Is it easy to create a positive attitude ?


*Attitude*

"POR QUES" : Spanish proverb meaning 'Why and Because'.

These two words why and because represent our attitude and virtually govern our lives.

Let us ask ourselves two questions :

*Do we have control over actions or reactions of others ?*

*and*

*Do we have control over our own actions and reactions ?*

The answer to the first question is no : Why no, because we have no control over others.

The answer to the second question is yes : Why yes, because one can train the mind -

because man is the only creation of HIS whom HE has endowed with free will coupled with the instinct
to discriminate.

The two coupled together create 'attitude'.

All other creations live their lives by instinct - the animal eats only when hungry, kills when hungry,
procreates when nature demands,

whereas man lives by attitude.

Again, our attitude to failures.

*Is 'failure' to be considered as failure or stepping stone to success ?*

Edison's response when told that he has failed 99 times to discover electricity,was,
"I have not failed" -- I now know that electricity cannot be discovered by these 99 means".

It is this attitude which made edison the first amongst equals.
He can easily be said to be the father of the concept of intellectual property.

All progress is because of questioning minds --- An attitude of seeking answers
and not accepting failure whilst pursuing 'Why" and 'Because'.

Swami Dayanand in his treatise on GITA says that desire is a great motivator and
one has a choice of action -- because no action is also action,
but one does not have control over result, which is determined according to the laws of
nature-- Karma.

He,therefore,advocates the development of 'Prasad-budhi'---attitude to accept results with
reverence.

It is this attitude which makes a man a success because non-acceptance leads to regret.
Even if we examine our reactions lead to everyday occurrences in life, it will establish that
negative reactions lead to discomfort,regret and misery,

whereas a positive reaction, even to an unpleasant event places us on the path of success.

How true it is if we reflect that we are more hurt by
'What our opinion is of what happened than what actually happened'.

It is our judgement, our reaction, our resistance that causes pain.

Thinkers in all ages advise us to develop the attitude of being HIS agent -- because
an agent can do no wrong -- it is the master who is responsible.

Can we consciously,at all the times, act as agent ?

It is difficult but possible and if practised, can free an individual from the cycle of KARMA.

There is a good old saying,

"a man is what he thinketh".

In other words,

Our attitude makes us what we are.

The question is :Is it easy to create a positive attitude ?
The answer lies again in our "attitude". I believe it is possible.

*I would conclude by quoting Charles Swindoll :*

*"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 success,than other people think,say or do.*
*It is more important than appearance,gift,or skill.*
*It will make or break a company --- a church --- a home.*
*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 incharge of our attitudes"*

Regards
K.Ilayaraja.