We have all been exposed to individuals with a sour disposition and negative attitudes... the kind of person you can never please. They always seem unhappy and miserable within themselves. They are always lashing out at others. Life seems a pain in the neck for them. Nothing ever goes right for them. They complain all the time, they speak disparagingly of others. No one is safe from their acrimony. When they speak, it is not objectively, or of ideas, dreams, or goals. Their subject is how another is an evil person, how they have been either slighted, offended, or wronged by another, or how someone else is a "fool, a moron, an idiot." To them. people are to be scorned, resisted, and despised. They are suspicious of everyone, and they test every conversation to see if someone is trying to hurt them, take advantage of them, or betray them. They fail to look for the good in others. They cannot make allowances for the weaknesses of their fellow beings or often can they control their own anger. So they become narrow and mean.
Now, without carefulness, anyone can easier develop these unhealthy traits than to seek to avoid them. We call it as having a bad attitude. I think most of the relationships between mankind in this world could really be resolved if people could find to adopt a proper attitude toward themselves and others. That is, an attitude of consideration, thoughtfulness, tact, humility, kindness, courtesy, politeness. These approaches to a peaceable life in our relationships could do much to offset the unhealthy and unattractive traits such as arrogance, pride, haughtiness, aloofness, and the habit of withdrawing within ourselves. What good do we find within ourselves when we are possessed of such an attitude, and which kind of person do we want to be?
How one is perceived by others, for the most part, is a result of their attitude. A proper attitude will win you friends and a good reputation. People are drawn to those with a proper attitude. The life of a person with a proper attitude will be enriched greatly. It is a happiness and freedom to be enabled to enjoy others company and welfare, instead of always competing with them, which brings a level of peace and happiness that the person who has pursued the course of manifesting a bad attitude cannot imagine.
I urge you to consider the blessing that comes with the adoption of a proper attitude in your daily life. This will require you to do something that humans often find almost impossible to do, and this is to admit that they have often been wrong. But for those who can admit the error of their ways, there lies before them the most marvelous gift.... life becomes a wonderful thing. Peace of mind, the beauty of singing birds, the fresh air, the warmth of sunshine, the laughter of a child, the companionship of a fellow human being, treasuring and valuing every moment, and being made to consider how much we have to be thankful to God for.
I am indebted to Larry Collins for the able presentation of the truth of the preceding thoughts, whom I have taken excerpts from in his original copyrighted article in Flying Magazine.
“… Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as
brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing;
knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from
evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto
their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil…” 1 Peter 3:8-
12.
“… Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be
put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as
God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love..”
Eph 4:31-32.
Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.