Good Attitude: The Building Blocks of Consistent

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Beef Nilaga | Photo by Sri Widyowati from Freepik

Food has become a symbol of status in the Philippine society. A Filipino family that can afford a buffet restaurant says a lot about how well off they are. They are the most hardworking people you will ever meet. Despite the tiredness and the lack of sleep, they will always show up just so they can provide for their family.

The phrase “Kapag walang tiyaga, walang nilaga” (without perseverance, there is no stew) is embedded in the Filipino culture. It is a reminder that we will starve to death if we are not determined to prepare the meal. And the one main ingredient to Filipinos’ success is consistent.

According to Collins Dictionary, consistent defines as “a person who behaves in the same way or has the same attitudes towards people or things, or achieves the same level of success in something”. In order for us to be successful, we need to be consistent in what we are doing. However, let’s face it. Being consistent can be tough especially if we do not have the right mindset. Constructing a good attitude can discipline us to stay on the right track

John Maxwell, a world-renowned leadership author and speaker, gives us a perspective of how to build a good attitude through his book “The Winning Attitude”.

Why Changing Our Attitude Matters to Stay Consistent

Attitude Indicator | Photo by Kristina Delp on Unsplash

There is a term I learned from John Maxwell, and it’s called “Attitude Indicator” where he related it to airplanes. Pilots depend on this device to adjust the orientation of their airplane in flying mode. When an airplane goes up, it has nose-high attitude because the nose of the airplane is above the horizon. But when it goes down, it has nose-down attitude because the nose is below the horizon.

A pilot is responsible in changing the attitude of their flying in order for an airplane to go up or to go down. And like in every success story, we are responsible in changing our attitude in order to be consistent in what we are supposed to do.

Our attitude is the primary force that will determine whether we succeed or fail. (Chapter 3 — pg. 26 of “The Winning Attitude”)

Part of changing our attitude is our mindset. Our brains are like magnets. We attract what we believe. If you keep telling yourself that you will not close a sale this week, you will never close a sale this week. The lack of self-awareness is self-sabotage; we would not be able to filter the good ones from the bad ones. It is important to be strategic on what kind of thoughts you let in. And when you do, you will be unstoppable!

How to Bounce Back to a Good Attitude

Remember: Others can stop you temporarily, but you are the only one who can do it permanently. (Chapter 7 — pg. 80 of “The Winning Attitude”)

It is natural for us to run off course. We are human beings — we are not meant to be perfect. And in order to keep our attitude in check, we need to create a parameter:

Choose who and what you surround with

Ever heard of the saying “tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you are”? Our peers, co-workers, and family members are a great influencer in our life. If you get swept in the wrong crowd, your attitude will change terribly. And before you know it, you are doing some things that will greatly discount the consistency that you have built for years in order to achieve success. So, choose wisely on who and what you let in your life.

Be comfortable in the uncomfortable

The only person who can stop us from achieving success is ourselves. And the only way we can achieve success is if we pressure ourselves to step out of our comfort zone. John Maxwell calls it “Sap Strata” — our limiting barrier. It takes a “sap” out of us to reach our potential, and the only way to do it is to sit in with discomfort. Consistency needs us to be uncomfortable knowing how difficult the task will be. Do it scared. Do it despite the risk.

Switch gears in the midst of crash outs

John mentioned two most important inward storms as we build a good attitude. First is the fear of failure. We learn from our mistakes. It is impossible that we will not face rejection. When we feel the fear of failure bubbling up, just remember that no one succeeded without failing. Lastly, the dread of discouragement. We tend to belittle ourselves when we feel discouraged. This creates a negative impact not just internally but externally. So instead of dwelling on the negativity, start by reinforcing positivity by solving the problem, replace toxic thoughts with a “can-do” attitude, and persist in the face of adversity.

Being consistent is all about constructing a good attitude. If we are disciplined enough to stay in the game, we will achieve success. Be prepared on what life has to offer so that you can prepare the ingredients in creating the perfect stew.

References

Consistent definition and meaning | Collins english dictionary. (n.d.). https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/consistent

Maxwell, J. C. (2000). The Winning Attitude ; Developing the Leaders Around You ; Becoming a Person of Influence. T. Nelson.

Hey there! I was not able to post last week because I was out sick resting. Now I am back and more energized than ever! Thank you for spending time with me. Love you lots 💖

• The Book Keeper