A Thankful Attitude

This time of year, there seems to be a lot of emphasis on being thankful. And yes, that is a great attitude to have every day. Our attitude will determine a lot about what we receive in our lives because we basically receive what we give. If you project a lot of negatives, you will receive a lot of negativity. If you portrait a positive, cheerful attitude, then you will receive the same.

At Thanksgiving, I like to look around and evaluate what I have in my life. One of the great sales trainers, Brian Tracy, says that it is important for us to look around at everything in our lives and take responsibility for that. It is easy to look at the good in our lives and accept that we earned it and that we deserve it, but what about the not so good things, the failures. We must own that as well. Don’t be one of those people who blames other people for failures, disappointments, and lack of success. As leaders of our destiny, we survey the landscape of our world and take responsibility for everything. If we don’t like something, we determine what it is, and get concerned about replacing it with what we do want. We are the ones who shape our destiny.

Another aspect of our thankful attitude is the grass is always greener syndrome. It is way to fall into the trap of driving to someone else’s house in a nice neighborhood and being a little envious, or pulling up to a traffic light and noticing the car next to you is a lot nicer and more prestigious. It’s ok notice and maybe want to strive for something better, but you are where you are because of where your beliefs have taken you.

Having a thankful attitude will help determine what we receive in the future. Others will sense it in us and treat us accordingly. Feeling a sense of thankfulness will help us to project a positive outlook toward others. This will help attract positive things to ourselves.

When we have setbacks, we should be thankful in those too and not wallow in defeat or self pity. We can be thankful for the learning in the midst of an unfavorable outcome. Take a look at the scope of our life and be thankful for all the good we have. if you focus on what you have, then you will more thoroughly appreciate what the things that surround you. It is true that you receive what you give, so be a giver of what you want. If you want more love, then be the first to give. If you want more business, then give more value than is expected. If you want more friends, then be a friend first, and you will draw people to yourself. This is a simple principle.

One of the things I endeavor to do is to freely give of myself to others, charities, and events that I believe in, without the expectation of anything in return. This in turn paves the way for good to come my way. It is not a good practice to give, with the anticipation of getting something in return.

This whole concept is a HUGE key in business development. In a competitive environment, it may be a temptation to compare ourselves to others, to be envious of opportunities afforded others, to be jealous of the skills of another. You cannot control what someone else does, but you can control what you think and what you do. If you don’t like what you have at the moment, then get busy replacing it with what you want. That begins with a positive mental picture of who you are and what it is you want. Don’t spend you efforts wishing you could have the same opportunities that another has. You are the master of your destiny, so determine what it is you want, so you can get busy achieving it.

And at this time of year, be thankful for what you have and all the blessings that God has given you and make the very most of every day being the person you have always wanted to be by controlling your thinking and being thankful for the good in your life.

Happy Thanksgiving