Words of Wisdom Wednesday: Choose Your Attitude

I almost named my blog “Choose to Laugh,” because in some of the most stressful situations, a chuckle can cure all! And some of the situations our kids put us in, all we can do is laugh (because if we don’t, we might cry!) Plus, if you know me, I love to laugh and find joy in making others laugh, too. J

When I worked at Stanton Middle School, our principal would end every day’s morning announcements with the same message. He would say “Choose Your attitude…” (My fellow Stantonites know what I’m talking about!) J

Hmmm. Let that sit for a moment. Attitude is a choice...

I am in a mom’s group that meets weekly (similar to MOPS if you are familiar with that). This week’s message was centered around Philippians 4:11-12. “…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstance.” I think the key word here is “learned” because I find that contentment often doesn’t come naturally. It’s a conscious choice we must keep making and hopefully one day our brains will default to positive thinking. But until that happens –if it ever does -at least we will always have a choice to be “happy.”

So when your significant other asks you something you know you've told him/her a thousand times before: Choose LOVE. When your kids made a mess playing, but you know they had a blast: Choose JOY. When the kitchen is in chaos and there is a stack of bills to pay on the counter: Choose PEACE. When your 2 year old throws the mother of all tantrums in the Social Security Office that was as quiet as a library when you got there (yes, that was me this morning...) Choose PATIENCE. When a stranger is rude to you: Choose KINDNESS. Well, you get the idea.

So in the words of Principal Lomas:

“Choose your attitude… and make it a good one!”

And hopefully your actions will follow.

I challenge you to take one moment amidst a frustrating situation this week where you pause to change your attitude & actions to good ones.

Feel free to leave your experience in the comment section; I’d love to hear all about it!