“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.
Attitude is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failure, than success, than what other people think or say or do.
It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company… a church… a home.
The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past…we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable.
The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude.”
Chuck Swindoll
It’s Thanksgiving!! So let me tell you about the power of gratitude. It has been said that our attitude is everything and I believe it is true because in a lot of ways our attitude controls our thoughts that leads to our actions that determines our destiny. And our gratitude has a tremendous ability to improve our attitude.
This November I decided to put it to the test. On Novemeber 1st I began creating a gratitude list. I did this by waking up each morning and writing down five things I am grateful for. Each new day I’d add five new things to the list and watched it grow. Today I have 120 things I am grateful for written down. And it has been amazing how thinking about my blessings changes how I am feeling. I’ve learned from personal experience that gratitude has a significant impact on my attitude and that it greatly improves it without fail.
I believe all of us, no matter how appreciative and sincere we are, take things for granted. It is just our nature to overlook all the good in our lives and all the good that surrounds us and instead focus on the few things that are bad. When we change this though, by expressing true gratitude, our vision expands, our paradigm shifts and our world improves. It seems funny that simply expressing gratitude changes our world!!
If you don’t believe this can be possible give it a try. I challenge you to express more gratitude, reflect on the good that surrounds you, and be more appreciative toward others. This Thanksgiving Holiday, I dare you to take some time to share some true thankfulness just to see how it feels. And I hope that this will lead you to develop a pattern of gratitude that will help you be more successful and more satisfied in life. Unleash the power of gratitude! Happy Thanksgiving!!
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
It is What it is...Rather it Was What it Was
“It is what is it…until I change it!”
Whether at work, or at home, or just about anywhere, a very common phrase that I often hear repeated is “It is what it is.” Though used for different reasons in different situations, saying this phrase demonstrates a lack mentality as well as an inability to shape our world. It can imply that there is nothing we can do or could have done about our circumstance or situation and therefore we must settle and learn to deal with “what it is.” I am here to write today that it may be currently “what it is” but that we do not have to accept it—because we have the power within us to change it.
The other day I used this phrase when the results came back from a certain project at work. Though not horrible, the results were less than I was hoping for. After saying this phrase I realized that so much more could have been done to prevent the less than stellar results. I also realized that I did not have to accept these result moving forward and that I could now learn from my mistakes to ensure future results for future projects were improved.
To illustrate another story, recently a friend of mine hoping to receive a promotion at work used this phrase when he failed to gain what he had hoped for. In a state of futility he said it with a look of defeat. I encouraged him not to give up, though at this point he seems to be content with settling with the fate that has been handed him. When we take this approach it may truly remain “what it is,” we need to realize though that it doesn’t have to.
In all honesty I am guilty of using this phrase too often. However, I am now adding to it when I say it. Instead of simply saying the phrase I always add “it is what it is for now but that doesn’t mean I can’t change it!” This builds in my mind the understanding that things can change and that I can shape my own results and outcomes in life. I do not have to settle or accept things I am not satisfied with in my life.
In my experience it often is what it is over a long period of time for two reasons. First, we lack the determination and patience it requires to change “what it is” and second, we lack the confidence that it can be done. One or both of these two things hold us back and truly make it “what it is” for us. But again, we do not have to allow “what it is” to be permanent. Though it may take time and effort to realize our dreams, with a steady focus and determination, knowing we have the ability to accomplish anything we put our mind to, we can eventually always change “what it is.”
One of the simple joys in life is moving this phrase from the present to the past. Through confidence, hard work and sometimes patience, we can change It is what it is to It was what it was until I changed it. The power is within us to achieve our goals and to not settle for anything less.
Whether at work, or at home, or just about anywhere, a very common phrase that I often hear repeated is “It is what it is.” Though used for different reasons in different situations, saying this phrase demonstrates a lack mentality as well as an inability to shape our world. It can imply that there is nothing we can do or could have done about our circumstance or situation and therefore we must settle and learn to deal with “what it is.” I am here to write today that it may be currently “what it is” but that we do not have to accept it—because we have the power within us to change it.
The other day I used this phrase when the results came back from a certain project at work. Though not horrible, the results were less than I was hoping for. After saying this phrase I realized that so much more could have been done to prevent the less than stellar results. I also realized that I did not have to accept these result moving forward and that I could now learn from my mistakes to ensure future results for future projects were improved.
