It has been said that, "Attitude is everything." Although I haven't confirmed it yet, I can assure you it is at the top of my list. Any successes or miss-steps I have had in my life were driven by my attitude. Over time, I learned our attitudes are a direct reflection of our actions. So, if you want to change your attitude, you should start by changing your actions. We need to understand that it is our physiology that most influences our attitude. The way we stand, move and even breath determines our mental state and subsequently our attitude.
Unlike personality, attitudes are expected to change as a function of experience. Most attitudes are the result of either direct experience or observed learning from our environment. Your attitude isn't "what" happens to you; it is how you represent it to yourself and respond. Because you decide how to respond to those events, your attitude becomes a CHOICE. So, if you have the ability to choose your attitude, why not select to have a Sensational one. I am sure there are many other ways to achieve a Sensational Attitude, but here are my favorites ten. I continue to use these steps so that I may live a Sensational Life.
1.) Surround yourself with Positive People. My mother use to say, "You are who you hang out with." Those people around you will have a big impact on what you value and how you think. Eliminate the "Negative Nellie's!"
2.) Learn something new every day. You can encourage a Sensational Attitude by adding expanding yourself. My Grandfather use to say, "Do something, even if it is wrong." What he meant was experience life. Take a night class, study a new language, and learn to garden or anything else that interests you. Most people don't regret what they have done; they regret what they never did.
3.) Slow down and get back to the basics. Call an old friend, play with a pet, visit an interesting place or listen to your favorite music. You can also take a walk, read a book, take a long bath, or sit and play with children. Sometimes it is the simplest things in life that give us pleasure and remind us what is most important.
4.) Find someone to help. Whether you volunteer with an organization or just provide a random act of kindness, the act of helping others can give you joy and purpose. You may also find that you realize how lucky you compared to some and become more thankful. You will also find a higher level of self worth when you begin investing in other people.
5.) Accept the fact that things will not always go your way. If you always expect things to go perfectly, you probably spend a great deal of time being disappointed. Keeping a level head and understanding that things will go wrong and finding more productive ways to handle the situation will instantly improve your attitude. There is nothing wrong with aiming for the stars, but if you don't reach them, at least enjoy the sky around you.
6.) Include laughter in your daily diet. Whether you learn to laugh at yourself and the mistakes you make, take in a funny movie, or you go out to enjoy professional comedians, laughter is truly the best medicine. I also recommend that you learn to tell jokes. You will get a great deal of pleasure from making other people smile and laugh. It is a scientific fact that laughter reduces the chances of stroke, high blood pressure and heart attacks.
7.) Limit your exposure to mainstream media. Much of the regular nightly news is negative. They focus on information that can create an attachment to fear, negative thoughts and negative emotion. You can get important news from sources that present it in a more positive platform. Be active and filter what goes into your brain and nervous system.
8.) Program your own mind and emotions. Rather than allowing yourself to glide through life on autopilot, take control. You decide what goes into your mind by selecting books or cd's that provide positive messages and stories. Visit websites and places that are sharing inspirational stories of success and triumph rather than those of doom and failure. Schedule time to listen to speakers at events that will help you achieve rather than demoralize and handicap you.
9.) Get some exercise. You need to find physical activities you enjoy and can perform regularly. Not only is it a social avenue to experience other people, but also it has obvious benefits to your physical well being and your mental health. Regular exercise is a major tool in combating depression and will regulate your body chemistry to aid in improving your overall mood.
10.) Use Positive language. YOU are the words you use. How you speak to others and how they speak to you is important. Maybe even more important is how you speak to yourself. You need change your Self-Talk to ensure you are supportive and do not limit yourself. Stop saying, "Why does this always happen to me?" and start asking questions like, "How can I learn from this and ensure it doesn't happen any longer?"
