Attitude Is a Choice: What's Yours?
January 9th 2008 12:02
The Writing Life Can Be Tough
Are you having a bad day? Perhaps you’re facing writer’s block, rejection slips, noisy neighbors, whining children, demanding clients. You may be wondering how you’ll hang in there…how you’ll remain positive…how you’ll tough it out.
A Story to Inspire You Not to Give Up
The following story was sent to me in one of those inspirational e-mails that always manage to find their way into our inboxes, whether we want them or not. I have no idea who wrote it. (Do we ever?) But I do feel that it offers some valuable insights that can help us during those times when we wonder whether writing is really worth the trouble. Hopefully, after you’ve read it, you’ll view the challenges you face as you pursue your writing dream—and indeed all the other challenges you face in life—in an altogether different light.
The Story
I’ve reproduced the story pretty much as written in the original e-mail message, though I’ve made several minor grammar and punctuation corrections and formatting changes to improve the readability and layout of the piece.
Here it is:
READ THIS. LET IT REALLY SINK IN. THEN CHOOSE.
John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"
He was a natural motivator.
If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.
Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all the time. How do you do it?"
He replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, 'You have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.' I choose to be in a good mood.
“Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it.
“Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or... I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.”
"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested.
"Yes, it is," he said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live your life."
I reflected on what he said. Soon thereafter, I left to start my own business and lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.
Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back.
I saw him about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars?"
I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.
"The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter," he replied. "Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or...I could choose to die. I chose to live."
"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked.
He continued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read, 'He's a dead man.' I knew I needed to take action."
"What did you do?" I asked.
"Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me," said John. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes,’ I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Gravity.'
“Over their laughter, I told them, ‘I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.’"
He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.
Attitude, after all, is everything.
John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, "If I were any better, I would be twins!"
He was a natural motivator.
If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.
Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him, "I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all the time. How do you do it?"
He replied, "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, 'You have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.' I choose to be in a good mood.
“Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it.
“Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or... I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.”
"Yeah, right, it's not that easy," I protested.
"Yes, it is," he said. "Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live your life."
I reflected on what he said. Soon thereafter, I left to start my own business and lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.
Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back.
I saw him about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, "If I were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars?"
I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.
"The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter," he replied. "Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or...I could choose to die. I chose to live."
"Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?" I asked.
He continued, "The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read, 'He's a dead man.' I knew I needed to take action."
"What did you do?" I asked.
"Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me," said John. "She asked if I was allergic to anything. 'Yes,’ I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Gravity.'
“Over their laughter, I told them, ‘I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.’"
He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.
Attitude, after all, is everything.
What’s Your Attitude?
How do you choose to look at life? What mood do you clothe yourself in when you wake up in the morning? What attitude do you adopt when a tight deadline looms as you incessantly stare at a blank screen and words fail you? What response do you choose when editors reject your work, potential clients don’t call back, payments arrive late or don't arrive at all, difficult clients criticize and demand changes to your painstakingly prepared projects, job ads ask for the moon and stars and offer pathetic pittances in return which insult not only your intelligence but your professionalism, talent, and expertise?
Do you choose to be in a good mood…to refuse to be a victim…to look at the bright side of a situation…to demonstrate a positive attitude toward life…to view your circumstances philosophically…to work toward solving problems rather than complaining about them…to learn from your mistakes and challenges...to cultivate a sense of humor and a sense of wonder…to let your trials foster growth...to think outside yourself…and to make the most of the moment?
If not, it’s never too late to start; because attitude is a choice--a choice we make each and every day. And that's very good news; because it means that, no matter what attitude we chose yesterday...or even earlier today...we can choose a better one right now...and we can continue choosing a positive attitude tomorrow...and the next day...and the next...
May 2008 be the year that you choose to live fully each and every day—no matter what obstacles life might throw into your path! And may you enjoy a positive, productive, and prosperous year--one...day...at a time!
Best wishes,
Jeanne
Did you enjoy this post? Have any thoughts or experiences you’d like to share about this topic? We’d love to hear from you!
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Comment by Malathy
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Great to see you! I totally agree that our attitude is often a habit! Most of the time, we tend to exhibit our usual attitude without really giving it much thought. But, once we get to thinking about it, we often realize that our attitude isn't as positive as it could be which can hold us back in life. If our attitude is habitually positive, though, we have nothing to worry about!
