A simple attitude adjustment gets me in or out of trouble. A simple attitude adjustment also gets me in the door, or accompanied out the door.
I imagine you chuckling, having gotten yourself in and out of trouble, not wholly aware at times that you were always in control with an attitude of one type or another. Sometimes I imagine you were very much aware of how your attitude played a role – getting you in or out of trouble, in the door or out the door.
William James, one of the leading thinkers of the nineteenth century stated, “The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes.”
Yes, what William James said is old news by now and yet so many people stop short of taking advantage of this gift. This is a gift each of us was born with – the gift to alter experiences, relationships, our lives in general – when we take ownership for altering our attitudes.
Regrettably, attitudes are not as easily adjusted as the volume and color contrast on a television set using a remote control. Why not? Emotions come into play.
I am certain I am not the only person with the experience of getting in trouble, at least once in life, expressing an attitude others judge as unworkable, unattractive, negative, defensive, repulsive, below the line, mean spirited, cranky, unjustified, undignified, reactive, etc..
I am certain I am not the only person with the experience of staying out of trouble, or getting out of trouble at least once in life, expressing an attitude others judge as workable, attractive, positive, inviting, inclusive, above the line, kindhearted, pleasant, elegant, dignified, proactive, etc.
I think it is common sense to stay out of trouble and get out of trouble, rather than the alternative. Yet, each of us slips from time to time, demonstrating very little emotional intelligence in the moment, being in effect of emotions. Rather than letting emotions lead, self-management is the best approach. When you become aware you are in effect of your emotions, letting your emotions run you: breathe, contemplate, adjust
A simple attitude adjustment requires self-management. Self-management is attainable with relative ease when a person makes self-care a priority while practicing strategies for heightening and maintaining self-awareness with regularity. This takes leadership.
To learn how to: (1) make self-care a priority, (2) increase self-awareness in a relatively short period of time, (3) heighten and maintain self-awareness, make a request for this information in an email to: info@extraordinarylearning.com