Attitude is everything!

It’s amazing what a ‘tude’(aka attitude) can do in most situations. You can take something that isn’t a big deal and turn it into a real disaster or you can take a bad situation and see it deflated and become dust in the wind. Captain Jack Sparrow, the expert in this arena, says the following, ‘The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem.’  So why is it the case so often that a person’s attitude is what creates such heartache and turmoil?

My dad was an officer in the Air Force who literally flew all over the world and faced many insurmountable circumstances that should have put him on edge. Yet, the greatest legacy my dad left me was that I should always have an attitude of gratitude.  He taught me to never be afraid of the impossible in life understanding that it would take a little longer with God’s help and persistence to see it conquered! My dad was one who didn’t like people that made excuses and blamed their own shortcomings on others. His simple point was never to avoid problems but realize that too often our attitude is the cause of the problem at hand.

It doesn’t take an expert to address the attitude issues in the office, the family circle, neighborhood or at church. You know relatively quickly who are the ones that love to take a conversation up a few notches and use their bigger than life attitude to get attention and ultimately get their way. So is it possible for someone who is kinder and more gracious to win out over the big mouth attitude type of person?

I believe that often the actions of those that are humble, kind and gracious will overcome the bigger than life attitude of those who are out to be the center of attention. My dad’s attitude in life was that we were made to face difficult circumstances with God’s help, using our gifts and leadership skills to overcome the obstacles that might harm family or friends. My dad’s heart wasn’t to be the center of attention but to a servant leader who wasn’t concerned about getting credit.

My dad wasn’t one to shy away from what seemed to be the impossible. He reacted to some of his fellow military friends that made excuses about why something couldn’t be done. He was my example of what a positive attitude can accomplish when you put God first in your life and take a risk for others. He was never someone that would blame shift or scream at others to hide his mistakes. He used his positive attitude to face problems instead of creating them!

So I totally agree with the picture of the flat tire with the following quote; ‘A bad attitude is like a flat tire; you can’t go anywhere until you change it!’