WHY ATTITUDE

I want to talk about attitude because from very personal and painful experiences I have found that for success in all areas of life, attitude is much more important than aptitude. People who cultivate consistently positive attitudes expect great things...work hard for those things...and are more likely to achieve them. In fact, research by psychologist Martin Seligman of the University of Pennsylvania revealed that optimistic people are happier, healthier and more successful than those with a negative outlook on life.

A new branch of medicine—psychoneuroimmunology—studies the relationship between mental attitude and health. Physicians have found that a positive attitude can result in faster recovery from surgery and burns...more resistance to arthritis and cancer... improved immune function, and yes help you live a healthier, happier and even wealthier life! The reason for this is that our brain-produces substances—neuropeptides—which transmit chemical messages that direct our immune system. When you think positively, these messages enhance our immune system and enable us to stay healthy. On the other hand when you are depressed, they tell your body, Why bother? As a result we get even more depressed and it becomes a vicious cycle.

HOW TO DEVELOP AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

It's important for you to recognize that a positive attitude does not pop into your mind by itself. How you feel is a decision you have to make every day. If you feel down, you must force yourself to look around and find something to feel good about. One way I have found very helpful, is to start out each day in a positive way. Here is how:

Use a clock radio that plays Athan that is soft and pleasant to wake you up. Don't use a loud alarm clock.

Allow yourself enough time to prepare for the day's activities at a civilized pace. Don't get up at the last possible moment.

Think of three specific things you can be grateful for while sitting on the "throne." Do this every day! Don't worry about how original you are.

Keep a positive, motivational book in your bath room near the throne. (A great one is Make it a Winning Life: Success Strategies for Life, Love and Business, by yours truly. Another is any of the Chicken Soup books by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen). Any time you feel down, turn to an inspirational part and give yourself an instant pick-me-up.

Think about the positive things you expect to accomplish today. Don't listen to news of the world's problems or worry about your own problems while you are getting your day started.

Eat a healthy breakfast. Don't drug yourself with only coffee or cigarettes.

If you read the paper while eating breakfast, skip the negative "stinking thinking" news. Skim the headlines to keep yourself informed. Read the comics before you put the paper away, and be sure to make yourself laugh. Yes, I said MAKE yourself laugh!

Find something positive to say to your children and be sure to tell them how much you love them before they or you leave home. Don't pick on them as the last thing you do before you see them off to school.

As you go about your day's activities, become aware of your thoughts. Any time a negative thought, anger, or sadness creeps into your mind substitute a positive thought in its place.

When you think positively about yourself, you work harder at what you want to do—and give up less easily. You make a better impression on others, which encourages them to help you.

When you think more positively about your colleagues, employees, spouse and children, you build stronger and more productive relationships—leading to greater success at work and at home.

This is really important because your mind can only hold one thought at any one time. It can be a positive or a negative thought. It is YOUR choice. Don't give that choice to anyone or anything else!

SETTING YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS

Nothing enhances a positive attitude more than success., so regard success as the normal state of affairs—and the lack of success as the exception.

* Prepare for the worst, and expect the best. Life is tough. For example my Superwoman, that's the young lady I have been married to for 29 years, has had cancer twice in her life, and twice in the same part of her body. But if you met her you would never know it, because she is one of the most positive people I have ever met. Be sure to mentally prepare yourself for life's down turns, because there are going to be many. Even more importantly be sure to always expect the best, because most of the time you and I get what we expect, at least over the long term. Remember it's not what happens to you, it's what you do about it that really counts.

* Avoid perfectionism. Very few things are perfect in this world, so be sure to recognize that falling short of perfection, even making mistakes, is not failure. It's a lesson learned. Learn it, and then get on with life. Remember that there is no such thing as failure—only outcomes. If your efforts produce an outcome that is less successful than you had hoped, don't say, I'm a failure. Instead, say, I'll change what I did wrong and next time I'll do better.

* Focus on the future. You can't change the past, but if you decide where you want to go in the future, and how you want things to be different in the future, you will give yourself the best chance of getting there. Always aim high, and you too will master your daily trials more effectively and make it a more positive and winning life.

© 1999 Wolf J. Rinke