Being in Charge of My Attitude

I am a very emotional person that reacts and sometimes relies on the feedback and response of others. I don't think this is a bad thing, as it is a great asset to my personality and position as a therapist. I care deeply about others and how they are feeling. But that also means that others' moods and attitudes can have a huge effect on me, in not always a positive way.

This has happened to me the past couple of weeks with being around others who have negative attitudes, have had bad experiences, and seem to have no hope for a certain situation to change. And in return it makes me in a bad mood. I'm not going to focus too much on the details about that, but I wanted to share how I responded to it. It took me a few days, but I realized that it is completely ridiculous for someone else's negative attitude to cause me to have one. My hope is not in other people, and I will not allow myself to be brought down by their attitude, which in turn effects how I deal with everyone else around me and how satisfied I am in my situation.

Sometimes what we think about something and what we feel about it are not the same thing. I know that it is silly to let someone else's bad mood make me in a bad mood, but I don't necessarily feel that way. But I choose to side with my knowledge and not my emotions. I choose to not let them bother me. Not that this is easy. But it really does help. I honestly believe you can think your way into a new way of feeling.

After I had made this discovery about my own attitude, I came across a great guest post on one of my favorite blogs. Check it out, PLEASE, at Back In Skinny Jeans (click here). The guest poster had a quote that I thought was applicable.

"Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results." ~ Anonymous

I know this all sounds cliche, but I believe this with all of my heart.

What attitude do you choose today?