Attitude Adjustment

I don't know why I have a great day then the next I have my to-do list ready and I wake feeling...well...blah.  Instead of choosing to change my attitude I just let the negative flow until I am just grumpy.  This is not fun for anyone and not who I want to be.

I want to blame it on something; the weather, stress, PMS, my husband, anything other than me.  Sure some of these things can affect ones attitude but blaming anything will only lead to being more grumpy and tends to make things worse than better.  So just say NO to blaming! 

When I get like this I start comparing myself to everyone.  I wish ________(fill in the blank).  There are so many things that can go into that blank.  I also get really down on myself.  It is like a spiral of negativity spinning out of control. 

I ask myself 'what am I doing wrong?' like there is some magical answer to that.  Truth is I know what I am doing and that is choosing to let the negative emotions and feelings take over instead of pushing them back and choosing to look at the positive side of life.

When I am at work I can look at someone that is being negative and smile and encourage them to think positive that things will turn out the way it is suppose to.  I can encourage others to look on the bright side and think positive about their situation and even help them see the positive.  They still have to choose to see the positive but it is easy for me to help them.

A few months back a started reading a book called
The 4:8 Principle by Tommy Newberry.

It is a small book filled with so much good information on how to live a joy-filled life.  I should be finished with it but I get lazy or busy and don't just sit and read.  The book is based on the verse Philippians 4:8.  He uses this verse plus many others to help guide us to change the way we think to a more positive, joy-filled way.  He also has a website http://www.the48principle.com/ which has some really good info in there and I think the first 2 chapters of the book.

Personally I have found this book very helpful when I am reading it which I have not been since I started my job.  So my plan is to get back into reading this book.  I would highly recommend it for anyone wanting to be more positive, joy-filled and learn how to think the way God wants us to think using Philippians 4:8.

So now I am going to CHOOSE to work on my attitude.  I want to have the attitude of Christ,

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus" Philippians 2:5. 

I want to have a joy-filled, positive attitude.  I want my positive attitude to rub off on others.

I know that when I am grumpy it does affect others around me and that is NOT what I want or what God wants from me.

Frazzled???

I have been doing a 30 day devotional called The Frazzled Female by Cindi Wood.  I am doing 2 days at a time to be done before I start my job.  It is just awesome and I wanted to share just a bit.  She also has a website frazzledfemale.com.  I tried to put that as a link but still new to this blogging.  I would highly recommend this devotional.  Here is just a little I wanted to share from this devotional.  These are all excerpts from this book by Cindi Wood.

"Oh, my!  Life can be so frustrating!  It's such a challenge to react positively when stressors are continually thrown your way.  I have found that many times we women can handle the big things in life that produce stress.  Maybe it's because we've planned in advance for them and realize they are coming.  It's the accumulation of common daily hassles that seem to sneak up on us and rob our joy and positive attitude."

"Remember, though, the first step to being positive is to determine to think positively!  It's a matter of choice, an act of will."

"Anxiety and worry can lead to an extremely negative attitude."

"Life's hard, and being positive requires desire and persistence."

"And by the way, being positive doesn't necessarily mean that you're happy."

OK I am sure I have shared plenty to wet your appetite for this devotional.  I know that worry and anxiety will rob me of a positive attitude very quickly.  I have been working on being more positive for a while now and it is work.  She also talks about the "worry box" which I talked about in an earlier post.  It is only 30 days and it is filled with scripture to guide you and me to live a life that is not so frazzled, rushed and negative.  I am only 10 days in and looking forward to getting into this devotional every morning.  I hope to go back through it slower when I do have the 30 days to do it instead of doing 2 days in a row but I still am getting so much out of it I just wanted to share it with everyone.

"Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?  And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?"  Luke 12:25-26

"And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father." 
Colossians 3:17

"Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart."  Psalm 119:34