{"id":245,"date":"2021-01-25T03:24:31","date_gmt":"2021-01-25T03:24:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/allred10.com\/?p=245"},"modified":"2025-11-24T14:15:52","modified_gmt":"2025-11-24T14:15:52","slug":"attitude","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/allred10.com\/?p=245","title":{"rendered":"Attitude Determines Altitude"},"content":{"rendered":"

When we were raising our children, I would always tell them, \u201cAttitude determines altitude.\u201d\u00a0 This idea is very similar to another I used in business, \u201cHire the smile and train the rest.\u201d\u00a0 A person does not need to be the most skilled at a certain task if they have the right attitude.\u00a0 The right attitude means that they are willing to learn and pleasant to those with whom they work.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Often, improving an attitude is more difficult than improving a skill.\u00a0 The following are ideas that can help:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Look for the good – I heard a speaker say this couplet when I was 19 years old, \u201cLife is a show for you and for me, and what you look for is what you see.\u201d\u00a0 That thought has had a profound impact on my life. \u00a0It reminds me that I can choose how I feel about the things that naturally happen to me and to everyone else in this world.\u00a0 I can see life as a series of obstacles or a series of challenges that will make me a better person.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Don\u2019t play the victim \u2013 It is sad when people adopt victimhood as their way of being.\u00a0 They become like missile-seeking targets.\u00a0 They can never be happy because there is always someone or something making their lives miserable.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Stop saying, \u201cI have to\u2026\u201d – Constantly saying, \u201cI have to\u201d do this or that is a sign of someone looking for sympathy. There are only two things you have to do – die and pay for your sins; everything else is optional. We choose to do those things that we don\u2019t really want to do because we know the consequences of our choice, and there is nothing wrong with that.<\/strong>\u00a0 Since we make that choice,<\/strong> it is much healthier to say, \u201cI am going to\u201d work or school or traffic court, rather than, \u201cI have to go to\u2026\u201d <\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Talk positively – Life is so much better if, when people ask, \u201cHow are you are doing,\u201d to instinctively respond, \u201cFantastic!\u201d\u00a0 First of all, when compared to billions of other people, our lives are fantastic.\u00a0 Secondly, when we say that we are \u201cFantastic,\u201d it reminds us of how great our lives are and that we need to make sure that we speak that way.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Acknowledge our blessings – I have a friend who is the Pastor of a local church.\u00a0 Whenever I ask him, \u201cHow are you are doing,\u201d he always responds, \u201cBlessed!\u201d \u00a0He has taken his view of life to another level.\u00a0 Not only does he recognize how wonderful life is, even with its problems, he also recognizes God\u2019s hand in making his life \u201cblessed.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Stop complaining – No one has everything go their way.\u00a0 But, as Grandma Allred used to say, \u201cBloom where you are planted.\u201d\u00a0 In other words, make the best of the situation.\u00a0 Complaining is corrosive.\u00a0 It only serves to create a negative attitude in ourselves and anyone else who listens, including the kids.\u00a0\u00a0 We choose to do what we want to do or what we feel is correct.\u00a0 Whining about it will not help.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Recognize that we can\u2019t control others – Parents must realize that there comes a day when they can\u2019t force their children to behave any more than we can make others drive safely. \u00a0Children can do whatever they want unless they are physically restrained, and there aren\u2019t enough teenager prisons to handle them all.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 We like to believe that we should be in control of everyone else.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The only one in control is God.\u00a0 We have to look to Him to execute\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 justice and make things \u201cfair.\u201d \u00a0What we can do is model a\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 positive attitude and show our children the good things that come\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 to those who try to be good.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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    1. Recognize that Murphy\u2019s Law is nonsense – I think that the notion of Murphy\u2019s Law, \u201cIf anything can go wrong, it will,\u201d is just silly.\u00a0 It would be a great idea to never utter those words, or, \u201cThat\u2019s just my luck,\u201d \u201cI never win anything,\u201d \u201cWhy does everything happen to me,\u201d etc.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
    2. Stop stressing over things you can\u2019t change – We have had our share of financial, family and health problems.\u00a0 Through it all, my wife would calmly do whatever she could to solve the problem without adding drama to the situation.\u00a0 She says, \u201cDon\u2019t worry. \u00a0If you can do something about a problem, do it. \u00a0If you can\u2019t do anything, worrying won\u2019t help.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      If we want to be happy and help our children to see the best in life, we must have a positive attitude.\u00a0 Life will truly be difficult from time to time, but if we work at it, life will get better.\u00a0 Your positive attitude will positively affect your altitude. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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