Tag Archives: #attitude

Spirituality, Uncategorized

Holiday Legacy

The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are fastly approaching. Are you ready? My office has a luncheon planned for tomorrow. I’m bringing salad which means I’m going to the store to buy three bags of salad. Oh joy!

The holidays bring on a sense of dread for me. By admitting this I know I sound like Ebenezer Scrooge or someone like him, and my personality is far from him. The holidays were always a disappointment for me when I was a child. So as much as I love the season, I’m glad when they are over. This is the holiday legacy my family left me with.

But…things can change. I have tried to flip the script for my children so they have a better experience. But I gotta admit those Hallmark movies are not the goal I’m trying to reach. I want to leave a legacy of warmth and love, not perfection. Togetherness over stress.

If you feel the same way about the holidays, know that you aren’t alone. Changing perspective is possible. It begins with our attitude…

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Spirituality

Interesting Interactions

Yesterday I flew from Austin to New Orleans, Louisiana on Southwest Airlines. I don’t like to fly Southwest for a variety of reasons. The airline has open seating, the planes are packed, and the fleet is old. However, yesterday was a pleasant surprise!

The first surprise was that the plane wasn’t full. Second, the jet was new. Finally, I struck up a conversation with a fascinating young woman and it made the flight very interesting. She is a writer who has created a great story for film which I got her to share with me.

I listened, fascinated by her ability to make me see the story come to life in my mind. Her characters had depth and her storytelling was well thought out. Making a film is challenging. My hope is that her film gets produced. Hollywood needs new, exciting creative ideas!

The final surprise was my own reflection on myself. When I arrived at the airport I was counting the minutes until the flight would be over. My attitude needed work. Had I kept the same mindset I would have missed this wonderful conversation.

You never know who you might meet. Be ready!

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Spirituality

Chores

Today is trash day! It seems like life is a never ending to-do list of stuff to cross off the list: laundry, empty the dishwasher, pay bills, and, of course, take the trash out. But here’s a different perspective on chores.

There are people who would love to be physically able to do the mundane stuff we complain about. Either they haven’t taken good enough care of themselves or they are disabled, but whatever the reason they just can’t make it through. What we take for granted, they cherish.

My encouragement to you is to look forward to taking out the trash. Or emptying the dishwasher. Or doing laundry. Or walking to the mailbox. Turn the things you dread into celebrations. Yes, I said it. Look forward to the boring, mundane but necessary to-do list. Focus on how good you feel after crossing something off your list.

It’s all attitude…

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Spirituality

Re-entry

If you are reading this it means you woke up this morning. Are you a morning person or a night owl? I’m both! I like to say I burn the candles at both ends, and also the middle.

Start your day with enthusiasm, knowing that every day you awaken God isn’t finished with you and your mission in this life. No matter what you are facing today and every day, having a positive attitude and a strong sense of self-confidence will get you through it.

You might be going through a rough period right now. It’s important to remember that you have gotten through every difficult period you have faced before. Your life can turn on a moment’s notice. You must keep pushing yourself to get to your next moment. Don’t give up.

Life is rarely easy on this side of eternity. But there are bright moments. Be the one who brings the light…

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#inspiration

Self Pity

There is a character from Winnie the Pooh who constantly looks on the dark side of life. He pities himself that “nobody minds. Nobody cares.” Eeyore is who I’m talking about. He speaks in monotones and doesn’t have an uplifting word for anyone.

We all know people like Eeyore. They wallow in self-pity, always moaning about how things never work out for them. Someone was rude or short with them at work. Perhaps a sales clerk wasn’t as helpful as they wished they had been. These types of people should consider the problem might be themselves. Our attitude comes through in the way we speak and act.

Take a moment to consider which character from Pooh you identify with. For me it’s Tigger. Who is it for you?

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#inspiration

Redirect

For years I have been writing and speaking about controlling our thoughts. It’s challenging, I know, but it can be done.

Here is a solid way to begin the habit of controlling your thinking. I call it redirection. Whenever a potentially destructive thought or impulse enters your mind, instead of acting on it simply do the opposite. You don’t feel like exercising? Visualize yourself looking fit and do it anyway. You want to eat something that isn’t good for your body and overall health? Remember your fit physique visual. Over time, your mind will manifest your new way of thinking.

I get that our minds can seem like they are completely out of control. They really aren’t. You have control of your attitude which will direct your thoughts. Thoughts become actions.

Try it with just one bad habit you want to change. Stick with it and you’ll see the desired results…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

Scared

What scares you? I’m not talking about physical dangers like air turbulence or being stranded. I’m asking what scares you emotionally.

A majority of people fear change. Yet, change is inevitable, so embrace it, don’t fear it. Loss of loved ones is another thing people fear. Whenever a young person’s life ends suddenly, all of us who are parents are reminded that it could happen to us. But the probability is extremely low. Don’t focus on it.

Face your fears, otherwise they will control you. We fear what we can’t control, but the only thing we have control over is our attitude. Look to the future with unbridled optimism and hope. That attitude will keep you free from anxiety about life. You will see the future through a different lens. Stay hopeful…

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#inspiration

Taking Control

I saw someone post a link to a book titled, “The Six Steps to Taking Control of Your Life.” Guess what? You already possess the six steps, whatever they are.

We are in control of one thing: our attitude. It’s our attitude that determines the decisions we make in our lives, which determines our outcomes. If our attitude says, “by working hard I will achieve everything I want to achieve,” then we go to work! But if our attitude makes us think we deserve things just for showing up, we are liable to be disappointed.

You control everything, and everything begins with your mindset. If you want more from life than you are receiving, shift your mindset…

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#inspiration

Positive Thinking

Millions of books have been written about positive thinking. Millions more will be written. And we know too well that popular saying, “Let go. Let God.” That sounds great until you have to actually do it.

Ceding our desire to control is scary. We want our lives to have happy endings, so we try to control outcomes. Controlling things we have no control over doesn’t work.

Our Creator gives us control over one thing: our attitude. Keep yours focused on whatever is good, right and noble. That’s better than any self-help book…

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