Welcome to Be-Attitudes and Happy New Year !
I started toying with the idea for this blog while sitting in the solarium on the Anthem of the Seas Cruise Ship in 2017. I had spent the morning soaking and relaxing in the hot tub, hoping to clear my mind. It was fogged up with the cares of the day and what awaited once we returned from Bermuda.
Like most of you, I'm always busy doing-doing-doing. I have a lot going on in my life. A lot to process. A lot I'm responsible for. A lot to do. People to see. People to care for. People to work with. People to raise. People to love. So, it has taken me some time to map out how I wanted to move forward.
Journal entry on Aug 14, 2018
Woohoo! My birthday is coming up. It's been an amazing year of personal growth and reflection on where I've been and where I'm headed. People... (I mean family, neighbors, friends, co-workers & acquaintances) often ask me how I keep a good attitude. And not just when things are good or going my way. Like for real! When life gets off track. Like when you hit a detour. Or when the door closes on a great opportunity. You know...when a health crisis arises. Or when a storm hits your relationship. And when a loved one passes. The real stuff. So, I'm going to think about that some today.
Honestly, I did just that. I began to make it a priority to take time every day to have little thinking sessions with myself…or I could end up on someone’s couch paying for a much deeper session. You should try it. Be purposed and mindful to think about what you’re thinking about. Think about your decisions. Think about your actions. Think about your attitude. Give yourself a little pep talk.
I can’t tell you how often I get asked, "How do you do it? Manage to keep smiling and keep your joy?” And the answer isn’t complicated, I'll simply reply...GRACE. The grace of God helps me keep it all in perspective. It enables me to live a peace-full and joy filled life.
But there is a simple outlook that I live by that helps me get through the day. To have a good attitude! Period. No matter what hits the fan. No matter what the kids broke. No matter the rude cashier. Not matter the bad traffic. No matter the stack of bills. Our attitudes shouldn't be dependent on our circumstances. Grace changes things and so does our attitudes. Realize that no one can make you have a bad attitude. It's your choice.
Notice, I didn't say, have the right attitude, because right is relative and subjective. How it directly or indirectly affects you, at any given time, will decide what and when it’s right for you. In a culture that is always redefining what is right and what isn’t…we have a very distorted code of acceptable behavior. Just turn on the news, or one of those reality shows. What is good, honorable, true or favorable to one person may not be for another. Or, at best, left up to your personal interpretation.
We must set our minds to have a good attitude. In spite of what we see; how we feel; or what is going on around us. A bad attitude is like a flat tire. Until you change it, you ain't going nowhere. I believe that the key to living a reality where we have substance in our actions is simply this…
Changing our behavior starts with changing our attitudes.
Then we can become all that we were created to be.
The best version of me! Now that's a goal for the new year.
“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”
– Maya Angelou
The smallest change can transform your life in so many ways. Over time, these tiny tweaks will turn your whole world around. The acronym A.C.T is a call to action! As you become aware, then you can beware of those bad attitudes, then do something different. Change it.
Attitude Adjustment
I challenge you to Be-Mindful of your overall attitude this month. You can’t change what you haven’t acknowledged. So grab a notebook to jot down your thoughts.
Before bed every day, write one sentence describing your outlook on life that day.
At the end of every week, take some time to reflect on all that you noted. What do you see? Any repetitive attitudes? What surprised you? Leave us a post describing your attitude adjustments. Share your Be Mindful A.C.T. testimonies and encourage someone else.
"We cannot know for certain how long we have here. We cannot foresee the trials or misfortunes that will test us along the way. We cannot know God’s plan for us. What we can do is to live out our lives as best we can with purpose, and love, and joy. We can use each day to show those who are closest to us how much we care about them, and treat others with the kindness and respect that we wish for ourselves. We can learn from our mistakes and grow from our failures. And we can strive at all costs to make a better world, so that someday, if we are blessed with the chance to look back o…