“A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events and outcomes. It is a catalyst and it sparks extraordinary results.” Wade Boggs
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Motivation Mondays: ATTITUDE – Is the Glass Half Full or Half Empty?
We cannot change our past. We can not change the fact that people act in a certain way. We can not change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. Charles R. Swindoll
Look at the glass in the sparkling photo above; Is the glass half full or half empty? What motivates you to get out of bed? Every morning, we start our day feeling a certain way. How we feel – our attitude – has an impact on how we handle our day. We can start our day feeling upbeat, empowered and ready to face the world, or we can start our day feeling burdened, overwhelmed and angry at the world. We can push past the naysayers and haters, and embrace those who support our efforts and wish us well. The choice is ours. What we need to remember is that a simple mental shift can trigger a shift in our attitude… which way the shift will go is a decision that requires effort and vigilance. Having a positive attitude means we look for the good in situations and find ways to address challenging events in our lives. Our attitude flows into everything we do and it can make our day heaven or hell. Even the analogy of the glass being half full or empty gives us a moment to think about the way we view the world. Do we have a poverty or abundance mentality? Do we view the world through the lens of not having or being enough? Do we think that if we help others we will have less? Are we grateful for what we do have? Think about these questions: Your attitude determines your standing.
A Story: Pollyanna – The Glad Girl
Even though many of us grew up thinking of Pollyanna in a perjorative way, the actual story of Pollyanna is an account of the power of the human spirit in overcoming tragedies. Pollyanna was an orphan who, after her mother died, moved to Vermont to live with her Aunt Polly. Aunty Polly was a wealthy, miserable lady and she was not keen on welcoming Pollyanna in. The young girl was a happy, sunny child who learned how to see the good in situations from her dad. As a little girl, she learned how to develop an optimistic attitude from what her Dad called “The Glad Game.” One Christmas, she had hoped for a doll but instead received crutches. Her dad advised Pollyanna that instead of getting upset, she should be grateful that she didn’t need the crutches.
When she moved to Vermont, she found herself in a community of hapless people and, over some time, she taught them The Glad Game and even Aunt Polly warmed up to her. Pollyanna’s life test came when she fell off the top floor of her aunt’s home and lost the use of her legs. She fell into a deep depression and couldn’t cheer herself up. But, one day, something magical happened. All the people she had helped in the community came to cheer her up and, soon, she was back to her old happy self. The real lesson of Pollyanna’s story is that once she got her groove back, she became determined to learn to walk again. Her positive attitude helped her overcome a tragic situation. That is what can happen to any of us. Bad things happen to good people but, our attitude can make a huge difference.
“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” Zig Ziglar
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Motivation Mondays: ATTITUDE
Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens. Khalil Gibran
What does a positive attitude really mean? Having a positive attitude about life events doesn’t mean we walk around with blooming flowers chasing us down the street. It means that when good or bad things happen to us, we take a moment to evaluate them, see the lessons to learn, and then respond accordingly. Positive people are NOT necessarily arse-kissing, Yes men and women or doormats. On the contrary, they are people who see the possibilities in difficult situations and make the choice to keep their chin up and keep moving forward. They are always motivated by a belief in seeing the good in all things. Our attitude is an important and demanding teacher, and it tests our resolve to help us grow. If we keep getting stuck on petty BS, we get to experience the lessons again and again. Once we learn the lessons, we must remember to apply them to our interactions with others or we will revert to that place of anger and misery. Having a positive attitude doesn’t mean backing down from injustice or wrongdoings. It means addressing such situations and then shifting your attitude back to center. The key is to address situations honestly, and move forward.
A Story: The Unforgiving Tailor
Once upon a time, there was a very talented tailor in a kingdom ruled by a wise king. The tailor was a happy-go-lucky type with a great sense of humor but, he was also proud and full of himself. When anyone spoke with him about their clothing needs, he would remind them of his special relationship with the king. Over time, his business grew and he asked the King for a loan. Th king was happy to give him the money but insisted on a repayment date. The tailor agreed to the date, took the money, bought himself a bigger house, put some into the business and spent the rest on food, women and wine.
The due date came and went, and the King sent for the tailor and, after determining that the Tailor didn’t have the money owed, threw him in the dungeon. The Tailor pleaded for forgiveness, reminded the king of the happy times and jokes he always shared at the palace, and promised that he would focus on his talents and make it up to the king. The King considered his pleas and, after some discussion with his advisers, he decided to forgive the tailor and send him on his way.
