Attitude

“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.  Attitude, to me, is more important than facts.  It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think, 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 every day regarding the attitude we 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 the one string we have, and that is our attitude… I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.”   Charles Swindoll

The above quote is by Charles Swindoll.  It is one of the most profound statements that could make one enjoy life if heeded positively.  A person with a bad attitude lives a miserable life full of regret.

The most important point of this statement is that the individual has complete control over their attitude.

Attitude leads to behavior.  One’s behavior defines their character.  Character is defined by those who interact with you.  Others see the good, bad, and ugly.  The workplace, where one spends a large portion of the day, is where one’s attitude is witnessed consistently.  The place where one’s true attitude is witnessed is at home with family.  Home is where people let down their guard completely.  Family witnesses one’s attitude most clearly and consistently.

Attitude is developed by one’s thoughts (mind) and feelings (spirit) both of which are influenced by their relationship with God who created them.  A good relationship with God spills over resulting in good relationships with people.  A poor relationship with God spills over resulting in bad relationships.  This is fact.

A good relationship with God is centered around love.  Love is what fills our emotional “cup”; when it is full, it overflows with love to others.  A bad relationship with God is centered around “self”; when it is full, it overflows with self to others.

Filling ourselves with God and His love gives us an attitude that spills over to others representing our relationship with the God we serve, the Most High or ourself.