When we radiate a cheerful countenance, people will naturally gravitate toward you. - Pexels
Every once in a while, we encounter someone with uncommon courage, someone who talks with stunning candour, and could make people laugh in the most ordinary situation. We marvel. We admire. We gape in awe. Often we consider these people as lucky or talented, but in fact, it is really their attitude that makes them glow and flourish.
Whom we interact with can influence our attitude and motivation in life. Who wants to hang around a spoilsport or a party pooper who stifles joys and dampens spirits? Like Disney’s pessimistic Eeyore, there are people who are just genetically scripted to be dismal and dreary and sad most of the time.
Why are some of us happier than others?
The Greek philosopher Epictetus said, “It’s not what happens to you, but how you respond that matters.”
In other words, we can choose to fan the flames of motivation or stoke the misery of blame and anger. We’re all broken in areas we know, so let’s not be judgemental of those who have unwittingly fallen into a pit.
Indeed, there are times when we long to have a little light, a little clarity, a little charity, to help us see through the unsettling darkness. When we radiate a cheerful countenance, people will naturally gravitate toward you.
A favourable expression inspires trust and brightens up the atmosphere. Kind words give comfort in today’s chaotic world. Be of good cheer – even when it’s hard. Our personal appearance is our display window where we showcase our attitude and discipline.
One young lady shared with me that she can assess a man’s attitude pretty accurately upon first meeting by just looking at his shoes – whether they are clean or scuffed and dirty. First impressions speak a lot of a person’s character. Whether it is true or not, I’d like to believe that she’s right.
Female intuition aside, our gait, our stance, our manners, and how we carry ourselves reveal a lot about us. Adopting a failure attitude is demeaning and crippling, while a victorious attitude is a catalyst for success.
Those drowning in the quicksand of a negative attitude, usually have a raft of bad habits such as procrastinating, fretting, and do work in a shoddy and perfunctory manner. Is it any wonder that life is a disappointment to them?
What propels you to move forward?
As sensible seniors and responsible retirees, we must be motivated to take good care of ourselves so that we can savour our golden years to a hilt. We need to be strong and healthy to expand our vistas, and live as meaningfully as possible.
Keeping ourselves occupied by doing what we enjoy can save us from overthinking about the future. Health issues can steal joy, and rob the elderly of the quality of life. So eat well, have a forward-looking attitude, and maintain good relationships with neighbours, friends and family. This is important for keeping your spirits elevated.
Should we aim to stay vibrant at old age, we need to be gentle with ourselves and be kind to others. Kindness begets kindness, then discontent shall disappear, and you will feel zippy and energised.
Opt for a bright outlook, and rein in your ego. When we focus less on ourselves, and more on the well-being of others, we will be able to enhance our relationship with others. This shift in thinking is necessary for genuine and sustained happiness.
So much of our lives seem lost to hustle and distractions. We didn’t see the hurt on someone’s face by a careless comment. We didn’t listen heartfully to the conversation at the breakfast table. We never paused to smile at the doorman at the bank when he opened the door as we entered. The moment passed – and we had lost the opportunity to brighten someone’s day.
Each day there are numerous acts of human kindness and inspiring insights. If only we remembered to focus and sense them instead of being so self- absorbed or busy thinking of the things we need to do.
Without bringing our full consciousness to the moment, we would just be existing instead of forging connections that resonate with authenticity and warmth.
Call it enthusiasm, motivation, or drive, it all boils down to a can-do attitude – one that, when nurtured, can become the cornerstone of success and contentment. Everyone has the potenial to fine tune their attitude, and empower their lives.
The spirit in which you grapple with hardship or failure can show whether you’re a fearless fighter or cowering coward. If you think you’re a born loser, you become one. And if you admit your failure and look at ways to improve yourself, you fail forward, and turn unfortunate circumstances into a learning experience.
Just thinking of yourself as habitually unlucky will tend to make you so. It’s uncanny. Your very own thoughts have the power to disarm, build or tear down. The words you utter can become a self- inflicted prophecy or a blessing unto yourself. Adopting an attitude of gratitude will put you into a creative and inspiring frame of mind. Unlike other emotions that wax and wane, fortitude in attitude can be nurtured. When practised regularly, positivity becomes embeded in our instincts. We can then shift our perspectives from what is lacking to what is bountiful.
Keep looking up
Life is not a zero-sum game. We can achieve success while helping to lift others along the way. We can help others achieve their dreams without diminishing our own. No matter how many obstacles block your path, keep looking up, keep pushing ahead, until you are victorious over a relationship struggle, financial disarray, agaonising rejections or chronic disease.
Maintaining a calm attitude enables you to think rationally, and avoid biting the bait of foolishness. Be slow to anger so that you have time to think of a suitable response when caught in a sticky situation. To be rattled by someone’s criticism is to give power to the critic to manipulate your mood and undermine your mental clarity.
Beyond lived experiences, you can develop an unshakeable attitude of courage particularly towards those challenging times that seek to throw you off-course from your blissful life. So be unflappable, reignite your sense of resilience, and manifest your most winsome frame of mind.
Mary Eu is a retiree with a passion for writing. When she is not prowling the shopping mall looking for a dress she can scream into, she can be found reading, writing or home-decorating.
