Attitude is everything! A bad attitude in just one person can be like poison to a group. On the other hand, a positive and encouraging attitude can lift an entire group to a new level of belief and anticipation. Have you ever caught yourself with a bad attitude? A negative perspective will always tend to find negative patterns, which in turn validates our pre-conceived notions. A bad attitude can be self-fulfilling and very hard to change. It’s a trap! Don’t allow yourself to get caught in the downward spiral of a bad attitude and certainly don’t take others with you.
Philippians 2:5 presents this challenge: “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.” (NASB) The passage goes on to describe the humility and obedience of Jesus to do what God was calling Him to do, no matter the cost.
So how do you change a bad attitude in yourself or others? The first step is to identify it and name it. It takes a lot of humility to admit wrong thinking. Secondly, since “perception is reality”, in order to change a bad attitude you have to change how you perceive the people and circumstances around you. Your bad attitude not only affects the way you act but it influences the way other people act toward you. So, the only way to change your perception is for you to help bring change to the circumstances around you. Changing your “actions” is the best way to begin changing your “attitude”. If you begin to act differently, you will begin to think differently and others around you will begin to act differently as well. It’s the self-discipline of simply doing the right thing no matter what the cost. It’s following the example of Jesus by being humble and obedient. Challenge yourself today to not only have a good attitude yourself, but to be instrumental in influencing the attitudes of others in a positive way.