Thanks for the visit!
Happy New Year to you!
Jeanne
Comment by Lillie Ammann
I posted another great quote on rejection on my blog a day or so ago that also fits with this.
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Thanks for sharing that Abe Lincoln quote! He really knew what he was talking about, didn't he? By the same token, we can't "make" anyone happy, either--unless they first "want" to be happy.
I've visited your blog and read the rejection quote, as well (Rejection: Keep Looking for the Right Address), and it, too, is pretty impressive. Quotes like this one can prove a real source of encouragement to writers who may be tempted to give up after receiving yet another "rejection."
Hope my readers will stop by your blog and check it out--along with the rest of the excellent material you post!
Thanks for the visit!
Jeanne
Comment by Brad Shorr
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
What a great philosophy! I say do whatever works to get you looking on the bright side, because, truth to tell, something good is far more likely to happen sooner when you've got a positive attitude than when you're nursing a negative one!
Sounds as if Abraham Lincoln was the perfect "failure-tolerant leader"--one who went on to achieve success and rise to greatness because he learned from his mistakes, put that knowledge to use, and refused to give up. Failure-tolerance is one excellent example of choosing the right attitude, despite obstacles!
Thanks for sharing these highly relevant points!
Jeanne
Comment by AmyHuang
Project Job Search
Travel Debate
Travel String
Love Adventures
The happy person always recover faster.
Thank you very much for sharing this story! We all need a lift in our lives once in a while, but as the story suggest, we are the only one who can make a different to our own attitude and mood, so choose wisely!
Comment by AmyHuang
Project Job Search
Travel Debate
Travel String
Love Adventures
It's going to be at: amyee2cents.blogspot.com
Comment by tlcorbin
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
You are so right about the difference between the two sick people: the happy and the sad one! They're like night and day! And it's the same with people who have problems other than illness. A positive frame of mind makes such a difference! It's all a matter of perspective.
I was happy to share this story with my readers--particularly at the beginning of the New Year--and I'm glad it resonated with you!
I'd be honored to have you refer to my blog at Amyee's 2 Cents. Thanks so much!
Thanks for all your valuable input!
Jeanne
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
So glad to hear that the story made your day! I, too, thought it was quite inspiring.
About the "Nice Matters" badge: If you want to place it into your sidebar, simply right-click on the image, then click on "Save Picture As" and save it to your hard drive. (You can delete it when you're finished uploading it to your blog, if you'd like.)
Then, follow the usual procedure for placing items into your sidebar, using the image icon within the correct post to upload the badge after browsing for and opening it .
(I've visited your blog and noticed that you've created an "About" section in your sidebar--which is quite impressive, by the way--so I'm assuming you know everything you need to know about putting items into your sidebar. If you have any other questions about the procedure, send me a message and I'll explain.)
If you prefer to place the badge into a regular blog post (e.g., if you're planning to write a post about it), the procedure would be the same, except that you'd place it into a totally new post.
Hope that helps!
Jeanne
Comment by AmyHuang
Project Job Search
Travel Debate
Travel String
Love Adventures
Maybe you could write an entry about it?
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
The Writer's Forum has info on how to put items into your sidebar. I also have a message that I've sent to several Orble bloggers who have asked me about this issue, which I'll send to you. It will explain the process, which is a bit involved.
I don't really think Orble prefers to have every detail of the process shared publicly, so a blog post about the topic would probably be out. Anyway, I'll dig up the message and send a copy of it to you. You can look it over, and if you have any questions, either let me know or go to the Writer's Forum, read the info they have there, and leave a comment for Jon with any questions you may still have.
Good luck!
Jeanne
Comment by Michele L.
Smiles,
Michele
Comment by Jeanne Dininni
Writer's Notes
Glad to hear my post got you thinking. That's always a good thing!
You are so right about how easy it is to fall into self-pity mode when things don't go our way. It's much TOO easy, in fact. And that's why we need to be all the more vigilant, always remaining aware of our moods and attitudes and focusing on the ways we can change them for the better.
I agree that an upside-down frown is much better than a rightside-up one!
Cheers!
Jeanne