Positive Attitude

So much in life depends on our attitude. The way we choose to see things or to behave or to respond to others makes all the difference. To do the very best we can, and then to choose to be happy about our circumstances, whatever they may be, can bring peace and contentment. "Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same" (Francesca Reigler).

Charles Swindoll — author, educator and Christian pastor — said this about attitude: "The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important … than the past, … than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home." He continued, "The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day 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. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is [to change] our attitude." He concluded, "I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. … We are in charge of our attitudes."

We all know people who seem to "roll with the punches" so to speak, who are pleasant and cheerful through almost any challenge. Generally these are the people with whom we like to spend our time, for they make us feel better about circumstances and about ourselves. It seems that good things gravitate to them, for they don't let less-than-ideal circumstances stand in their way. They choose to find joy everywhere and to leave it behind them when they go.

We, too, can choose to have a positive attitude. We can't direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails. In other words, we can choose to be happy and positive, regardless of what comes our way. The definition of an optimist, according to one man, is "someone who isn't sure whether life is a tragedy or a comedy but is tickled silly just to be in the play" (Robert Brault)

We know that some people are more talented than others. Some are more educated. Regardless of where we fit in the scheme of things, we all have the capacity to be great, for we are only limited by how we choose, how resolute we are — in other words, by our attitude. …

We have but one chance at this life. For maximum happiness, peace and contentment, may we choose a positive attitude. 

Thomas S. Monson, "In Quest of the Abundant Life," 

quoted in Messages of Inspiration

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