Not long after, the tailor bumped into an acquaintance and grabbing him by the neck, threatened to kill him on the spot if he didn’t pay back the money he owed the tailor. The acquaintance fell to ground crying and pleading for more time. He reminded the tailor of the good times they had together and promised to make it up to him. The tailor refused to hear his pleas and, in an indignant voice, told the acquaintance to cough up or be killed. One of the King’s guards saw the incident and ran back to inform the king of what happened. Soon, the tailor was arrested and sent back to the dungeon.
The king sent one of his wise advisers to counsel the tailor. The Adviser sat with the tailor and reminded him of the events that brought him back to jail. He said: Your positive attitude and expressions of contriteness and humility made the king forgive you. However, you chose to show your fellow man no mercy or forgiveness. Instead, you chose to show your acquaintance a negative side and spewed wicked words at him. Your attitude is what brought you back here. You shall remain here for the rest of your days. The tailor was shocked. Without another word, the adviser left the dungeon. What is the lesson of this story? Be warned. An attitude of gratitude and a positive spirit can open doors. Negativity invites same.
The details for Motivation Mondays are below. Join in! The themes for February are:
02/02 – Attitude
02/09 – Love
02/16 – Celebration
02/26 – Leadership
03/02 – READ
More Below!
“Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” Lou Holtz
![Motivation Mondays: ATTITUDE - Is this tears of sadness or joy?](https://i0.wp.com/mirthandmotivation.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/sadness-sc3a9pulcre_arc-en-barrois_111008_12new.jpg?resize=460%2C599&ssl=1)
Motivation Mondays: ATTITUDE – Is this tears of sadness or joy?
You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you. Brian Tracy
A positive attitude requires a measure of confidence, intelligence, courage, and a can-do spirit. Even when those around you are unsure of an outcome, you keep your focus and maintain your position. Today is GroundHog Day and some time today, Punxsutawney Phil will be moved up to Gobbler’s Knob where he makes his annual weather prediction. Punxsutawney Phil won’t care whether some of us agree with his predictions or not. You see, he lives in a nice climate controlled home in the local library for most of the year, and he knows this is a one day gig. He could resist and complain about this yearly ritual or refuse to come out. But he’s smarter than the average miserable person. He understands that every situation is temporary and our attitude of gratitude can move mountains. Be motivated to shift Your mind and shift your attitude.
For More: Women’s Lives & Issues
Positive Motivation Tip: Shift your mind and shift your attitude. Everyday, YOU get to choose.
Motivation Mondays is open to anyone who wishes to share a motivational quote, photo, personal challenge or a post that encourages others to start the week on an upbeat note.
Basic Instructions: Each week, I will have a motivation word to help us create a response. (See listed words for end of November and all of December below)
Email address: You may email or share your post as a comment and I will add it to the round-up of related posts. email it to: contact(@)mirthandmotivation(.)com
Category tag: – Share your post using Motivation Mondays
Twitter hashtag: – Use this on Twitter #MotvnM
Dedicated Page: There is a dedicated page for Motivation Mondays. It has the same instructions and will include other helpful tools and a link to the round-up
Facebook Page: MotivationOnMondays Join our page and add your post and/or any motivational piece you think will be helpful to others.
Facebook Community: We have a Facebook community forum to compliment the page. It serves as another way to share uplifting posts and thoughts. Please join in and add your voice.
Badge: – I created a fun badge using PicMonkey’s free photo editing tools. You can create your own, use WordPress’ integrated tool on your blog or you are welcome to use mine. (see dedicated page)
Tag: – Motivation Mondays
Hashtag: – #MotvnM
Related Posts
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos are from my Personal Collection OR Glass of Water Mary Magdalene Crying Statue, 4 Leaf Clover, via Wikipedia.
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
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Brian Tracy was a mighty wise fellow. Sometimes it is so hard to overcome circumstances without some outside motivation to help guide you/us along. I like Brian’s reasoning.
Same here. He’s admired by so many especially but real estate agents. 🙂
I see the glass as Half Full ; Its all about perception and of course attitude as you’ve stated. We need to have a positive attitude towards Life
Well said. Everyday is a choice and it;s what we make it. I love how you put it into perspective.
Great post and definitely very inspiring on a Monday!
I always enjoy reading your posts. They really DO motivate me. Just like your website title. Thanks for all of your great articles!
I love the Pollyanna story. I grew up loving it, and can’t wait to show it to my kids someday.
Attitude is everything. I need to have a good positive attitude if I am going to achieve anything for the week-otherwise I just sink.
I absolutely love that quote!!!! It is so true…postivity is the key to happiness!
I love this! A positive attitude has an effect on so many things. How you feel and how others feel.. My it’s a truly great thing. I try to make sure I’m as positive as I can be almost of the time!
Having a positive attitude will certainly make it easier for one to get through the day and all the tribulations that come our way. Thanks for the motivation.
sometimes i feel 1 step forward 2 steps back.. But i always keep a positive outlook cause there is something right around the corner.
