Change Your Perspective - Be Positive and Grateful

I feel like my life has been filled with lessons on perspective lately. Some big and some quite small.

First, let’s look at a few definitions for “Perspective”…

a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view.
true understanding of the relative importance of things; a sense of proportion.

The first part of perspective is all about your attitude. You know that coworker or fellow gym member who always seems to find the good in things? Do you ever find yourself wanting to be more like this particular person?

That’s because attitudes are contagious!

So, how can you change your attitude? Take a minute to think before you speak. Are you about to complain? Is it worth it? Can you be thankful for something else instead and change the whole tune of the conversation?

A moment of gratitude makes a difference in your attitude.

-Bruce Wilkinson

It sounds silly, but simply just changing one sentence that comes out of your mouth can change your entire day.

Instead of telling someone how tired you are, can you ask that same person to take a walk outside to get some fresh air and Vitamin D? Instead of complaining about the temperature, can you take a second to be thankful for your awesome North Face coat that keeps you warm? Instead of complaining about how fat you feel when you’re pregnant, can you pause to be thankful that you’re growing a child? (Seriously, think about that for a second.) Instead of complaining about how you have to go to the gym, can you be thankful for a healthy body and the ability to move?

One thing that really helps my husband and I is our gratitude journal. Every night we write down one thing we are thankful for from the day. Yup, even when it feels like it’s been “one of those days.”

You know those people you purposely avoid because you know they are going to complain to you about something? You know those phone calls you don’t answer because that person only calls when something is wrong? You know those people who walk into a room and suck the life right out of it?

Yah, don’t be one of these people. Hell, I’d even argue, you shouldn’t spend much time with those people. They’ll complain and then you’ll want to complain and then everyone is unhappy! Blech!

Complaining not only ruins everybody else’s day, it ruins the complainer’s day, too. The more we complain, the more unhappy we get.

-Dennis Prager

Instead, spend time with people who lift you up! Spend time with people who focus on the sunshine and not the cold!

Now, I’m not going to go as far as to say that the only thing between a good day and a bad day is your attitude. I do actually think that’s the case most of the time, but I do also believe there is such a thing as truly a bad day. If someone you love gets diagnosed with a fatal disease or passes away, that’s a bad day. Sure, you can stay strong, faithful, and as positive as possible, but I’d still say those events make for pretty shitty days.

In fact, I’d say those are the days that explain the second part of the definition above. Those are the days that give you a sharp reminder of what’s really important in life.

That fight you had with your husband earlier about him leaving his junk all over the house? Not that important anymore when someone you love passes away. That traffic you sat in on the way home from work? Not that important anymore when your best friend was just admitted to the ICU. Unfortunately, sometimes we need those bad days to gain truly understand what’s important so we can stop our whining!

Most of you reading this are pretty damn lucky. A few reasons you may want to consider yourself lucky…

You have heat at your house.
You drive a car.
You are healthy.
You have a job.
You have friends.
You’re in a great relationship.
You have kids.
You have the ability to lift weights and/or to run.
You have cable.

You probably take some of the above things for granted. Unless of course, any of these things have been taken away from you. If that’s the case, I’m guessing you gained some serious perspective about what’s truly important in your life.

Today, be the difference.

Be the one who spreads a positive message on Facebook instead of complaining about the weather or your lack of sleep.
Be the one to give someone a compliment today. (And really mean it.)
Be the one who makes time instead of excuses.
Be the one who calls friends and family with good news and not just when you’re sad or need help.
Be the one who is thankful for your warm house instead of complaining about the snow.

Focus on the sunshine, not the cold. A simple change of attitude can make a huge difference.