I realized that even on days such as these, we are all still in control of our own attitudes. Even when we don't want to control our attitudes, we can consciously make the effort to readjust and start over mentally. I'm calling this process "designing your attitude." After explaining the process, I am including a printable graphic at the bottom so you can keep a reminder sheet handy on these bad days.
Whatever
it is that has you on edge can’t keep you from calming down. Take a deep breath or two to remind yourself
that you are in control and to allow your body to naturally relax itself.
2.
Count to thirty
Why
thirty? Thirty seconds is an adequate
time to halt . . . long enough to stop your bad attitude in its tracks. Consider this your time to think. Think about why you are having a “bad day”
and decide if you want this to keep controlling your attitude.
3. Do
something nice for someone else
Sometimes
a bad day comes from an inward focus.
When we think all about ourselves, we are likely to be negative and
focus on what isn’t good about ourselves or our lives. Doing something nice intentionally, reminds
us that it’s not all about us. Let’s
face it; it is fun to make others smile!
4.
Brighten your space
If
you are in a dark area, brighten it up!
Open the windows on a sunny day, turn on lamps and overhead lights if it’s
dark outside. No one can cheer up in a
dreary, dark setting.
5.
Find some inspiration
Whether
you find an inspiring Scripture passage or an inspirational quote, give
yourself a boost of perspective. Here
are a few good places to look:
The Bible - John
10:10; John 16:24; Proverbs 17:22;
Helen Keller - "Keep
your face to the sun and you will never see the shadows."
Franklin D. Roosevelt
- “When you get to the end of your rope. Tie a knot and hang on.”
Mark Twain - "The
secret to getting ahead is getting started."
Winston Churchill - "A
pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the
opportunity in every difficulty."
6. Act
out your desired attitude
If
you find yourself stuck in one attitude, do something different. Sometimes actions can override
attitudes. Smile when you are sour and
you may begin to feel happy. Go for a
walk when you are angry and you may begin to enjoy the day. Act out your desired attitude, and your
attitude may adjust to your actions.
7.
Plan for success
Focus
forward instead of on the present. If
the present is unbecoming, then focus on changing the future for the
better. Make a new goal to work towards. Plan for something exciting and begin
preparing for that time. A future focus
can improve your present attitude.
8.
Surround yourself with positive company
Nothing
zaps your attitude more than dismal company, but nothing improves your attitude
more than being around a positive person.
Find someone who inspires you and make them a part of your life. Also, stay clear of those who bring you down
and make you feel worse about your life and encourage a bad attitude.
9. Be
productive
Nothing
brightens a mood like a job well done.
Get off your duff and get moving!
Clean the house, clean your car, clean off our desk, or do a load of
laundry, fold it, and put it all away.
If you are in a bad attitude and can’t shake it, couch potatoing it will
not solve your attitude problems. Make
something happen and watch your bad day dissolve away.
10. Choose
your attitude intentionally
Contrary
to popular American opinion, we are in charge of our actions and our
attitudes. Our actions and our attitudes
are our choice, not to be blamed on our parents or any other person. We decide how we act and how we behave. Choose well.
If you don’t like your attitude, change it.