Thanks for the inspiration! Great way to start the week. 🙂
Thank you for this Eliz. It speaks to my soul more than you know. Thank you again. I wish I have more eloquent words to say but I am so grateful I have found these beautiful words to refresh myself.
Great quotes- Love it.. thanks for sharing!
You can’t always change your outcome. You can change your perspective on the outcome, however.
Very inspiring post. I know that I struggle in the mornings especially when I’m in pain. It takes me a bit to roll out of bed. I agree your attitude makes a huge difference on how your day will go. Thank you for sharing.
This is great. I agree, you decide your mood change your attitude!
Your attitude can affect your day and everyone around you! Be happy!
I’m definitely a glass half full person!
Thanks for the inspiring post! Love the quote! It is impossible to control what happens to us. but we can control our attitude.
I hope the groundhog made the best prediction for you!
Hahaha! Really? He’s a smart cookie. 🙂
Great tips and I like your positive attitude!
So true! No one said it’s gonna be easy, but I’m sure, it’s gonna be worth it. Positivity is still possible even when the entire environment has been very negative. Because being positive is from the inside out, not the other way around! Thanks for sharing this Elizabeth! Glad to share this one.
I am always surprised to read such good stuff on your blog. All your posts are inspiring.
Growing up, I remember that one of my first books was Pollyanna. It taught me how to become more optimistic and determined. It may be easy to say that we should be more positive, but it’s more of a challenge to practice thinking that way especially when one is beset with problems.
It’s so important to have the correct attitude, sometimes your attitude can put you in trouble.
Having the right attitude is so important, sometime our attitude can get us into trouble.
Really like your post. The story about the unforgiving tailor caught my attention. A similar story is in the Bible.
It is all in the mind. We all have challenges and how we handle them makes the difference. Our attitude can transform our lives. -katrina centeno
Thanks for the positive thoughts!
This is such a great story. I always try to look at the glass half full and I have so much trust in God. Lately I have been having a hard time with depression. It may be from my fibromyalgia. This article really picked me up. Thank you so much for sharing this
I like that Pollyanna story. I feel like that was my mother and I growing up. Everything was so negative with her, and here I came along with wanting to think positive. She eventually beat the positivity out of me when I was a teenager and I fell into a downward spiral of depression and almost suicide. I ran away from home at 16 and after giving my life over to Christ I really can’t help but think of everything in a positive way. You only have one life to live, why choose to be negative about it? Because it is a choice!
Having positive attitudes make people surround you a good vibes and feels the way you feel. For those people that you encountered they used to remembered every good things that you did and even the bad things but remember that attitude can turn you down or turn you succeed.
Ah the blooming flowers chasing us down the street was a nice visual. 🙂 You’re right though, it’s more of a process than that… and def. a mindset/lifestyle.
Our attitudes should always be towards the positive to move on in life. A negative attitude sets you backwards in your journey through life.- Fred
Attitude is definitely everything. If you go in thinking you can’t do something, you’re already sunk.
Elizabeth, this is a wonderful post. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Thanks dear Cee! Grateful for your visit and will follow suit soon.
I agree completely, a positive attitude helps you be on the right track all the time
A persons attitude says it all; it’s important to have one that others will respect and feel positive about!
changing our attitude definitely makes a difference on how we feel and how other perceive us.
I try to always be positive. Life is too short. I always feel like if you are negative it brings on negative things to happen.
Important words to consider. I try to approach each day with gratitude and positivity. I may get off-course at some point, but I try to bring myself back. I really believe strongly in the law of attraction. There’s no room for negativity.
This is a very detailed, helpful and comprehensive post! We always need that ‘push’ so these things would really prove helpful for all of us. In a way, as you say, it all depends on one’s attitude. 🙂
Wade Boggs couldn’t have said it better. A positive attitude will always make way for better things to come! ^_^
I find if i can keep a positive attitude i feel much better . I always try to see the positive in every situation.
I am a half empty person. However, I am trying to have a more postive outlook.
The quote from Wade Boggs is awesome & I agree very much that keeping a positive attitude plays a major role in what you achieve & the outcome as well. Motivation Mondays sounds like a great way to express your motivational quote, photos, personal challenges & blog posts that could inspire someone to start the week with a positive attitude.
Attitude is critical to everything we do. I used to manager several employees, and was taught we could never counsel anyone due to a “bad attitude.” I understand the logic behind that, but I can also tell you that regardless of skill or knowledge, those employees with the best attitudes were the best employees overall.
I always choose to be optimistic. And I truly believe in that quote by Wade Boggs.
So very true and what a lovely post! It is true that being positive, your whole demeanour portrays this to others! 🙂 The glass is always half full! Sim @ simslife.co.uk x
I completely agree with changing your attitude. I find if I am sulky and depressed things tend to be that way.
