The power of attitude...

This is a bit of a different post for me, a departure from the light-hearted frivolity and silly pictures I usually display here. I try not to talk too much about work on here. It is something that, when the work day ends, I choose to leave behind. It is not because I don't like my job. On the contrary, I do. And I am immensely thankful to have it in this economy. I work in a service industry and we have been very fortunate to have been able to ride out this recession and still remain pretty busy. So this is not going to be a rant about working. It is just ... an observation. Something I have observed in my office and have learned a valuable lesson from it and because I look at so many of you as treasured friends I want to share what I have learned in the hopes that it will help others.

Our office is small. It is very casual. We all know each other pretty well. Most of us get along great and even though we don't always agree on things we know how to constructively hash out our differences and move on. We do our very best to make each day fun. We are very much NOT a PC-type office! ;-) But, there is one person there that for a long time now has managed to alienate everyone. This person has thrown every one of us "under the proverbial bus" numerous times all in an effort to make themself look better. This person has major insecurities, is too dramatic, is one of those "it's all about me" type of people. I think you get the gist. No need to drone on and on about negative stuff.

So on to the lesson I learned. Last week this person called out sick one day. That day was THE best day we have had at work in a long time, in terms of the atmosphere in the office! I can't remember the last time there wasn't a thick cloud of tension hanging over everything. I swear to you it instantly lifted when we learned this person called out. For one whole day there was not a single problem, no major issues, everyone was busy and got the job done but we were relaxed and jovial while doing it.

It is amazing to me how one's attitude can totally alter the tone of the day. One person with a negative and nasty demeanor can bring down the moods of many. Attitude is a powerful thing. That day last week proved to me just how powerful. With that person's negative attitude out of the picture, everyone's overall temperament improved. Everyone smiled. Everyone laughed. The work itself was still as crazy and busy as ever but if anything we did the job better because we didn't have that dark cloud over us.

 

It is very important to me to always try to be as positive and uplifting as possible. It is how I strive to live my life. I don't want to be the one to bring anyone down. I mean, I am realistic and I am no Pollyanna. I am going to have bad days. Everyone is going to have bad days. But I am going to be so much more conscious and aware of how, if I have a bad attitude, I am affecting those around me. Most importantly, I could be affecting those I love and cherish the most. I refuse to be the one make my loved ones sad or anxious!

It really is all in one's attitude. It is a very powerful thing.