I often work with clients who feel that life is passing them by, that they are not making the most of the opportunities that come their way. They have a vague sense of dissatisfaction that life could be better than this. Many of us are prone to thinking that others' lives are somehow more exciting, more fulfilling than our own. The end of the year is a good time to take stock. It's also a good time to change our outlook so that we confidently enter 2008, determined to make the most of it.
The testimony of countless men and women down the ages is that human beings are capable of the most extraordinary acts of bravery, compassion or generosity when put in particularly demanding situations. I wonder whether the relative comfort of the life that so many of us lead militates against us becoming who we truly have it in us to be.
My challenge to you this Christmas is to ask yourself two simple questions. If you were making the most of your life, what would you be doing differently? And what habits of thought and behaviour would you change?
We may not be able to make immediate alterations to our situation. And there are some things we cannot change. But there is something that we are always in control of; and that is our attitude. As Charles Swindoll so eloquently put it:
"The longer I live, the more I realise the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home.
"The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one thing we have, and that is our attitude.
"I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you:we are in charge of our attitudes."
I'm working with a client who has discovered for herself the importance of attitude as she's taken more control of her life. As she said to me: "Thanks for the session on Wednesday. I think I did most of the talking, mainly on important, positive realisations. It shows how much healthier my attitude is and how my ability to support myself has improved over the last couple of months. It was the last of our four sessions this year, but 'the file is not closed' and I look forward to more positive reinforcement next year!"
Focus on the things you can do, not those you can't. Discover how much more you have it in yourself to be. Remember, attitude is all. Whatever challenges you face in 2008, may you approach them full on.
Happy Christmas!
Adam
