Managers tell salespeople their attitude controls their sales. Counselors tell couples to change their attitude, and their relationship will improve. Doctors tell patients we’ve done all we can; now it’s up to you.
All things being equal, the person with the best attitude will win. Other things not being equal, the person with the best attitude usually wins.
You would think that anything that packs this much power would be a subject that is taught from a young age. And yet, if you asked the next ten people you meet what attitude means, you would probably get ten different answers.
However, when you have a good, clear understanding of what attitude is and how attitudes are formed, it will become apparent very quickly that only a small percentage of the population is in control of their attitude.
So, if you’re like most people, you have not taken control of your attitude.
But if you’re not controlling it, who or what is?
If not you, then who?
The media, other people, and the conditions and circumstances of their life control most people’s attitude.
Of course, that’s not good since attitude has such a tremendous effect on the quality of our lives.
So, let’s talk about what attitude is and how you can use this information to shift any aspect of your life.
What is attitude?
Your attitude is the composite of your thoughts, feelings, and actions:
• Thoughts: Your conscious mind can accept, reject, or ignore ANY idea that flows into your consciousness.
Any idea that your conscious mind accepts and internalizes (consciously or unconsciously assimilates) has an effect on your physical body, as explained below.
• Feelings: The nature of the idea that you internalize is impressed on your subconscious mind and determines the vibration of your body. Another word for vibration is the feeling that you express.
If the idea is negative, you will express negative emotions. However, if it is positive, your emotions or vibrations will be positive.
• Actions: The body, which is the instrument of the mind, is the only medium through which the conscious and subconscious mind working together are able to express themselves.
Whatever idea is impressed upon the subconscious mind MUST be expressed through the vibration of the molecules in the body. When that vibration becomes strong, the body must move into actions that attract people and circumstances that are vibrating at the same frequency.
The environment is your looking glass
Your environment can only return to you what is corresponding to what you’re sending out.
And what you’re sending out is your attitude (the composite of your thoughts, feelings, and actions). The environment acts as a mirror and sends that energy right back.
If you see a reflection from your environment that you don’t like, it’s your opportunity to make a new decision and to shift your attitude.
If you’re not sure what your attitude is, look at your results. Attitude and results follow one another like night follows day.
What I mean by that is: one is the cause, the other is the effect. If you think in negative terms (cause), you will get negative results (effect); if you think in positive terms, you will achieve positive results.
Ralph Waldo Emerson reiterated that same point when he said, “A person is what they think about all day long.” The results you achieve in life are nothing more than an expression of your thoughts, feelings, and actions.
If you don’t like the results you’re getting in life, change what you are sending out. Your attitude is something you have control over ALL the time.
When your attitude shifts, everything in your world shifts
As you can see, your attitude is determined by the nature of the ideas that you choose and permit yourself to internalize (or, as we often say, what you get emotionally involved with). Then, the physical expression is automatic.
It doesn’t matter if the choice is conscious or unconscious. Now, you can say, “I didn’t know,” but that’s too bad; you lose. In life, there is no allowance for ignorance. It is what it is.
You can’t fake it. If you are faking a smile, enthusiasm, or friendliness, people will see through your insincerity quicker than you can imagine.
To get your desired results, your thoughts and feelings, or your conscious and subconscious mind, must be in harmony and that harmony will be expressed in your actions. You will be calm, focused, and genuine.
So I hope you clearly understand why you should never blame another person, or conditions or circumstances for any challenge you have in life…
If you are having a problem, your conscious choice is where the problem originates.
The most important investment you can make in your future happiness, success, and genius is to take time each morning to set your mindset for the day.
Read something encouraging and motivational, practice gratitude, meditate or visualize, read your goal card, practice autosuggestion.
Create the routine that is just right for you to ensure that you start with a positive outlook and a plan to choose thoughts and ideas that send out a message that is congruent with what you want to be returned to you.
To more and better,
Sandy Gallagher
