The problem with many self-help programs is they are based on the assumption that attitude is totally dependent on will or some kind of iron discipline. Of course, it is true that we are responsible for our thoughts and we must choose to respond to life — more on that later.
For those who truly want to change, however, it is important to approach our attitude from the standpoint of understanding who we are and what genetic traits we have inherited from our forebears.
Why? Once we understand what psychological and emotional factors have attached to our relatives, we can then approach real change armed with enough information for a reality check.
This is not an argument in favor of determinism (“I’m the way I am because of my parents and I CAN’T do anything about it!). Even if you grew up with two of the angriest parents to ever grace human society, you can still overcome such a temperament. But the important thing to understand is that you may possess the same traits. By acknowledging your heritage, you can move forward knowing what pitfalls may await you, courtesy of your genes.
Before we use any compass on a long journey, we should always make sure it’s going to work properly. Is it calibrated for true North? Just like a misaligned compass, our lives can become off-center based on our past. Whether it’s mental abuse by a loved one or a negative attitude we absorb from popular culture, any examination of attitude must start with introspection.
