Coaching Tip: Make an Attitude Adjustment

Dr. Purushothaman
November 22, 2013

"Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude." – Thomas Jefferson

Have you ever noticed how sometimes you feel like you are totally in control of your life and feel like you have the ability to move mountains, and yet other times you feel like you can't accomplish the smallest of tasks? If you're anything like me, you have the latter feeling all too often. When I catch myself in a personal slump, I know that the first thing that I need to do is to check my attitude. It almost always turns out that I need an attitude adjustment to get me back on track.

I sometimes wonder why it is that if I know having the right attitude is so essential to behaving and performing the way that I want to, why do I ever find myself having the wrong attitude. Good question, huh? Well, I've come to the conclusion that it just isn't possible to have the right attitude all of the time – at least it's not for me. At the same time, I realize that only I have the ability to change my attitude and therefore I take responsibility to do so. The question is… How?

Here are some tips that you can use to make your own attitude adjustment:

Recognize that your attitude is not in-line with your goals & objectives. Ask yourself if you are thinking and behaving in a way that will move you forward.

Identify the source / cause of the bad attitude. If you've been able to put your finger on the cause, make a conscious effort to either correct the problem or put it behind you.

Consider the benefits of making the attitude change. It's important that you make a conscious recognition that changing your attitude will have a positive effect on your behavior and actions.

Take some time for gratefulness. If you've taken the time in the past to really think about and recognize the things and people in your life that you are grateful for, you know from experience that this exercise can only have a positive effect. (I recommend doing this at least once daily.)

Get inspired! Use some of your inspiration tools, as indicated in my earlier post, to change your attitude. A few minutes invested in inspiring yourself will always have a huge return.

Take action right away! As you know, there are few things that will motivate you and improve your attitude more than just good old-fashioned action. We always feel good about ourselves when we are taking purposeful action – even if just in small baby steps. Get moving!

The Thomas Jefferson quote at the top of this article is one of my favorites. It's so true! When we have the right attitude, nothing can stop us. When we have the wrong attitude, we simply can't be helped. I encourage you to really consider the importance and benefits of having the right attitude, and to realize that YOU have the power and ability to change your attitude any time that you want.

Do you have an idea or suggestion for changing an attitude from wrong to right? What works for you? As always, your comments are welcome and appreciated

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