What did the last blog tell you? When you read the “Life is” statements, how did you react to each one? As much fun as some of these little phrases are, they are also a window into the soul. They tell us and the world our beliefs and convictions. In a word, our ATTITUDE.
Who ever coined the phrase “Life is too short,” certainly knew what he or she was talking about. It really is too short, much too short to spend a minute wasted on mimicking the attitudes of others, unless they are good. A great attitude does much more than turn on the lights in our world. It seems to magically connect us to countless serendipitous opportunities that were somehow absent before the change. Yes, change.
I find I must change my attitude on a daily, sometimes hourly basis, 24/7/365. Why? Because fully 75% of my thoughts and information that comes to me from the world is negative. Don’t believe me? Pick up ANY major metropolitan newspaper and read the top 10 stories. 7/10 are negative, fear based. I never, let me repeat, never read the front page of any newspaper. I sit in Starbucks and watch every third customer walk up to the newstand and read the headlines and never pick up the paper. That’s input. That forms their world view. Occasionally I will interrupt them, pick up the paper, remove the front section and hand it to them. They step back feeling guilty. Like they have been caught doing something wrong. “Take it!” I say. I never read the front section….it’s all bad!”
Now, some bold claims. You tell me if you agree with them.
It’s your attitude, at the beginning of any difficult task or project more than anything else, will bring about its successful outcome. Your attitude toward others determines their attitude towards you. Life is a merciless mirror. It reflects back what we send out. We are all interdependent on others.
The success we achieve depends upon how well we relate to others. Before you can achieve the kind of life you want, you must think, act, talk and conduct yourself in all your affairs as would the person you wish to become. Act as if. Think as if. Talk as if. Be as if.
What if you kept a mental and emotional picture of the kind of person you wish to become as often as possible, say three times a day? (each time you eat, look at your written description instead of the newspaper!)
In my experience and observation working with CEO’s and owners of companies, the higher you go in any organization, the better the attitudes. They have their position because of their attitude, not the other way around. Their success is due in large part because of a great mental attitude. They are consistently grateful and expectant.
The deepest craving in the human condition is the need to be appreciated, respected and understood. Self Worth. Self Esteem. To feel important. Be the person who is the GOOD-Finder in others.
If you find yourself nodding in agreement the five observations above, and have decided you could us a “Check-Up from the Neck-Up” you will want to keep reading.
How to Change Your Attitude, Enjoy the Journey and Improve Your Interpersonal Effectiveness and Opportunity!
If you choose to make the following principles a habit knit part of you, it will change your life and the lives of the people you touch each day.
1. Be Grateful. Life is short. It’s later than you think! For most people, life is a three act play. The average is 75 years for men, 82 year for women. Listen up fellas, Act One: 0-25 years. Act Two: 26-50 years. Act Three: 51 to 75. 75 years = 27,375 days; 657,000 hours; 39,420,000 minutes; 2,365,200,000 seconds. Are you investing your time wisely? Life is short!
2. Expect the best. If you decide to, you can enjoy the journey and make certain the best will continue to come to you. It’s not what happens but how you respond. Knocked down? Get back up! Feeling blue? Go help someone worse off than you. Out of shape? Start walking daily and eat the way you know you should (smaller portions, quality foods)
3. Stop wasting your time talking about your problems unless it’s with someone who can help you change them. Stop talking about your health unless its with a doctor or trainer. It won’ help you, it can’t help others. Change the subject (or run the other way) when someone tries to pull you into their negativity.
4.Radiate an attitude of well being and confidence. An attitude of someone who knows where he or she is going. You will find all sorts of great things happening to you. Take an honest look at your associations. Are they anchors or speedboats? Positive or negative. You are guilty by association.
5. Last but not least, treat everyone you meet as the most important person on earth. Become a GOOD-Finder. Ask questions and dominate the listening. Show them respect, appreciation and understanding. It’s the Golden Rule. Model the attitude you want. Find people with great attitudes and make the time to talk with them.