This is such a beautifully written article! It is so inspiring for me to read deep thinking like that, I love it!
I tend toward being an optimistic person naturally, but there are many days when I have to remind myself to keep a positive attitude. I am so blessed with a wonderful family, home, jobs, etc., but it’s easy to get wrapped up in the little annoynces that life throws you. This was a wonderful reminder!
True story. I never got the whole half full half empty thing. When I see a half a glass of water, just think that half is gone, half is left. My brain just never got the philosophical and psychological thought process of that saying.
A lot to consider and I appreciate that! I love thinking about how attitude helps us make every day richer. Sometimes, we can get sidetracked by things that are bothering us or how badly we wish we could accomplish everything in a day and then realize we have to be patient with ourselves. I have heard the Pollyanna story misused and abused in conversation, especially by those who really prefer to be extremely cynical or argumentative.
I think one thing that I came across in my thinking was how a good attitude can help us tackle environmental challenges in the world, denial and the unfortunate divides among people who are just as afraid to deal with the science behind climate change as they are in dealing with out issues that we face in our lives.
Thank you! I hope you will visit my blog and share your comments. Cheers, Maria
PS I had no idea that the groundhog lives in a nice climate controlled home in the local library! Funny!
Thank you Maria for checking in. I always love to return visits and connect with my WordPress family.
I agree that attitude has an impact on everything, including how we treat our environment.
Remaining positive is something I always have a problem with. Last year I actually won $500 and then our home needed repairs. My husband was upset that we didn’t get to spend it on a trip or something else fun but I said, “Well, at least we have the money instead of not having it, and having to borrow it and be in debt”. That was a good moment for me but I usually am not like that.
Awesome photos! As Always.
Oh yeah…I’m with Wade Boggs. That is a lovely quote to pin up next to my work desk or tape on the refrigerator.
A positive thought for sure causes a chain reaction. I believe if you think positive, so positive will flow your way. Plus that, a smile goes so much further than a frown, right?
It is so true – I have noticed when I wake up grumpy – I now work on my attitude before I get out of bed – it has made a huge difference in my mornings and the day – love your beautiful post thank you 🙂
How we judge a matters is up to how we look into it. As you said whether is half full or half empty, it’s up to the person itself.
This is so inspiring!~ What’s most matter is one’s attitude.. Can’t agree more.. I choose to believe it’s tears of happiness!~
Beautiful article! I believe a positive attitude can change the course of anything we believe is possible! A positive mind means a happier and healthier life!
i think if we woke up in the morning with positive attitude/vibe, we will have a great day ahead
Your first quote: “We cannot change our past. We can not change the fact that people act in a certain way. We can not change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. Charles R. Swindoll”
makes me want to share on my “third party post”. Many of my friends seem unhappy that I was happy that it happened and say that I couldn’t forget what happen and I still love him etc. But I was just trying to be positive!
For me the glass is always half full. I have had a lot of hard time in my life but I never give up and my positive attitude is what keeps me going.
There is a saying Attitude determine our Altitude. No matter what happen, life goes on so move on and be optimistic.
Attitude is everything.. to be optimistic and spread positivity around is the best attitude! Loved the anecdotes.
This was a great post, definitely motivating! I love the Zigler, Coelho, and Gibran quotes those were great! The Alchemist is my favorite book! I love the message. Your post was so on point about switching gears in the AM, I constantly have to remind myself to flip on my switch. Thanks for posting!
Believe me I get it … I need to remind myself to flip that switch too. 🙂
I always try to keep a positive attitude. Sometimes negativity defeats me, but I sure try. Great first quote and I love the Pollyanna reference.
I try to remain positive, but sometimes negativity does defeat me. I love your first quote and the Pollyanna reference.
I love the purpose you drive home in this post, as well as the stories you shared. Awesome examples of the power of a positive attitude! Thank you so much for sharing.
You are awesome too. TY! Sarah! 🙂
You know its so true that quote – I always notice that when I have a positive attitude everyone in the house does too – and the other way ! When I’m upset everyone seems down too
I just love all of your post as of late. They are all so true and so uplifting.
What a fitting post for Groundhog Day. Reminds me very much of the movie. It wasn’t until he altered his attitude to life and the people around him that the main character is freed of the repetition of the day.
I know people are more than happy to make a complaint about something (like somebody messing up at their job), I like to try to make an effort to praise someone for doing a very good job!
I strive to always have a positive attitude no matter what. Positive attitude begets positive aura and luck.
I often struggle to find something to motivate me, especially in the dark and cold days of winter. I hate the struggle, but I think it is part of who I am. My blog does help though..