Focus Your Attitude

A long week of car troubles repeatedly and minor issues occurring. Certainly a good test of ones ability to stay positive. There are weeks like this and I for one am not immune from them. It is these things that put my belief in the power of being positive, of having a great attitude to test.

It can be frustrating when these things occur and there are multiple things that come into play. How do you deal with it then? A couple basic things to know;

1. Accept it since life happens, release it so you can move on.
2. Accept it with a cheerful heart since anything else will keep you from moving on.
3. Accept it for yourself, do not place it upon others; seek advice, but do not unload your problems upon others.
4. Accept it as a problem, but see the answer.

The last item comes from Fergus McIntyre in which he speaks about life giving you so much more. So many people see and focus on their problems. Dwelling day in and day out on the pain or issue that confronts them. It is an okay thing to recognize and understand the problem. But it is when we focus only on the problem that we get left behind in finding the answer.

In my particular case, I took time to recognize and be irritated by the issues occurring. Then I turned my focus to solutions, to working on a plan to sort out what was happening. In essence, I turned my focus to the anwers. Looking ahead two and three steps on what can be done to redirect the course of events.

This isn't instantaneous change in most cases, but directing your focus to the end results, by 'seeing' the answer, will remove you from stagnation. It will move you past the problem and towards resolution. By staying within the problem, you are bound and restricted by the weight of the issue. Your attitude will become mired in the despair and you won't be able to think clearly.

By refocusing on the answers, you take control of the situation and free yourself to move forward. You free yourself to release the problem and concentrate on finding solutions and then acting upon those solutions. Your mind and heart will feel a lifting sensation of the burden. Your attitude will improve which will make you more approachable. You will see others more willing to come to your assistance. Things will get better.

“Don't dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energies on moving forward toward finding the answer.” - Denis Waitley

Sincere Attitude

To continue with my thoughts from yesterday, life will always present you with struggles. You will have struggles in your sincerity to live a positive and serving life. Each of us has to contend with maintaining that uplifting attitude. Some may consider this to be hypocritical.

But know that it does not make you hypocritical when trying to be positive through pain or down times. You are not hypocritical when you realize the struggles and are earnestly trying to correct them. When you do so, you remain justified in your sincerity.

It is when you begin to deny the existence of the struggle that hypocrisy rises. To do so is an attempt to fool yourself that all is good all of the time. You can not fool yourself and if you understand that, then it is apparent you are not fooling anyone else.

Know and accept that struggle will occur in your life, learn to recognize it early and take steps to overcome it quickly. Doing so will strengthen your ability to impact not only your own life, but to impact others around you. Your sincerity will be stronger in the eyes of others which will create more impact on their lives.

“We grow because we struggle, we learn and overcome.” - Robert C. Allen

Moving Past Old Pain

There are many people in life that struggle to grasp and hold on to a positive attitude. Most of the time it is due to the inability to let go of past issues in their life. Letting go of old hurts and wounds to ones heart can be a difficult thing to do. What happens is that your mind will tend to try and rationalize the hurt and take a firm hold of it.

This results in a constant rehashing of the pain which in turn will limit you. This stands between you and achieving greater things in life. Just know and accept that there will always be something to get between you and your experiences in life. Knowing this is the first step in being prepared to deal and move on past those issues.

People will test your sincerity to step past a wrong doing and to see if you can also accept them along with their own issues. Are you prepared to deal with your own issues so that you can adequately deal with other people in your life.

A favorite speaker of mine, Fergus McIntrye is quoted as saying, "to move on greatness in life, you must first break down the walls that surround your heart." Fight through your adversity and continue to see and search for the goodness life has to offer you. Let go of past pains and know that life will open so much more. Release yourself from the past and live life in a new a bold way.

Happy Fathers Day

“By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he's wrong.” - Charles Wadsworth

I learned years ago the knowledge of what my father had been telling me during my formative years. In fact I still learn from him today in bits and pieces about growing older. My own sons show signs of understanding what I have tried to impress upon them. But each of the four have their own personality and talents of which I am so very proud of.

In my middle years I remarried and have four wonderful step daughters as well. Each of them has a greatness and beauty that is a wonder to behold. Having never thought that my life would be touched by daughters, it adds so much to the experience of life.

As a father on this day, it isn't any thing special that I feel I do but try to do the best I can. My best feeling is that I have a father that taught me well and am proud to be his son. And on the other side, I will continue to teach and inspire our sons and daughters. Life will be their greatest teacher but if a bit of tutoring helps, so be it.

So "Happy Fathers Day" Dad, thank you for all you've done for me through out the years. You are my stabilizing force in life and have prepared me for beyond when you do leave. To my children, I will try to be around for many years to come, offering what I can like my own father did.