Whenever my students bring their problems to me, I find that there are some common issues which need to be addressed. Whether they are confused over which modules to choose for the next semester, or what they wish to do after they graduate, or even some personal problems, their main problem is related to their attitude. Let us see why I say so.
Many times my students complain about the course being not their first choice, or a particular module being very difficult, so they wish to change it. But I suggest,"Before you change your course or module, you need to address your attitude. You see, if you don't work on changing it now, when you move to another course or college, you will also be bringing your attitudinal baggage. In other words, if you think life is terrible where you are, it will be terrible wherever you go because life is what you make of it."
It's all about attitude. Irving Berlin(1888-1989) expressed this idea well when he wrote," Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it." In other words, life is ten percent what happens to us and ninety percent how we respond to it. So, it is not our current position that counts, but our current disposition that matters, as attitude is everything. We need to set our priorities right.
What exactly do I mean by a good attitude? It means that when one takes pride in oneself, and resolves that no matter what he does, he will always do it to the best of his ability, and do it with pride. Enthusiasm is a natural byproduct of a commitment to excellence. In case of my students, I ask them to become the best students they can possibly become. If they are doing their best, how can they be bored or uninterested? I ask them to change their attitude so that they stop whining and start winning.
Another characteristic of people with good attitude is that they always look for and find the good, rather than looking for what is 'bad' about their situation. If we cannot appreciate what we have now, how can we appreciate what we will have in future? Yet another attribute of positive thinkers is their empowering language. For example, instead of saying," I HAVE TO study so much for this module,"(which makes one feel like a victim), they would say,"I CHOOSE TO work hard on this module to achieve better grades,"(which makes one feel in control of life). As we develop a positive attitude, it will sustain us under all circumstances, and we will finally realize what happiness is all about.
A common mistake we often commit is to live in the future, fantasizing about a better life. By all means, we should set goals and make plans; but once we have taken the necessary steps to reach our goals, we need to live in the present. As the saying goes, 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.
In short, a great attitude does much more than turn on the lights in our worlds. It seems to magically connect us to all sorts of fascinating opportunities that were somehow absent before the attitudinal change!
Many times my students complain about the course being not their first choice, or a particular module being very difficult, so they wish to change it. But I suggest,"Before you change your course or module, you need to address your attitude. You see, if you don't work on changing it now, when you move to another course or college, you will also be bringing your attitudinal baggage. In other words, if you think life is terrible where you are, it will be terrible wherever you go because life is what you make of it."
It's all about attitude. Irving Berlin(1888-1989) expressed this idea well when he wrote," Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it." In other words, life is ten percent what happens to us and ninety percent how we respond to it. So, it is not our current position that counts, but our current disposition that matters, as attitude is everything. We need to set our priorities right.
What exactly do I mean by a good attitude? It means that when one takes pride in oneself, and resolves that no matter what he does, he will always do it to the best of his ability, and do it with pride. Enthusiasm is a natural byproduct of a commitment to excellence. In case of my students, I ask them to become the best students they can possibly become. If they are doing their best, how can they be bored or uninterested? I ask them to change their attitude so that they stop whining and start winning.
Another characteristic of people with good attitude is that they always look for and find the good, rather than looking for what is 'bad' about their situation. If we cannot appreciate what we have now, how can we appreciate what we will have in future? Yet another attribute of positive thinkers is their empowering language. For example, instead of saying," I HAVE TO study so much for this module,"(which makes one feel like a victim), they would say,"I CHOOSE TO work hard on this module to achieve better grades,"(which makes one feel in control of life). As we develop a positive attitude, it will sustain us under all circumstances, and we will finally realize what happiness is all about.
A common mistake we often commit is to live in the future, fantasizing about a better life. By all means, we should set goals and make plans; but once we have taken the necessary steps to reach our goals, we need to live in the present. As the saying goes, 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.
In short, a great attitude does much more than turn on the lights in our worlds. It seems to magically connect us to all sorts of fascinating opportunities that were somehow absent before the attitudinal change!
No comments:
Post a Comment