Five Amazing Tips To A Better Attitude

In ballet, an attitude is a beautiful posture with the knee raised and bent either in front of or in back of you. Performing an attitude as beautiful as the one to the right requires practice and skill. When executed correctly, it is exquisite.

The term attitude comes from the French word attitude which means a posture or way of holding the body.

The word attitude isn’t just a ballet term. It also refers to your posture – the way you show up.

Your attitude is…

• What leaks out of you; your beliefs, thinking, feelings, experiences, and knowledge all ooze out in your attitude.
• Contagious! Attitudes spread from one person to another.
• Something that attracts people or repels them, and everything in-between.
• Playing a role in how the people in your life experience you and how you handle your circumstances.
• Your greatest asset or your greatest liability.
• Coloring your perspective on your life, relationships, work, and just about everything else!
• Your responsibility to manage!

Your Attitude Matters!

As a leader, your attitude trickles down. Parents, your attitudes are transferred to your kiddos. And if you aren’t a leader or a parent, you aren’t off the hook. Your attitude is impacting those in your sphere!

That’s why it’s worth being aware of your attitude! I daresay that attitude is an area most have room to improve. And, if you are a believer, you are to have a Christ-like attitude. That’s a high ask!

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Philippians 2: 5 (NLT)

What Was Christ’s Attitude?

He was humble, selfless, and obedient. His priority was pleasing the Father. His mind was fixed on the Father and what He was doing.

Jesus’ heart was to serve and care for those around Him. Out of His remarkable love for us – sinful separated humans – Jesus was willing to die and sacrifice His life so that we might have life!

Jesus knew how deeply loved He was by the Father which allowed Him to “live loved” in a way that overflowed onto those around Him including the Samaritans, women, tax collectors, and others who were typically looked down on. John 1:14 describes Jesus this way: He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. That’s what leaked out even when He was speaking truth and confronting the religious leaders that misunderstood Him.

Jesus’ attitude rubbed off on His disciples in the same way that His attitude rubs off on you if you are willing to spend time in His presence.

Adjusting Your Attitude

Because your attitude flows out of your thinking – your beliefs, feelings, the meaning you make of your experiences, and what you learn, that’s a great place to start working on improving your attitude.

Paul urges the Ephesians to renew their minds because your attitude directs your actions – it all starts in your mind. It’s your thinking that gets you off course and alters your attitude.

Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. Ephesians 4:23-24 (NLT)

As you work on renewing your thoughts, it naturally improves your attitude. Here are five more practical tips to improve your attitude:

1. Practice Gratitude Daily!

Gratitude = a great attitude!

Ingratitude = a not-so-great attitude.

When you lack gratitude it’s shows up as…

• • • Complaining – You want circumstances or people to be different than they are. Complaining not only expresses disappointment, but it exposes expectations that maybe you didn’t even know you had. Nestled in your complaints is fear.
    • Comparing – You use other people as your measuring stick rather than shooting for excellence and doing your best. It’s unfair to compare yourself to anyone else because your circumstances, strengths, talents, gifts, personalities, etc. are unique – different from anyone else’s. Your season of life, goals, and capacity are exclusive to you. It’s like comparing apples and eggs. They are both food and roundish in shape, but are used in very different ways.

Instead, appreciate the amazing qualities in others and the unique human God created you to be.

• • • Discontent – The misconception is that your circumstances dictate your contentment level. Try being grateful and discontent simultaneously. You can’t!

On the other hand, when taking things for granted it’s easy to desire more!

Contentment…

comes from knowing that God loves you and that He is taking care of you, your life, work, and relationships. In that place of contentment you can see more clearly the ways in which God is actively at work in your life and that’s something to be thankful for!

Consider Paul’s words: Actually, I don’t have a sense of needing anything personally. I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, His generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.
Philippians 4:11-13, 19 (MSG)

• • • Unsatisfied – To be satisfied is to focus on the blessing of all you have. When yearning for more, you see the problems, the gaps, and the voids miss what you have. Rather than dwelling on what’s missing, what if you were thankful for what is?
    • Bitter – Yes, stuck in the hurt, injustice, and grievances of the past all narrow your perspective and stifle your ability to be thankful! In fact, left unresolved, it’s difficult to appreciate the good things in your life.

2. Intentionally Be Patient

What is patience? It’s the ability to not only accept delays, but embrace them. Your posture is one of ease, peace, and thoughtfulness.

When you lack patience, you are prone to being easily frustrated, frequently hurrying, and restless. You interrupt, urge others to speed up, or you repeatedly glance at your phone.

So welcome those interruptions. Get in the longest line. Give others your undivided attention. Practice being patient; you won’t be perfect at it, but the effort you put in to grow in this area will do wonders for your attitude!

3. Operate With Margin

When you have margin, there’s breathing room between activities in your life. You rest on the Sabbath, don’t overextend yourself, take breaks, and vacation regularly, even if they are stay-cations!

When your schedule is crammed, however, it’s challenging to pause, reflect, or appreciate much of anything. Rushing from one activity to the next, the people in your path are merely in the way and bear the brunt of your not so positive attitude!

It is worth asking yourself, what’s fueling the frantic activity? Is it the desire to be popular? Successful? To get it all done?  To accomplish more? Is your Fear Monster urging you on in hopes that you will be enough, matter, appear competent, or measure up?

Imagine the relief slowing down and enjoying a little margin in your life would bring! How might that benefit your attitude?

4. Seek Out “The Best”

Cultivate a new habit of looking for the very best in others and sharing with them what you see. Be genuine and specific in your compliments and don’t expect anything in return.

Make an effort to find the positive in your circumstances, even when they are hard. Share those happy insights with others. They will appreciate your encouraging perspective!

Like any new habit, actively looking for the good takes time to settle in, but don’t be surprised if you begin to see some changes before you’ve mastered this skill!

5. Spend Time In His Presence

If time with the Father was necessary for Jesus, it’s even more important for you and me. Remember: attitudes are contagious. There’s no one better to mingle with than God!

Just like the disciples, you need time in His presence and it’s in His presence that you (and your attitude) are transformed.

…And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like Hm as we are changed into His glorious image. 2 Corinthians 3:18b (NLT)

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered Himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Ephesians 5: 1-2 (NLT)

Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. I John 2:6 (NLT)

Time with God – The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – changes you from the inside out and transforms your attitude in the very best of ways!

Take Action!

How will you incorporate these tips into your own life?

It’s different for everyone, so start with the tip that would have the most significant impact your attitude first. Focus on practicing that for a week, a month or even a couple months. Then move on to another one of the tips I’ve shared above.

Ask a friend, family member, or coach to hold you accountable for growing in that area of your life.

Perhaps you are already doing well in each of the areas I highlighted. That’s awesome! What would enable you to level up in these areas? There’s room for an even better attitude!

Just like the grace of a ballerina in an attitude pose, you too will have a beautiful attitude!

Originally posted on 11/26/19, this post has been updated and revised just for you!