Don't say I have to, Say I choose to....

After talking about attitude yesterday, I wanted to make another attitude-definition today.

I believe attitude is the most valuable currency you can hold. It can also be the most poisonous and vile.

Your vocabulary and your internal dialogue reflects your real feelings, and programs your compass. Consider the difference in saying:

• I have to go to work today, and
• I choose to go to work today, or
• I get to go to work today

Try to stop saying I have to, as this makes you feel forced, pressured and controlled. You don't have to go to work today. You could quit, you could call in sick or you could buy a plane ticket and leave the country.

Some people will say - No I do have to go to work today, I have a mortgage to pay, or food to buy or kids to look after. So, perhaps the better attitude to have is; I choose to go to work today so I can continue make the dream of owning my own home come true.

The bigger picture holds a happier view, and reflects a better attitude.

It is so easy to get caught up in the day to day running of your life and forget about what is important. Before you know it you have been in a dead end job for 30 years, you are bitter and angry, your family no longer feels connected to you and all you have been focusing your energy on - doesn't even matter.

The job doesn't care if you had the highest attendance rate of all the staff. The job (and probably management) don't respect you for never having the courage to move on and grow as a person.

The job doesn't care that you run yourself into the ground pretending to be a martyr - and doing everything for everyone else...

All you have done is made the choice to be unhappy and stuck with it. That is not a success or an achievement in any one's book.

Life is like a house you have built from the ground up with your own hands. Everything in it reflects your choices, your decisions and your attitude.

You can never blame anyone, you can never blame circumstances for anything you are not happy with. It was your choice. You chose everything. You chose your response, your course of action (or inaction), your point of view and when to stop aiming for more.


Empower yourself with positive self talk.

Take responsibility for your actions, your decisions and your choices.