Category Archives: Attitude

The bond of our common humanity is stronger

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“The bond of our common humanity is stronger than the divisiveness or our fears and prejudices.”

—Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the United States

Image from whitehouse.gov

Jimmy Carter is known for his commitment and efforts to enhance human rights at home and throughout the world. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his diplomacy and promoting peace through the Carter Center.

At the age of 100, his life stands as a powerful legacy of extraordinary contributions to global welfare, inspiring others to engage in a wide range of humanitarian work.

EXERCISE:

In what ways does your attitude and efforts support the bonds of our common humanity? How do and can you partner with others in your communities to create a more peaceful and unified world for everyone?

“It’s not differences that divide us. It’s our judgements about each other that do. “

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“It’s not differences that divide us. It’s our judgements about each other that do.”

—Margaret Wheatley, American writer, speaker, and management consultant

Image from Unsplash by Andre Ouellet

This past summer 10,500 athletes from 184 counties participated in the Paris Olympic games.

Following these games, the Paralympic games were held there, featuring 22 sports including blind football, sitting volleyball, and wheelchair basketball, fencing, rugby, and tennis.

The athletes that participated in these games are not only from different countries they also experience a diverse range of physical, visual, and cognitive disabilities that impact their performance.

EXERCISE:

What lessons can we all learn about accepting and celebrating our differences from the Olympic and Paralympic athletes?

How can an attitude of our oneness help eradicate the judgements that often divide us?

“The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work.”

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“The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work.”

—Richard Bach, American author

Image from Unsplash by Shawn Rain

Where do you draw the line between work and play?

Consider the activities that you want to, get to, and have to get done.

My grandchildren recently started 1st grade and preschool. At this early point in their lives, virtually everything is play and their enthusiasm and engagement is always ready to go.

About the only things that they don’t want to do is clean up their toys and go to bed, because of their own youthful FOMO.

EXERCISE:

In what areas of your life can you shift your views on your “have to do’s” to turn them into “get to do’s” and “want to do’s”?

“I can” is 100 times more important than IQ

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“I can” is 100 times more important than IQ

—Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by Sean Quillen

When you examine the entrance requirements of our nation’s top schools, you’ll notice only a modest percentage of students are admitted.

Virtually all applicants can document top scores in standardized tests, and GPAs north of 4.0. What most of these schools also want to see is what these individuals have done with their lives through essays and interviews that highlight their extracurricular activities.

Looking beyond raw smarts and even their “I can” attitudes, these institutions are looking for folks that can humbly say “I did.”

EXERCISE:

How have you used your IQ and “I can” to prove to yourself and the world that you have done something significant and meaningful with your life?

What potential still lies within you to be and do more in the years to come?

“Attitudes are contagious. Make yours worth catching.”

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“Attitudes are contagious. Make yours worth catching.”

—Author Unknown

Image from Unsplash by Iván Díaz

At this time of year, many of us are getting email and text reminders from our local pharmacies.

You know — the ones urging you to make an appointment for your next set of vaccines to lower your risk of the flu, Covid-19, and other medical maladies going around.

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a vaccine to eliminate a bad attitude or fortify a good one?

It would likely boost your zapping energies and vanquish your sapping ones to an even healthier and happier life!

EXERCISE:

Consider reading or re-reading the book ZAPP-the Lightning of Empowerment by William C. Byham and Jeff Cox to make your positive attitude contagious heading into the holiday season and the new year.

Welcome the present moment as an invited guest

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Welcome the present moment as an invited guest.

—Calm App Reflection

Image from Unsplash by Felicia Buitenwerf

What is your typical mood and attitude in the following situations? These are examples of positive and negative “creative tension.”

  • Friday afternoons, heading into the weekend
  • Sunday nights, before a busy week at work
  • Packing for an upcoming vacation
  • Heading to your doctor for medical testing
  • Getting a clean bill of health after a physical
  • Doing your taxes
  • Learning you’re getting a sizable refund on your taxes

When we have seemingly positive events in our future we’re up, and when impending negative situations loom, we’re down.

What about all of those in-between moments that seem rather bland or neutral?

EXERCISE:

How can you improve your mood and shift your attitude by welcoming more of the moments of your life?

A friend of mine uses the phrase It’s All Good to express his daily appreciation of simply being alive.

The way you look at things is the most powerful force shaping your life

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“The way you look at things is the most powerful force shaping your life.”

—John O’ Donohue, late Irish poet, author, Hegelian philosopher

Image from Unsplash by Bradley Pisney

Today’s quote is an excellent reminder to develop and cultivate our self-awareness and mindfulness abilities.

When we choose to adopt constructive perspectives and attitudes, we can harness our powers of perception to create a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

If and when we look at things from a negative or closed mindset, we limit our abilities to navigate life’s challenges and complexities.

EXERCISE:

How can and will you exercise and develop your powers of perception to shape your life and your world for the better?

We can take a wonderful vacation in spirit, even though

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“We can take a wonderful vacation in spirit, even though we are obliged to stay at home, if we will only drop our burdens from our minds for a while.”

—Laura Ingalls Wilder, late author of Little House on the Prairie

Image from Unsplash by S’well

Taking a vacation usually means heading out on the open road and going someplace new.

There is almost always a good deal of anticipation and excitement during these times, and who doesn’t need a break from the routine trials and tribulations of everyday life?

How many days a year do you get or give yourself for actual vacations?

To what degree is it never enough before you have to return to the usual, ordinary grind?

When we go on vacations there is usually a shift in our mindset and attitude. Why is it that we wait for only a few weeks a year to give ourself permission to drop our burdens of the mind?

EXERCISE:

How could you introduce vacations of spirt into many more of your days?

How would doing so lighten your load and free your mind to lead a more richly rewarding life?

“Feelings are much like waves. We can’t stop them from coming, but we can choose which ones to surf.”

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“Feelings are much like waves. We can’t stop them from coming, but we can choose which ones to surf.”

—Johan Mårtensson, Swedish professional footballer

Image from Unsplash by Jeremy Bishop

Wendy and I recently took a 5-day Caribbean cruise with good friends.

We got an extra good deal, which included a balcony and numerous other perks.

I made it a point to sit outside throughout the day to let the sights and sounds of the ocean flow in and around me.

Between wave watching sessions, I paid particular attention to the many conversations with our shipmates.

Learning more about them — how they surfed waves and managed the high and low tides of life — was profound, endearing us to one another more than ever expected.

EXERCISE:

How have you managed and ridden the waves of your life?

What are some of the nautical lessons you’ve learned over the years to help surf the ups and downs of life?

“If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving a new one.”

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“If you don’t like the road you’re walking, start paving a new one.”

—Dolly Parton, American singer-songwriter and actress

Image from Unsplash by Greg Shield

Take two minutes to complain to yourself about your life.

If you are like most people, this short time interval may only get the ball rolling.

Now that you vocalized these items, capture them on paper or a device of your choice to work on in the coming days.

Unlike the unattended potholed roads we often travel during winter, you get to be your own paving crew to smooth out the roads of life that lead to a better future.

EXERCISE:

What areas of your life need some resurfacing?

Who are the people, and what resources will be necessary, to create an autobahn of life to get you where you want to go?