How is your attitude?

Attitude.

Growing up, my father was determined to teach me the value of a positive mental attitude. As a U.S. Army pilot, staying positive in times of war was vital for his survival.

Today, we find ourselves in similar circumstances.

We’re at war with an invisible enemy – and keeping a positive mental attitude is as important for us today as it was for my father back then.

Our new reality demands a whole new level of positivity. The day-to-day challenges we face are putting our coping mechanisms to the test.

Working from home while taking care of small children, the elderly, and those with special needs… coping with job loss… and in some cases taking on an even heavier workload is testing our collective attitude in a way not seen in over 75 years. 

Recently, my college-aged son had to remind me to keep a positive attitude. Some days I can do it without too much effort. On other days, I struggle. Maybe you do too.

So what is the way forward? 

During the darkest days of the 2008 recession, I put a sign on my desk. It’s a poem by Charles Swindoll which says, in part: “We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.”

It’s a message we should all embrace, especially now.

Fear and anxiety are no match for a positive attitude. So when the news of the day becomes overwhelming, take a step back and remember: The only thing in your control is your attitude. 

Be positive. Stay positive.

Dad is the one of the left of the photo.