23rd May 2010

What’s Your Attitude!

It is intangible.  It transcends all borders.  It crosses all boundaries.  It radiates from each one of us at every moment. It is our invisible signature. It is attitude.

Every human being is a walking radiator.  We are constantly ‘sending out’ and ‘picking up’ attitude from those around us.  Although it can be heard and seen through tone and body language, attitude is an invisible energy that is ‘felt’ as it spreads far and wide.

Although many allow their attitude to be shaped by external influences we all know deep down it’s something that emanates from inside out.  Attitude is essentially an amalgam of our perceptions, thoughts and feelings about anyone or anything.  It arises from how we recreate people and events ‘out there’ within our consciousness.  It is influenced by our memories, past experiences and our beliefs. 

Much has been written and said about the virtues of a positive and proactive attitude.  Many organisations now place just as high a value on attitude than they do on competency and experience.  The fields of emotional and spiritual intelligence endeavour to measure ones attitude knowing it is such a vital component in the foundation and the health of all our relationships.  As the saying goes - attitude plus aptitude invokes gratitude and generates altitude. 

Although we may not notice, it is our attitude that sits at the heart of all that we say and do.  It’s our attitude that reflects back to us in our relationships and it’s our attitude that can easily rub off onto others.

It makes obvious sense to carry and radiate a positive attitude at all times in all situations if only for our own well-being!  And when we recognise our potential to help others, comfort others and even uplift others we may also see that empowering any benevolent actions towards others is our attitude.

Each day in all our relationships we have an opportunity to extend our attitude with an intended benevolence that can have a potentially beneficial and even transformative effect on others.

A Benevolent Attitude

Each and every day we ‘receive’ the opportunity to give the gift of a benevolent attitude.

Can your hand of friendship give hope to the lonely?  When you extend pure love to everyone with selfless motivation that is an attitude of kindness.

Can your faith in someone empower them to unearth the courage that they didn't know they had? When you send good wishes and pure feelings to those who are in deep sorrow, that is an attitude of mercy.

Can you lift someone's heart by seeing the best in them? When you see the virtues rather than the weaknesses in people that is an attitude of compassion.

Can you meet someone's anger with so much peace that it melts their anger like ice in the sun?  When you bless and uplift someone even as they defame you, that is an attitude of forgiveness.

Can your respect help someone walk a little taller?  When you tolerate a situation and take responsibility as well as give cooperation, even when not appreciated, that is an attitude of humility and self-respect.

Every second, every movement and every breath of our life is nurtured by attitude.

Question:  Which of the above is your strongest and which is your weakest?

Reflection:  In what area of your life today is your attitude having a positive effect?

Action:  Identify five relationships in your life and rate your attitude in each one to five? 

© Mike George 2010