If I’ve learned anything in my 19 years of life so far it’s that life is a whole lot better when positivity is involved. Yes, I know, it’s easier said than done. But there’s nothing more imperative than focusing on and being thankful for the good things when life isn’t going so great. Of course it’s okay to feel sad or discouraged sometimes, but the attitude we show to ourselves and others doesn’t have to reflect the negative.
I came across a quotation from a Christian pastor named Charles Swindoll in my sophomore year of high school. It has stuck with me ever since, and Charles Swindoll’s words are relatable and applicable to nearly everyone. He addresses the importance of a positive attitude in all aspects of life, and I couldn’t agree with him more.
“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life..."
As I’ve matured, I’ve found this to be completely true. I didn’t always put as much effort into having a good attitude, and it showed. I would get incredibly angry at myself if I made a mistake while playing volleyball or softball when I was younger. Now I know that my negative attitude wasn't functional. Maybe I made a mistake, so what? Staying positive would've helped my happiness and the overall attitude of my team.
"...Attitude, to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do."
This easily applies to college students. No matter what happens, we have to stay positive and keep working hard. Whether you fail an exam you stayed up all night studying for or didn’t get offered the internship you applied for, there’s one thing more important than any of that: a positive attitude. Things will always work themselves out, and there is always something else to be grateful for.
"...It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company… a church… a home."
The fact that someone looks flawless every day, has a beautiful singing voice, or gets amazing grades can be quickly overridden by a negative attitude. People aren’t going to remember you by your accomplishments, but by the way you made them feel. Always try to be a positive addition to whatever environment you're in at the time.
"...The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past… we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way."
This is the amazing part. We can actually choose what kind of attitude we’re going to have. This begs the question, why wouldn’t everyone at least try to adopt a positive one? Among the plethora of things in life that we cannot change, it’s a blessing that we have the power to change our attitudes.
...We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude… I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. And so it is with you… we are in charge of our attitudes.”
I’m in charge of my attitude, and so are you. We are not defined by the things that happen to us, good or bad. We are defined by how we react to the things that happen to us. It may take a substantial amount of effort and self-awareness, but it is possible to maintain a positive attitude that leads to a happy and fulfilling life.
