The Power of Attitude

By Arikanki Esther 

Have you ever wondered why people seem to distance themselves from you, or you probably don’t know how to sustain a conversation, and somehow you feel it is the other party's fault? Let’s take it from this route: think about this, would you enjoy hanging out with someone with a bad attitude, who frowns at everything and everyone? Well, in this little article, you will find solutions to your pressing questions and understand that your attitude and the aura you build around you can be changed to one that suits you and draws people like a magnet. A great philosopher, William James, said that one of his greatest discoveries was seeing how attitude can transform a person and everything around them.

Attitude is a choice, and like a magnet, you attract who you are. Little wonder people with a positive attitude always find others drawn to them, they make others feel better around them. Although everyone has an attitude, not everyone has the same attitude. Some individuals’ attitudes propel them forward, helping them deal with challenges, overcome obstacles, and accomplish their objectives. Others have attitudes that act like anchors, slowing them down or stopping them altogether. Analyse yourself, what type do you have? Are you an introverted pessimist, an extroverted optimist, or the other way around?

Think about people you know who are often identified by their attitude. He has got a “can do” attitude. That Samuel is always on top of things. I don’t know how Faith does it; she can bring a smile to any situation. The people described above are the type you like to be around, aren’t they? You want them on your team, as coursemates, or as friends.

A colleague of mine faced some attitude setbacks that took a toll on her. She often thought little of herself, lowering her “self-esteem and self-pride”. She felt everyone else was better than her, which made her overly apologetic for the slightest action she took. People like this tend to distance themselves from others. They lack faith in their ability to overcome difficulties and don’t understand their power. The amazing thing about this colleague was that she wanted to change, she had the willingness to come out of it but didn’t know how. Eventually, she found a route that served as the starting point for a better attitude.

The root causes of a bad attitude are often low self-esteem, stress, fear, resentment, and anger. If you’ve noticed these traits in yourself, there is every likelihood that your attitude must be changed. Are you willing to change that bad attitude? If yes, then take these steps. Firstly, identify your pessimistic thoughts. My colleague was aware of her thoughts and attitude. The next step she took was to tell a positive person how she felt. Bottled-up feelings fester, and isolating yourself is not helpful. Share your thoughts with a trusted friend whose support and encouragement can provide added ammunition against negative thoughts.

Then, find that optimistic attitude. Understand that every turning point is a learning point. Confess your realities in Christ and keep moving forward. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude and forgiveness. Stay away from places or environments where negativity thrives. You can also utilize keys to self-motivation by making use of an attitude toolkit: affirmations, positive self-talk, enthusiastic greetings, humour, spiritual empowerment, and exercise. Confront negative words spoken by others with positive ones. If you are someone with a positive attitude, improve on it.

Your attitude is inherently interwoven into everything you do. It’s your priceless possession. The good news is you don’t have to buy it, but you do have to develop it. To transform your attitude into action, you must accept responsibility for your internal dialogue and change your perspective. Only with this can your attitude and everything around you be positively transformed.