Attitudes Can Make or Break Us

Chuck Swindol once wrote the following:

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.  Attitude, to me, is more important than education, than money, than circumstances, than failure, than success, 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 that 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 act in a certain way.  We cannot change the inevitable.  The only thing we can do is play on 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.  And so it is with you.  We are in charge of our attitudes."

I typed this out for myself and put it on my office wall years ago.  Daily it reminds me that I am in charge of my attitude.  I have discovered that it doesn't matter how I feel, if I choose to have a good attitude, my feelings will follow.   I used to have a policy to "fake it until you make it" with regard to feelings.  Fake being happy and before you know it, you actually are happy.  Why?  Because you chose to change your attitude.

What we dwell on impacts our attitude.  If we're always filling our minds with and dwelling on negative things, we'll have a negative attitude.  If we dwell on positive things, we'll have a positive attitude.  We choose our attitude in our minds.  Then the actions we take and choices we make reflect that attitude.  No other person on the face of the earth can control our attitudes.  That is a personal choice from the inside.  No one else in the world is responsible for our attitude.  That is our responsibility alone.  Did you know that the Bible actually talks about that?  In fact, it's full of such verses.  Here are just four.

Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things."

Proverbs 17:22, "A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."

Ephesians 4:31-32, "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, along with all malice:  And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven you." 

How about Proverbs 15:1, "A soft answer turns away wrath; but angry grievous words stir up anger."  (We have a choice as to how we react to people.)

Even if you don't believe in God, these verses are full of wisdom for life. 

Remember every morning that your attitude is in YOUR control alone. 

Life Changes

In the time since I first started this blog, life had become so busy that I didn't even have time to blog. But, things have changed a bit. In January 2011 my company (whose parent company is in Sweden) decided to pull our corporate office back to Sweden. That means that I was laid off because I am not Swedish and would not likely move to Sweden to work.

Being without a job has been an interesting experience. Since then I almost lost my son in ICU, but he pulled through and is still with us. I'm exhausted because of lack of sleep since that ordeal. Everyone in my family has been sick at one point or another. And other changes have taken place. But still, I find it important to count my blessings and make sure that my focus is on the positive.

Between January and now I have been searching for jobs, but at the same time am feeling blessed for the time that I am able to spend at home with my kids. My "labels" have changed. Instead of being a working Mom, I am currently an at-home Mom who has been going back to school to work toward a degree that will be helpful. (I have one more class to finish to meet my first goal.)

So life changes and we go with the flow. I know what I WANT to do and am excited to find out how things will be turning out.

Forget the Potholes

Deep breath.... let it out slowly... and relax. (Ahhh... I needed that.)

I am sitting at my desk taking a bit of a break from work. So, I decided to treat myself to a cup of coffee and a piece of Dove chocolate. Inside the wrapper of each piece of Dove chocolate is a message. This one says, "Forget the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey instead." Now that is a timely message for me. See? Even chocolate can speak to you!!! (That is, if it's Dove and you take time to look at the wrapper.)

My life (since my last post) has been a whirlwind of activity with little time for sleep! There is so much on my plate right now that I have been rushing from place to place, task to task and not really taking time to appreciate or observe or enjoy. Shame on me. I'm letting little grains of sand get in my shoes!! The only place for that is at the beach, not in life.

So, now I'm going to list the things that I appreciate about this crazy job of mine. My life? That list is for another time... but, I am SO thankful for so many things in my life. Now on to the job...

1. First of all, I have a job when many others have lost theirs in this economy. What a blessing to be able to work!

2. My boss understands that family is my highest priority. He's a single Dad who is raising two girls and knows what it means to wear many hats. He says, "Family is (and should be) your highest priority. We'll work around (these things). We'll make it work." So, when I have to take one of the boys to a doctor's appointment or leave early for some "urgent" situation or go to a parent/teacher conference, I can take my laptop home and work in the evening after the boys are in bed. If I have to stay home because someone is sick, I can work from home. Work still gets done, my boss is happy; family is cared for, I am happy. Another blessing!

3. I have a corner office with windows...

4. ... and a big desk with drawers (where I can stash a bag of Dove chocolates).

5. The work is challenging, making me stretch and grow and learn. (I love that.)

6. The people in this office are so great and so thoughtful of each other!

7. My boss is NOT a micro-manager. That's a major blessing. (I'm not wired to work well with micro-managers and God knew that when He provided this job.)

Time has run out. I need to get back to my task at hand and so my break is over. So, I end with this. Try to think of as many things as possible that you like about your job. (Even if you "don't like" your job.) Thinking about the positive things brings a different perspective to our minds and a new zip to our steps.

For me, personally, it reminds me of all of the blessings that God gives to me on a daily basis.

Have a great day!