When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, think, enjoy, love, and conquer your world. Then tell yourself: the people I meet and deal with today will be kind, compassionate, empathetic, supportive, strong, weak, cheeky, meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous and rude. The right attitude to have is:
- Cultivate and sustain an attitude of gratitude
- Don’t relish in what you are unable to achieve or accomplish
- Be appreciative, if not for anything – LIFE and HEALTH
Some daily expectations of having are:
Start your day with the expectation of pleasantries and some pushbacks, which will only enrage you a little when it does happen. Anticipate that others will appreciate your efforts and action while others will question your decisions, waste your time, and take advantage of your willingness to help. By expecting this behaviour, you can mentally prepare, learn how to avoid getting sucked into time-wasting tasks and discussions and be able to justify your decisions when questioned. And if things go better than expected, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Remember how fast things pass by and are gone – those that are now and those that are to come.
Keep a positive attitude:
Choose to overlook the unpleasant or nasty things people may say about you; they won’t hurt that much. Instead, pay a little attention to their words and let go of the anger that wells up inside. For, in the end, anger hurts but only one person, YOU! Isn’t it ironic and amazement how we all love ourselves more than other people but care more about their opinion than our own? Learn to focus on accepting what is not within your control and mastering your emotions. Rather than allowing distractions to derail you, choose where you direct your attention, and expend your energy where it matters most, based on understanding your priorities and goals.
In the pursuit of your daily goals:
- Be ambitious but not vicious
- Be useful but not used
- Be humble but not timid – humility is a virtue, timidity is a disease and an affliction.
- Be resilient but not rude
- Be kind but not manipulative
- Be bold, but not aggressive – boldness courts, aggression distances
- Be thoughtful but not lazy;
- Be proud but not arrogant;
- Have humour but without folly
- Seek to understand before being understood
- Embrace self-discipline and perseverance
- Listen more than you talk
- Develop a growth mindset, as opposed to a fixed mindset
Consider others’ viewpoints:
Strive to understand, accommodate and appreciate the perspectives and emotions of those around you. Respond to their needs with kindness and understanding. Remember:
- The pursuit of passion is more satisfying than profit
- Hard work often beats talent
- Excellence is more profitable than perfection
- Big is little, and Little is big
After all, it is said and done
The ultimate goal is to cultivate calm by priming our mindset and setting ourselves free from external factors’ control over our emotions. So please focus on what we can control with positive action that aligns with our values and walk an authentic, purposeful path free from fear and anxiety.
ATAFOM University International is a dynamic educational system focused on educating through integration. A positive mindset is the beginning of success, and success at ATAFOM University begins the day you enrol. So, today, cultivate a habit of responding rather than reacting. Do not react to the situations around you. Instead, reply to the call for change and a better future at ATAFOM University. YOUR BETTER FUTURE BEGINS HERE!