“Both the hummingbird and the vulture fly over the deserts.  All vultures see is rotting meat, because that is what they look for. They thrive on that diet. But hummingbirds ignore the smelly flesh of dead animals. Instead, they look for the colorful blossoms of desert plants.

The vultures live on what was. They live on the past.  They fill themselves with what is dead and gone. But hummingbirds live on what is. They seek new life. They fill themselves with freshness and life. Each bird finds what it is looking for. We all do.” – Steve Goodier, Quote Magazine, in Reader’s Digest, May, 1990.

Attitude is an established thought pattern or feeling about people or things.  Many people need an attitude adjustment.

WHAT CAUSES A BAD ATTITUDE?

• Selfie generation. Better than everyone else. No time for anyone.
• Social Media generation. Comparing yourself to others who tweet their “perfect lives.”  I am not like them.
• Fast food generation. Busyness and Hurry. I want it now. Rude customers.  Road rage.
• Unrealistic Expectations. You should have been here. You are late.  They should have …
• Fatigue.  Emotional.
• Hunger. You have not yet eaten, or had your coffee.
• Anger.  Bitterness – Unforgiveness.
• Pain, suffering, grumpy patient
• Painful situations, frustrations with life/people/God

YOU CAN CHOOSE YOUR ATTITUDE. Numbers 13:30, “Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” Joshua and Caleb chose to see victory despite the obvious. They believed God. You can control how you feel and respond to a situation.  Silence your negative thoughts.  Silence the bad attitude.  You should tell yourself, and the naysayers, We should go up and take possession of the promise.

“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” – Charles R. Swindoll

HOW TO ADJUST YOUR ATTITUDE

1. Pray and ask God for help to know, and to have a positive attitude.
2. Read the Bible.  Read about other people who conquered difficult challenges.
3. Hang around positive, constructive people. You are the average of the 5 people you spend time with.
4. Think before you speak. Listen more.
5. Think positively. Speak using positive, constructive words. I am going to fail.  I am going to die. I am useless.  I can never do that. I am a nobody. The world does not revolve around you.  The world does not owe you anything.
6. Serve and help others. Look beyond yourself.  Go to Africa or something.
7. Have someone who kicks you out of your rut.  Someone who says your attitude is changing.
8. Develop a hobby. Play a sport, go fishing, plant a garden, go hiking. Go do something new.
9. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Life is too short. Enjoy yourself.
10. Remember: It could be worse. You have way more than most.

Does your attitude reflect a vulture or hummingbird?

How is your attitude today?

Do you think the attitude you have now is one that God would be proud of?

Does your attitude need some adjustment?

Have you been focusing on the negative rather than the positive?

Ditch the bad attitude!