MAIN IDEA: (Control) Your Attitude
In my autobiography, I discussed five life-changing principles that have significantly shaped my life over the first sixty years. The first principle states, “Attitude can determine your altitude in life. It’s a determinant of success and ability.”
The core principles I have learned throughout my life, from my upbringing and later experiences, emphasize the importance of having the right attitude. This lesson was foundational during my childhood, and I have carried it with me throughout my life.
The key lesson instilled in me by my mother as a child was not just faith and belief in God but also in myself and my ability to achieve my goals through hard work and perseverance.
My openness and acceptance of the lessons my mother imparted made a remarkable difference in my success. In other words, it freed me from limiting beliefs and empowered me to reach my true potential in my endeavors. When I aspired to be a great musician, I was a shy kid who disliked performing in front of others. I knew I had to push past this hurdle in my life. So, I leaped forward and haven’t looked back since. Since then, I have played with numerous artists in both gospel and jazz music, including the famous Shirley Caesar, the Mighty Clouds of Joy, and the great Mary Lou Williams. I have performed in music studios and played in front of thousands with concert bands, all because I stopped letting my limiting beliefs hold me back. My attitude changed, and as a result, my trajectory shifted toward exponential growth opportunities.
Moreover, the core principle of my upbringing taught me the significance of the Law of Sowing and Reaping. This principle has influenced many areas of my life, and it would take a long time to cover them all.
What I will focus on is the basic premise of this law: that everything we do in life is a seed planted, both literally and figuratively. One day, we will reap what we have sown in equal measure. This understanding has instilled in me the importance of being mindful of my actions and recognizing how they will return to me.
Zig Ziglar said, “Your attitude determines your altitude.” The way we think and perceive the world is the first factor that influences our behavior and reflects the emotional and mental character of a person. With a positive attitude, we can resolve any type of problem and confront stressful conditions. An optimistic mindset can sustain us even during storms. Believing in God can transform our thinking. By maintaining a positive outlook, one can overcome any challenge. Changing our mindset can revolutionize our lives. Our attitude dictates our response to various situations. A positive attitude, combined with a positive mindset and prayer, can bring tremendous wonders into our lives.
Among this wisdom is the importance of maintaining a positive attitude in the face of hardships, as it determines not only how you deal with problems but also how you emerge from them. These lessons that I have learned did not come easily to me and required facing my battles for them to sink in.
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I remember one incident clearly when my mother’s lesson in faith and hard work first made a profound impression on me. It occurred around the age of twelve when a friend and I stole a bike and made our way home, only to find my mother waiting for us. At that moment, when I saw her standing there, I expected severe punishment and waited for the inevitable blow to fall. My mother, however, asked me a simple question: “If you really wanted a bike, why didn’t you ask for it?” That was a defining moment for me. Not only did I feel I had let my mom down by underestimating her love and sacrifice for me, but I also realized, over time, that I could have anything I wanted without resorting to stealing. Your attitude determines your behavior and your ability to navigate any situation. Your attitude encompasses your (1) Influences (2) Compass (3) Disposition (4) Attitudes, which expose your mental and emotional character.
At another moment in my life, this lesson of a positive attitude and perseverance was reinforced. It was a challenging period, and I emerged from it stronger because of these principles I learned early in life. At the age of twenty, I was let go from a job, still in my probationary period, where I had dreamed of one day becoming a top executive. I was charged with baseless accusations and terminated. Suddenly, I found my life crumbling around me. My dream was shattered; I had no job, and my future felt uncertain. It was at this moment that my faith and belief were tested, and had I not passed that test, I may well have ruined my future when an army recruiter called. If that day, I had let my emotions overwhelm me, this door might never have opened.
PRACTICAL EXERCISES
What I have learned through these life experiences is that we must maintain the positive attitude required when facing adversity. This enemy in the bush, as you might say, can only be fought when we develop the proper attitude that serves as a compass during our darkest times. The way we perceive ourselves and our situations directly impacts the outcome. Just as it has helped me, I believe it can help every one of you to practice and uphold that positive attitude by focusing on positive thoughts, prayers, and scriptures to confront any challenge with strength, integrity, and will..ntegrity, and will.