I took the Strength Finders tool years ago and one of my top 5 strengths was “Positivity.” I have always prided myself on my positive attitude. It has helped me get through tough situations. It has helped me deal with challenging moments in my relationships. It has helped me overcome adversity.
Yet, I have found that it is difficult to maintain a positive attitude in my ministry.
Why? Because working in ministry as a leader can be tough. Ministry is messy. It is my attitude that has helped me overcome.
John C. Maxwell, in his book, The Difference Maker, described attitude like this:
“Attitude…
It is the vanguard of your true self.
Its root is inward but its fruit is outward.
It is your best friend or worst enemy.
It is more honest and consistent about you than your words.
It is your outward look based on your past experiences.
It is what draws people to you or repels them.
It is never content until it is expressed.
It is the librarian of your past.
It is the speaker of your present.
It is the prophet on your future.”
I’m not at all saying that we need to put up a front and pretend to be positive at all times. That is disingenuous. We are called to be authentic, and when we fake a positive attitude, we are not being real.
However, there are times when our attitude starts to turn sour. When that happens, I want to make changes that allow my attitude to turn positive again. These are the best ways I know how to turn my negative attitude around:
- Surround yourself with positive people. You become who you associate with. A positive attitude is contagious. When you find yourself with people who have a positive attitude, you can’t help but see a change in your own attitude.
- Remember that failure isn’t fatal. I find that my attitude takes a nosedive when I make mistakes and fail. Fortunately, in my line of work, when I make mistakes, it is not the end of the world. It’s okay for me to wallow in my failure for a few moments. But when I recognize that I have survived the failure, all I have left to do is learn from the experience and move on.
- Get active. I find that when I workout or get outside and do something active, like play sports or hike, I start to feel better about what’s going on. I’m sure there is a scientific reason for this, but I’m not a scientist, so I’m not even going to try. All I know is that it works. Go for a walk or a run. Play your favorite sport. Do something that gets you moving. I guarantee that it will help your attitude out.
I believe this quote to be true:
“I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it.” –Chuck Swindoll
I need to work on the 90 percent that is in my control. That is my attitude.
Question: How do you turn your attitude from negative to positive?
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