Controlling your mental attitude

What strategy do you use to control your mental attitude when life seems to function erratically or behave oddly?

Have you learned to maintain an optimistic outlook at your future instead of capitulating to your present situations?

Whether you believe this or not, your mental attitude is always at a fork in the pathway of life. The one thing that can help bring us success or failure, bless us with peace of mind or curse us with misery while experiencing the challenges of life, is the simple privilege of taking possession of our own minds, and guiding them to whatever ends we choose. Napoleon Hill said,

Mental attitude is a determining factor—perhaps the most important one—of what results one gets from prayer. Only prayers that are backed by a mental attitude of profound faith can be expected to bring positive results.

Oftentimes, what people do is allow situations take control of their mental attitude instead of learning to master it themselves. As people give up control, control must come from someone or something; and this is why people panic, fear, and confusion occurs because of some unfortunate circumstance. You may not be able to control every situation you confront, but you can take possession of your mind to ensure the best possible outcome for you. A person experiences three stages with problem situations.

1. How you view yourself going in. (Past)
2. How you view yourself while in it. (Present)
3. How you view yourself coming out. (Future)

In truth, you are the only one who actually determines the state of your mental attitude. You can blame situations and you can even blame others for how you react. But, at the end of the day, you are still the owner of your mind. Look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself this question, “Would I want to be in a life and death situation with the power of choice in your hands?” How you truly respond with hesitation or certainty will determine what areas of your character you must work on. Confidence is vital to a healthy mental attitude; and without it, all you have is the shell called mental attitude.