Positive attitude can add years to life

By Lionel Wijesiri

Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference
– Winston Churchill

It has been said that opportunity knocks once in a while at everyone’s front door and if we instantly respond and take right action, it leads to success. Life experiences have proved that this axiom is perfectly right.

However, the important point is this: It is only the right attitude which will bring forth the right actions. The great motivational speaker Zig Ziglar once said: “It is your attitude, not your aptitude that determines your path of life. Staying positive all the time will help you succeed in life, in business and in whatever endeavour you will have in your daily life”.

Meditation or prayer will help develop positive attitudes towards life

Voltaire expressed it beautifully when he said, “Life is like a shipwreck, but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats.” An ancient Persian saying puts a great perspective on our daily aches and pains in life, “I had the blues because I had no shoes until upon the street, I met a man who had no feet.” Some of us may curse some bad days we encounter and wish they never came.

Cavett Robert offers these poignant words: “Every day may not be good, but there’s something good in every day.” It’s our job to find it! That’s the wonderful point - we can choose our attitudes. We’re in complete control of it.

Charles Swindoll, an American author said, “The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past … we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. … I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. And so it is with you … we are in charge of our attitudes.”

British playwright Tom Stoppard, who was knighted in 1997, said, “A healthy attitude is contagious, but don’t wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier”. And attitude at life is critical. So, ask yourself “Am I a ‘glass half full’ or a ‘glass half empty’ type of person? Am I the one who sees a problem in every difficult situation or an opportunity? Am I an Eeyore or a Tigger?

Pessimistic

That last reference is to a couple of characters from the classic children’s series Winnie the Pooh. Eeyore is the gloomy donkey who is always quite pessimistic and can find the negative in any situation. Tigger is the exact opposite. He’s described this way: “He is cheerful, outgoing, competitive in a friendly way, and has complete confidence in himself.”

Personally I’d much rather be around a Tigger than an Eeyore. Tigger’s passion and energy are contagious.

Attitude will make a big difference in the outcomes you achieve. Great leaders recognise the importance of attitude in success. Thomas Jefferson did. He said, “Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.”

In our world today, information changes rapidly and is always growing in quantity; science and technology advance; transportation becomes increasingly convenient. As we take in the rapidly changing outside world, these things look very good for people and for life. But this also can make problems. Our minds are in crisis - becoming cluttered with too much information, too many things to do.

Each person becomes like a machine: The mind is always busy working, running, always in action. If we are too busy with outside things, the heart and spirit are occupied and cannot exchange very well. Each person gradually becomes like an empty shell. When this exchange becomes impeded, our bodies, inner mind and emotions develop problems. Talking about emotional problems, my mind moves into the Chinese philosophy of “Qigong”. I believe it is quite relevant to our topic of discussion.

Another contributor that can lead to positive attitude is the happy family

Qigong is a practice of aligning breath, movement, and awareness for exercise, healing and meditation. With roots in Chinese medicine, martial arts and philosophy, Qigong is traditionally viewed as a practice to cultivate and balance qi or what has been translated as “intrinsic life energy”.

Qigong

Typically a Qigong practice involves rhythmic breathing coordinated with slow stylised repetition of fluid movement, a calm mindful state and visualisation of guiding qi through the body. Qigong is now practised throughout China and worldwide, and is considered by some to be exercise, and by others to be a type of alternative medicine or meditative practice.

From a philosophical perspective, Qigong is believed to help develop human potential, allow access to higher realms of awareness, and awaken one’s “true nature”.

If we further explain what Qigong is, Qi is the essence of life. Through the practice of genuine Qigong, it is good for both physical and emotional health. It stimulates the qi to flow, improving the qi exchange between the individual and nature. When qi flows smoothly, it generates more energy in the body. Blood circulation becomes better. When the blood flows smoothly, there is less stagnation, and the body becomes healthier.

Emotions can affect the quality of qi in the body; either murky or pure. An emotional problem often is more difficult to cure than a purely physical one. When the qi in our body and nature do not exchange well, our heart, mind, body and soul cannot integrate. The immune system becomes weaker. Then a health crisis can appear.

Chinese believe that Qigong is good for emotional health because, with the movements and understanding of the philosophy of the Qigong, people understand the meaning of life better.

This can remove worries and stress from their minds and bodies. Qigong changes your life to become a happy and healthy life. Why are many people not happy in their hearts? According to Qigong philosophy, in the inner heart, one’s attitude of life is very important.

If it is not right, the attitude of life should be adjusted. A natural life is a colourful life.

In this life, many things may make you feel happy, and you appreciate this very much. Also, many things may make you feel unhappy. Everything together is a full life. So don’t think the negative aspects or sickness is your enemy. Through the practice of Qigong, it can sharpen you.

Normal life has its ups and downs – including home, business and your health. When things are good, don’t get too excited or arrogant. When things are not good, don’t get too sad and feel down. Don’t forget that many people still need your help, even when your life does not seem positive now; and others will help you. Know that life will get better again. Whatever happens, keep a positive attitude.

Through the practice of Qigong, keeping in mind the meaning of the movements and the overall philosophy, your attitude can improve, and then your emotional state will improve.

Balanced life

Finally, in this New Year, do you want to be a contented person and lead a balanced life? Then you need to take an honest assessment of your own attitude. Once again think about Eeyore for a minute. Who wants to follow Eeyore anywhere? What kind of compelling case could he make for getting people to buy into his vision? I can hear Eeyore trying to rally the troops, saying, “I’m sure it’s not really going to work out, but I don’t know what else to try, so we’re going to do this.

“I hope it’s not a complete disaster, but I certainly can’t make you any promises because I’m sure it won’t work out.”

Be more like Tigger - cheerful, outgoing, competitive and completely confident. Make sure your attitude allows you to succeed.

Final point! Suppose A stands for one percent, B represents two percent and continues like this, we have ….X implies 24 percent, Y means 25 percent, and Z is 26 percent. See what happens. D-I-L-L-I-G-E-N-C-E = 80 percent, H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K = 98 percent, A-P-T-I-T-U-D-E = 96 percent, A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E =100 percent. The message is clear, isn’t it?