Healthy Attitudes: Essential Decisions to a Meaningful Life
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We all encounter challenges and unfairness as we search for a meaningful life. A wise person once said, "Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it." At times, we can feel so overwhelmed by our struggles that it's hard to find the strength—mentally, emotionally, and spiritually—to maintain a hopeful attitude. This attitude is essential because it enriches our lives, allows us to respond wisely and kindly, and helps us support others by making a difference in their lives.
Every day, we choose a variety of attitudes. I encourage us to live with a growth attitude versus a fixed attitude. A fixed attitude is a strict way of thinking that withstands change, growth, or new viewpoints. It often arises from a belief that abilities, circumstances, or personal traits are unchangeable. This belief leads to avoidance of challenges, defensiveness against feedback, and a fear of failure. A growth attitude is a view that welcomes wisdom, resilience, and adaptability, believing that abilities and character can grow through struggle, experience, and persistence. It sees challenges as opportunities, values feedback, and stays open-minded to new opportunities for progress. Embrace challenges as stepping stones to growth, turning obstacles into opportunities!
As we strive to cultivate a growth attitude that embraces challenges and seeks personal development, it's essential to ground this mindset in the teachings of Jesus and the wisdom found in God's word, providing us with a solid foundation for our journey. As followers of Jesus, how do we anchor and tether our growth attitude to the word of God so that the power or force of our own will does not limit our approach toward life? Here's a chart that can help you:
Here are questions to help you transition from a fixed attitude to a growth attitude:
Can you identify a mistake you've made that taught you something valuable? (This question helps to foster resilience and the idea that setbacks can lead to improvements.)
What challenges have you faced recently, and how can you view them as opportunities for growth? (This question encourages reflection on current struggles and helps shift the perspective towards seeing them as growth opportunities.)
What is one skill or area of knowledge you'd like to develop further, and what steps can you take to pursue that growth? (This question promotes a proactive approach to learning and continuous development.)
How can you reframe negative feedback you’ve received as constructive criticism that can help you improve? (This question encourages openness to input and helps see it as a tool for personal development rather than a setback.)
Adopting a growth attitude grounded in Jesus' teachings and God's wisdom encourages us to embrace challenges, view responsibility as essential for growth, and remain resilient in the face of setbacks. This ultimately enhances our personal development and ability to support others.
The Lord and His peace be upon you!
:: Lance