Attitude is a Control Issue

Last updated on: September 7, 2019 at 11:28 pm by Victorious Living

Attitude is a Control Issue 2019-09-07T23:28:13-04:00 Victorious Living

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Attitude is like an accessory we put on and wear every day. It jangles and rubs and reveals itself throughout the circumstances of our lives. We cannot escape the reality of having to confront our attitude. Throughout the day, we make adjustments according to its prompting.

Our attitude is closely tied to our emotions. But they are not synonyms. The way we feel is an alert, an invitation. Attitude is the response to that invitation. While emotions are largely patterned, attitude is something different. It is a control issue.

Family or Stranger

Our attitude is one of the three things we can control. These are distinct from all other considerations in life in that it is solely in our power. It is easy to blame others, lament circumstances, and cast ourselves as victims to the world around us. To believe that our attitude is a natural reaction to external stimuli. But that is not true. Emotions are that. Attitude is the deliberate choice we make in response to those emotions. It is on us. Under our control.

We like to pretend our attitude is a thief prowling in the night. An invader. A stranger. We do this by tying it so closely to our emotions that we cannot tell one apart from the other. We have to adopt a certain attitude because we feel a certain way. As if the two are mutually inclusive. One and the same.

In the same vein, we often talk about “controlling” our emotions. We can’t really control emotions. We can use them properly. We can make choices in response to them. But they are turbo-charged alarms letting us know a value is at stake. We can’t really control them. What we mean by this phrase is that we need to take our emotions and use them well, which is the impetus of attitude.

Attitude is not a feeling, it is a perspective. And there is nothing more familiar, more familial, than perspective. It is the true home of our active self.

Ally or Foe

We can use the opportunity of attitude for good or ill. We can pretend our emotions aren’t there or we can pretend they are king. Or, we can chose to acknowledge them (along with a myriad of additional factors of life) and intentionally chose the attitude we’ll adopt in response. Likewise, we can engage with our circumstances and relationships or we can ignore them. We can pretend they aren’t happening or pretend they are definitive. Or, we can take them in stride.

The determining factor is our choice. It is the choosing of our soul that determines the attitudes of our day.

Previous Post

February 15, 2019

The Flow Of Influence And The Power Of Perspective

Next Post

February 20, 2019 How to Foster Trust in A Relationship

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Choices Conflict Resolution Culture Change Emotions Failure Faith Fear Freedom V Growth Healthy Communication Hope Identity Influence Leadership Learn Mistakes Mood Curve Ownership Perspective Power Relationships Self-Awareness Self-Governance Systems Thinking Three Things You Control Transformational Leadership Trust Truth Uncategorized Values Vision

Select a Month January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does "Bartholomew" mean in Aramaic?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Son of Talmai Fisher of Men The Lord is my Shepherd Servant of God

Books by This Author Books by Victorious Living

See All Titles »