Choose your attitude

[Krish]

Just read an interesting topic by Amy Dee on choosing your attitude at
work. Amy Dee Kristensen is a humorist and motivational speaker.

"When someone annoys you, choose your attitude. This morning my
daughter woke up ornery and attempted to pick an argument with me. In-
between gulping her cereal, she told me I text too much for my old
age, asked snotty questions about my spending, and told me she didn't
like my choice of friends. Nasty, you say? I heartily agree!

I am proud to say I chose to remain cheerful and positive. I ignored
her negative comments and deflated her attempt to create a problem.
She slumped away, irritated that I hadn't given her the reaction she
aiming for. It was an empowering moment.

Recently, a friend complained about a nasty voice mail that he'd
received from the manager of competing insurance team. The manager
tauntingly warned my friend, "'your team better watch your back
because we are coming after you." meaning, his team intended to beat
my friend's team sales numbers. The receiving team mumbled that his
message was "juvenile and ridiculous". Obviously, this message did its
job by unnerving the competition.

We have the responsibility and privilege of choosing our attitude and
our reaction.

I told my friend that he should type those words out and send it to
every member of his team so to spur them on to sell better and
smarter. That nasty message meant to unnerve could instead hit a nerve
that sends his team to the top!

Words only have the power you decide to assign them. Words can anger
and demoralize you or they can motivate you to try harder, dig deeper,
and be the best you can be.

In a past relationship a boyfriend sneeringly told me I would never
lose the fifteen pounds I wanted to lose. Initially his comment ticked
me off, but eventually it motivated me. When chocolate cake was
served, thinking about his nasty comment made me pass on the calories.
On raining days, when a walk was uncomfortable, reciting his sneering
prediction made me bundle up tighter and walk longer. It took me three
months to lose, not fifteen pounds, but twenty five pounds. I looked
hot and felt great. I thanked him for motivating me and grinned from
ear to ear when I broke off my relationship with him.

1. Feel the feeling but don't react. Feelings are important and we all
feel something when a person says something offensive, or challenging.
It is ok to feel, but wait to react. Example: I felt hurt and
irritated about the comments my daughter made but I did not react to
them.

2. Decide why you feel the way you do. We usually react to comments
that have some degree of truth. Be open to discovering more about
yourself and try to figure the truth that bothers you. Example: My
boyfriend's comment about my weight bothered me because truthfully I
was constantly dieting to lose that 15 pounds.

3. Choose your Attitude. What response will give you the greatest
power, motivation, or long term satisfaction? Note, long term
satisfaction is beneficial to consider because losing control and
reacting angrily may give you short term relief but create more
problems.

4. How can you work it? Was something said that you can turn around to
use to your advantage? The best revenge is doing well!"


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