustrated,
but you will not benefit from the situation by reacting and spiraling
with your negative emotions, but by recognizing the potential for
growth, and acting on your faith that there is something better to come
from the situation. You have to step back and incorporate a positive
attitude form. It will help you get over, above, and beyond the
situation faster and with a greater profit potential.
5. Get Over Yourself
What limits us greatly in sticking to our resolutions, achieving our
goals and attaining the results we desire can be found in the personal
limitations we place on ourselves. Sometimes we need that kick to get
over the limitations we have created - like doubt, anger, being
reactive, laziness, negativity, complaining, criticizing, and excuses.
If you have ever watched Dr. Phil, when he deals with people with
issues, its about identifying the issue and doing something about it –
taking a positive action. That positive action is dealing with it so it
no longer ties us down or defeats us. The greatest limitations are not
outside us. They are inside us. Take a moment and evaluate, what’s
limiting you. What limitation keeps biting you over and over? What about
you do you need to get over, so you can get on with living your best
life now.
6. Challenge Yourself.
Personal growth comes when we are challenged. A wise person once said,
“What we ignore becomes weak and what we give attention to gains
strength and life.” I want to challenge you to give attention to your
attitude for the next seven days. Catch yourself when you feel a
negative thought forming in your mind to change it before it overtakes
you. See if you get the results you desire. Be proactive about
cultivating a positive attitude and see if the process profits your
personal relationships, work, and life. Make some changes to what you
put into your mind. See if that makes a difference.
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