“Life is a dream for the wise, a game for the fool, a comedy for the poor.”
Sholem Aleichem
“You live and learn. At any rate, you live.”
Douglas Adams
“Not a shred of evidence exists in favor of the idea that life is serious.”
Brendan Gill
“The meaning of life is that it stops.”
Franz Kafka
Thanks for reading. Make it a great day. I intend to. It’s all about ATTITUDE!
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Life is…(Part Two)
by Mark Matteson on July 16, 2010 in Commentary
What did the last blog tell you? When you read the “Life is” statements, how did you react to each one? As much fun as some of these little phrases are, they are also a window into the soul. They tell us and the world our beliefs and convictions. In a word, our ATTITUDE.
Who ever coined the phrase “Life is too short,” certainly knew what he or she was talking about. It really is too short, much too short to spend a minute wasted on mimicking the attitudes of others, unless they are good. A great attitude does much more than turn on the lights in our world. It seems to magically connect us to countless serendipitous opportunities that were somehow absent before the change. Yes, change.
I find I must change my attitude on a daily, sometimes hourly basis, 24/7/365. Why? Because fully 75% of my thoughts and information that comes to me from the world is negative. Don’t believe me? Pick up ANY major metropolitan newspaper and read the top 10 stories. 7/10 are negative, fear based. I never, let me repeat, never read the front page of any newspaper. I sit in Starbucks and watch every third customer walk up to the newstand and read the headlines and never pick up the paper. That’s input. That forms their world view. Occasionally I will interrupt them, pick up the paper, remove the front section and hand it to them. They step back feeling guilty. Like they have been caught doing something wrong. “Take it!” I say. I never read the front section….it’s all bad!”
Now, some bold claims. You tell me if you agree with them.
If you find yourself nodding in agreement the five observations above, and have decided you could us a “Check-Up from the Neck-Up” you will want to keep reading.
How to Change Your Attitude, Enjoy the Journey and Improve Your Interpersonal Effectiveness and Opportunity!
If you choose to make the following principles a habit knit part of you, it will change your life and the lives of the people you touch each day.
1. Be Grateful. Life is short. It’s later than you think! For most people, life is a three act play. The average is 75 years for men, 82 year for women. Listen up fellas, Act One: 0-25 years. Act Two: 26-50 years. Act Three: 51 to 75. 75 years = 27,375 days; 657,000 hours; 39,420,000 minutes; 2,365,200,000 seconds. Are you investing your time wisely? Life is short!
2. Expect the best. If you decide to, you can enjoy the journey and make certain the best will continue to come to you. It’s not what happens but how you respond. Knocked down? Get back up! Feeling blue? Go help someone worse off than you. Out of shape? Start walking daily and eat the way you know you should (smaller portions, quality foods)
3. Stop wasting your time talking about your problems unless it’s with someone who can help you change them. Stop talking about your health unless its with a doctor or trainer. It won’ help you, it can’t help others. Change the subject (or run the other way) when someone tries to pull you into their negativity.
4.Radiate an attitude of well being and confidence. An attitude of someone who knows where he or she is going. You will find all sorts of great things happening to you. Take an honest look at your associations. Are they anchors or speedboats? Positive or negative. You are guilty by association.
5. Last but not least, treat everyone you meet as the most important person on earth. Become a GOOD-Finder. Ask questions and dominate the listening. Show them respect, appreciation and understanding. It’s the Golden Rule. Model the attitude you want. Find people with great attitudes and make the time to talk with them.
“Life is a dream for the wise, a game for the fool, a comedy for the poor.”
Sholem Aleichem
“You live and learn. At any rate, you live.”
Douglas Adams
“Not a shred of evidence exists in favor of the idea that life is serious.”
Brendan Gill
“The meaning of life is that it stops.”
Franz Kafka
Thanks for reading. Make it a great day. I intend to. It’s all about ATTITUDE!
Tags: attitude, Brendan Gill, Douglas Adams, Franz Kafka, respect, self esteem, self worth, Sholem Aleichem