A NEW ATTITUDE

“It always seems impossible until it
is done.”


~Nelson Mandela
A NEW ATTITUDE
 
We’ve all heard it before: “A bad attitude is like a flat tire. You can’t go anywhere until you change it.”  We’ve also heard: “Your attitude determines your altitude.”  I have come to realize that the world reflects back to us the very attitude and persona that we project.  Study after study has proven that those persons with a good positive attitude are usually a lot happier in life, more successful, more fulfilled, and they accomplish a lot more than those who don’t have a good positive attitude.
Once per year, we are encouraged to go to the doctor to get an annual check-up and or a physical—to make sure our bodies are healthy.  Twice per year we are encouraged to go to the dentist to get a cleaning and an inspection—to make sure our teeth are in good health and to prevent any cavities from creeping in.  Even mental health professionals are now encouraging people all across the country to get regular mental health check-ups—to ensure they are mentally and emotionally healthy.  I think there is one more item that we need to add to the list and that is our attitudes.  Except your attitude is something that you need to do a daily (sometimes more) check-up on.
As your pastor, let me encourage you to begin to inspect your own attitude, daily. So many times, we are quick to judge those around us. And so many times, it is so easy to pick out the flaws that dwell in that attitudes of those around us.  But we also need to be able to look in the mirror and do some self-reflection and self-introspection.
Church—It is imperative that you and I as Christ-followers display to the world a good positive attitude.  When you and I walk into a room, the people present should be able to feel our positive aura and our Christ-like glow.  When you and I walk into a room, the people around us should feel a cool breeze blowing upon their hearts—easing their anxiousness.   
So, with all of that said, let us begin to get to work by first cleaning up our own attitude and then displaying a good positive attitude towards those around us.  We display a good positive attitude towards those around us by smiling instead of frowning.  We display a good positive attitude towards those around us by thinking positive thoughts about them and ourselves instead of negative ones.  And we display a good positive attitude towards those around us by honestly and sincerely wishing that best for them, just as we wish the best for ourselves.  So let me encourage you to get to work, immediately, on displaying this good positive attitude towards yourself and others.  You never know, with this new positive attitude, you may just change the entire trajectory of your life and the lives of those around you.    
I’ll leave you with the lyrics from a song by Patti LaBelle entitled A New Attitude (Feel free to sing along in your head):



I'm feelin' good from my head to my shoes
Know where I'm goin' and I know what to do
I tidied up my point of view
I got a new attitude


I'm in control, my worries are few
'Cause I've got love like I never knew
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
I got a new attitude.


I'm wearing a new dress (New), new hair (New)
Brand new ideas, as a matter of fact I've changed for good
It must have been the cool night, new moon, new slight change
More than to figure, but I feel like I should, yes
Somehow the wires uncrossed, the tables were turned
Never knew I had such a lesson to learn
I'm feelin' good from my head to my shoes
Know where I'm goin' and I know what to do
I tidied up my point of view
I got a new attitude.
Pastor Michael L. Sloan