A. You Are What You Think
Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary lists seven different definitions for the word “attitude.” For our purposes, let’s look at two.
1. A mental position with regard to a fact or state
2. A [biological] state of readiness to respond in a characteristic way to a stimulus.
Notice that one definition deals with the psychological and the other looks at the biological. In other words, our attitude encompasses both what we feel about — as author Douglas Adams called it — “Life, the Universe and Everything,” — as well as how we react to it all.
So, even before we begin to ask questions about how to live a better life or how to improve our self-image or grow more prosperous, we must look at how we each look at this thing called “Our Life.”
If we want to succeed, it’s important to understand that how we set our life’s compass — our attitude — will determine where we travel for the remainder of our journey.
Notice the two definitions above, the first assumes that attitude is a function of the brain. The second portrays a life in which the wellsprings of the mind flow into what we do physically — in other words our habits, speech and even our health.
Attitude is built from many materials starting with our genetic disposition — that’s right, Mum and Dad hold some sway over how are brains grow and mature as well as what kind of neuro-chemicals are mixed together in our amazing skulls.
