by KC Kelly, Ph.D., LMHC

http://DOCintheBiz.com

Is Attitude Everything?

Someone asked the question, “Is attitude everything?” and referred to the idea that most of the greatest motivational speakers say that indeed attitude is everything. I’m going to declare that my personal belief and experience is that attitude is…let’s say…about 75% of what happens to us in our lives.

An earlier article I had written entitled “Where is the Grass Greener?”, I discussed the idea of our lives being controlled by a number of different intrinsic (internal such as our way of thinking) and extrinsic (external such as environmental) factors. A mixture of these dynamics play a huge part in how we think, feel and behave, hence, having a major effect on our emotional and physical wellness. Please refer to my article on “Where is the Grass Greener?” for more information on this idea.

So, allow me to break down what I believe makes up our personalities; the way we act, feel, think, behave and ultimately our overall emotional and physical wellness.

75% is intrinsic (our attitude, our thinking, and brain chemical activity)
20% is extrinsic (relationships, jobs, environmental factors)
5% is luck (fortune, chance, and fate)

This isn’t gospel here. This is just the way that one doctor thinks.

**I must make a note here that often times brain chemical activity cannot be controlled and creates what is called a disorder. Some example are: depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disordera, etc. Through a mixture of medication and therapy (usually Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT), there is a great success rate for learning how to cope with these mentioned disorders.

So, let me give you a quick personal example I personally witnessed. A gentleman, I will call Bob had a had gotten into a major motorcycle accident which resulted in severe shoulder/back permanent damage and the amputation of one his legs. This, no doubt is life altering for anyone. While many people put into this situation would have curled up in a ball thinking that their life was over, Bob was out of the hospital in ½ the time that someone else may have been. Why? My answer is because it was all in his attitude. He knew his life would be different, but he was willing to do what it took to make the best of it. What was his alternative? To live in misery, perhaps? Well, this not the route he chose and although his life is limited in certain ways, he does just about everything he has always done.

What made him think this way when someone else would think completely the opposite? That is a good question. Is attitude everything? Another good question.
Why not share what you think?

Please visit me at http://DOCintheBiz.com for mental health self help links and the opportunity to email me for professional and confidential help with any concerns you may have. You are never alone!

Dr. KC
http://DOCintheBiz.com

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