One does not buy
positive attitude from a pharmacy nor can one order it online. But it is both a
prescription and a character that is indispensable. It is as important a subject
as medicine, engineering or law.
Jane works as
Muni-Train driver and she plies the longest routes from one end of San
Francisco to another. One end is North Beach and the other is South Beach. She
is used to being asked questions about the Bart (Bart is another transport form
in the Bay Area), about which cab to take, how much fare to pay and where to
get off if one is in Oakland ( Jane is a San Francisco Muni employee). She
tries her best. On top of everything, sometimes the train has a fare who just
wants to sleep! All this is taken up by Jane with equanimity and suave. At the
end of it all, Jane is still smiling. “It is part of the job, “she says with a
dismissive shrug.
Tom, is a new
immigrant from Mexico and he lost his house after 3 months following his
arrival in San Francisco. He had to look for a job and housing at the same
time. He did this and after two weeks got a job as a security guard at a
construction site on Howard Street. He worked at night and during day he
volunteered as a store keeper for half a day. He slept in a corner of this
store for two months and managed to save enough to get a shared apartment. He
also enrolled at a college and he is about to complete his Medical
Transcription and Filing Course. These two examples show what positive attitude
means.
Positive attitude is
one of the greatest assets. Progress and success, whether in the classroom, at
home, in life, during recreation, on the job, or at home, are affected largely
by it. One’s personality also reveals one’s readiness to assume the
responsibilities involved in day to day life’s activities, one’s job, social
life. There are universes of responsibilities such as those that are:
work-related, parenthood-related, filial-related, social-related,
road-user-related, host-related, guest-related, professional-related,
conduct-related and individual-related. Jane and Tom understood and had a grasp
of their different universes and the mechanics involved. They knew what it
takes to survive, to keep a cool head and be productive. This is what matters
at the end of the day.
At the individual
level, one has to examine one’s inner self critically to ensure that no
negative tendencies intrude. Gauge your environment, engage in virtuous
activities however pressing matters may be, avoid feelings of inferiority, don’t
make excuse for poor work or too little done. These are negative traits cause depression,
tension, irritation, and intolerance. One’s attitude toward one’s fellow
classmates or workers, toward supervision and toward responsibility is as
important as one’s attitude about oneself. Great motivators like John Maxwell
Company or Key-note speakers talk about this. This becomes your way of doing
things and it eventually becomes an enduring structure of beliefs that will
make you persist even when many seem to be giving up. A positive attitude
builds a positive mental concept of our ability and worth. This is extremely
important in striving toward a goal. Conversely, it is impossible to progress
satisfactorily in work or live a meaningful life if one is filled with negative
perceptions. Perception of yourself is a powerful force that influences and
guides you. If you perceive yourself as becoming successful, you will see
yourself as responsible for your progress and you will pinpoint what you do. You
will reinforce your attainments and correct your errors. You know that you
guide your destiny; and since you perceive that you are competent, you will
invest your time, energy, and talents in full measure today so you may reap the
benefits of a superior typing tomorrow. Jane has worked with Muni for 15 years
and she says she will be around for another 10 years. Tom is committed to
making it as well. He sees his life getting better every day and he has
overcome his fears. You need to cultivate a positive attitude. It is your own
way of watering your own garden of life. Do not give up.
