We all have things we want in life, and sometimes we get frustrated in trying to obtain them. I know some of you out there are thinking life isn’t all about obtaining things, and I agree. However we all have dreams, aspirations, and goals.
These things could be anything from getting in better shape, taking a vacation, creating a business, or starting a family. Whatever your goals might be, there will be a process in achieving them.
The success of reaching these goals and aspirations come down to several factors. However there is one factor that will play a huge role in the outcome. Your attitude.
When I say attitude, I am describing it as “a way you think about something”. How you think about something will begin to influence your beliefs about something, and will then influence how you act, based on those feelings.
If your goal is to get in better shape, make sure your attitude towards exercising and eating better will support your success. If you look at those things as an inconvenience or a chore, good luck getting into shape and sustaining it.
So how do you develop the right attitude? The first thing you need to do is stay away from people who have negative ones. The thing about attitudes is that they are infectious. If you’re around people who have negative attitudes toward something, you will develop that negative attitude.
The good news is if you get around people with positive attitudes, they will influence you. Meet positive and supporting people, read about them, listen to them speak, study their material. It’s your job to find the people you want to be influenced by. If you cannot find any, you aren’t looking hard enough, they are out there.
Once you cut out all negativity, and surrounded yourself and your conscious mind with positive people and messages, start governing your own thoughts, and your own words.
Your words and your thoughts are two things you have complete control over. Start becoming aware of how you think and talk about things. The words you speak can influence the thoughts you think.
Let me give you an example. I’m coaching two individuals, Jim and Billy. Their goals are both to lose weight and get in better shape. I put them on a plan to start improving their eating habits. I tell them both to eat a salad with grilled chicken for lunch. The next day I ask them both how it went.
Jim responds with, “It was really plain. I hated it.”
Billy’s response is different. He asks, “Is there something I can do to give it more flavor?”
Jim has just verbally reaffirmed to himself that grilled chicken on a salad is plain and that he doesn’t like it. Billy, does not acknowledge that he didn’t like it, but instead chooses to focus on how he can improve it.
Who do you think has a better chance of improving their eating habits?
Your words can empower you, or they can hold you back. I never say the words ‘can’t’, ‘try’, and ‘realistic’. I find that they put limits on things, limits set by our own mind. Instead, I use the words, “how can I?” and “I will”. Your circle of influence, your thoughts, and your words are huge contributors to your attitude. Your attitude is either supporting your success, or it’s not.
The great thing about all this is that you are in complete control. You decide what you think. You have the power to be positive, to be optimistic, to look for improvement, for opportunity. Be the leader of your own attitude, and make sure it’s supporting you and your success.
Jonny, I really enjoyed this article you wrote and found it very encouraging. I totally agree on the importance of surrounding yourself with people who have positive attitudes and the right perspective.