To illustrate another story, recently a friend of mine hoping to receive a promotion at work used this phrase when he failed to gain what he had hoped for. In a state of futility he said it with a look of defeat. I encouraged him not to give up, though at this point he seems to be content with settling with the fate that has been handed him. When we take this approach it may truly remain “what it is,” we need to realize though that it doesn’t have to.
In all honesty I am guilty of using this phrase too often. However, I am now adding to it when I say it. Instead of simply saying the phrase I always add “it is what it is for now but that doesn’t mean I can’t change it!” This builds in my mind the understanding that things can change and that I can shape my own results and outcomes in life. I do not have to settle or accept things I am not satisfied with in my life.
In my experience it often is what it is over a long period of time for two reasons. First, we lack the determination and patience it requires to change “what it is” and second, we lack the confidence that it can be done. One or both of these two things hold us back and truly make it “what it is” for us. But again, we do not have to allow “what it is” to be permanent. Though it may take time and effort to realize our dreams, with a steady focus and determination, knowing we have the ability to accomplish anything we put our mind to, we can eventually always change “what it is.”
One of the simple joys in life is moving this phrase from the present to the past. Through confidence, hard work and sometimes patience, we can change It is what it is to It was what it was until I changed it. The power is within us to achieve our goals and to not settle for anything less.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Time to Give
“When we help someone climb a mountain, we are nearer to the top ourselves.”
Thomas Monson
One of the greatest secrets in life is the success and happiness that comes from helping others. Giving of our self unconditionally magically creates self-confidence, self-worth, and gratification. It also leads to greater success in life. Simply giving however is not the secret rather it is the way we give that matters.
Many of us give with the idea that we will get something in return. In fact, many give only because they expect something in return. Giving with “strings attached” can create ill feelings—feelings that are exactly opposite of what is normally produced when giving in the right way. Strings attached giving can lead to worry, fear, or anger. We may worry, what if I don’t get the return I expected or what if the clear benefit really doesn’t justify the amount I am giving. When we give with strings attached, we lose the chance to gain the wonderful blessing that come from giving. In fact giving with strings attached creates a lack mentality in our minds which usually leads to unnecessary stress.
On the other hand, when we give unconditionally we enjoy feelings of abundance. These feelings help us feel good about the world, they increase our belief in ourselves, and they make us want to give more. In fact, studies have proven that giving in the right way leads to greater success. I’ve found that giving unconditionally boosts confidence as well as a desire to succeed. It helps us to be optimistic, to feel satisfaction, and gives us a sense of making a “difference” in this world. Though somewhat counterintuitive giving of ourselves freely actually helps us have greater results. For when we give in the right way the good it produces in us always outweighs the sacrifice and effort it took to give.
So, are we giving and helping others? And if so is it with “strings attached” or unconditional? Learning to give in the right way will only help us in the end in achieving our goals and realizing the happiness we seek in life. That is why for us there should always be time to give. Because giving leads to success.
Thomas Monson
One of the greatest secrets in life is the success and happiness that comes from helping others. Giving of our self unconditionally magically creates self-confidence, self-worth, and gratification. It also leads to greater success in life. Simply giving however is not the secret rather it is the way we give that matters.
Many of us give with the idea that we will get something in return. In fact, many give only because they expect something in return. Giving with “strings attached” can create ill feelings—feelings that are exactly opposite of what is normally produced when giving in the right way. Strings attached giving can lead to worry, fear, or anger. We may worry, what if I don’t get the return I expected or what if the clear benefit really doesn’t justify the amount I am giving. When we give with strings attached, we lose the chance to gain the wonderful blessing that come from giving. In fact giving with strings attached creates a lack mentality in our minds which usually leads to unnecessary stress.
On the other hand, when we give unconditionally we enjoy feelings of abundance. These feelings help us feel good about the world, they increase our belief in ourselves, and they make us want to give more. In fact, studies have proven that giving in the right way leads to greater success. I’ve found that giving unconditionally boosts confidence as well as a desire to succeed. It helps us to be optimistic, to feel satisfaction, and gives us a sense of making a “difference” in this world. Though somewhat counterintuitive giving of ourselves freely actually helps us have greater results. For when we give in the right way the good it produces in us always outweighs the sacrifice and effort it took to give.
So, are we giving and helping others? And if so is it with “strings attached” or unconditional? Learning to give in the right way will only help us in the end in achieving our goals and realizing the happiness we seek in life. That is why for us there should always be time to give. Because giving leads to success.
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