New Reminders: Attitude

Attitude can be described as a way of thinking or feeling about someone or something.  It is a frame of mind or a viewpoint that determines how we see, or interpret other people’s, ideas and/or behavior and how we process information.  A person with a benevolent and generous attitude, tends to give others the benefit of the doubt, until all the facts are known.  Someone with a more sinical attitude is likely to be skeptical or suspicious until, and unless, the other person proves their point.  Both positive and negative attitudes may be employed, depending on what type of situation we are trying to evaluate as favorable or unfavorable.  Our attitudes often stem from learned habits for responding to social stimuli.

Attitudes form from three components; the affective (how we feel), behavioral (how we act) and cognitive (how we think).  For example, we have all experienced someone who is arrogant and full of pride, who has a big ego and acts like they're better than everyone else. Haughty people can be disdainful, overbearing, prideful, swaggering, and obnoxious.  On the other hand, we have also known people who are humble, pleasant, loving, generous, thoughtful and kind.  The good news is that we get to choose which type of person we want to emulate.  We might need to overcome some bad habits, picked up from our environment and our associations with others, but it can be done.  Changing long held beliefs that have warped our attitudes and corrupted our actions is hard!  It takes courage and determination, but with God’s help, and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead; it can happen.

If we feel good about ourselves, we don’t need to pretend to be more important than anyone else.  People who are insecure often act arrogantly and feel like they need to take control of every situation, to cover for their insecurities.  If we realize that we are not in control––God is, we can back off and act more-kindly toward others.  We can let go, and let God lead our actions.  We can adjust our attitude to be more like Jesus, putting others' needs above our own.  We can adopt an attitude of gratitude for all the blessings God has showered upon us, including sending His Son to die for the forgiveness of our sins.  He can even forgive our bad attitudes if we sincerely repent and make the effort to change for the better.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.  In your relationships with one another, have the same attitude as Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:3-5