Chapter 11. The right attitude
What is attitude?
Your attitude is the way in which you respond to your environment.
How is attitude formed?
It’s mostly derived from your beliefs about you and the systems in which you exist.
How is attitude linked to motivation?
People feel more motivated when they are adding value in some way. When you
leave people feeling good, you’re adding value, and (even if it’s unconscious) you
feel more motivated about life in general. If you have a negative attitude about
everything, people will have a negative picture about you and want to avoid you.
You know this unconsciously and feel de-motivated about life as a result.
How does your own bad attitude affect you?
How much peace of mind do cynics have? How many friends do they have? How
motivated are they? You’ll feel unhappy, bitter, resentful and frustrated if your
attitude is negative.
When do you need an attitude revamp?
Your life will tell you. If things aren’t going well, perhaps you need a change of
attitude. It’s not always easy to change your attitude if life has been handing you
tough times, but there are always some benefits to these hard times. Focus on what
is right and working. Remember that there is good and bad in everyone's life. Look
for the good to appreciate life and don't let the bad take over your attitude.
A bad attitude can be fixed. If you think about your successes, attitude is not
everything, but it certainly plays a large role. Consider the following two scenarios:
Scenario 1: Your boss walks into the office and says he has an important job
for you. You sigh. Your shoulders slump. You think, “Why has be picked on
me?” You groan as you think about the fact that you don’t have all the
knowledge you need. You procrastinate. You do a half-hearted job and hand
it in late.Scenario 2: Your boss walks into the office, talks to the guy in the cubicle next
door, and says he has an important job for him. He jumps up, shoulders
straight and says, “Bring it on!” (You think he’s such a jerk!) He doesn’t have