Attitude -- you own it, control it Published June 18, 2002 By Lt. Col. Naomi Lawless 27th Medical Operations Squadron CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Each of us has something that no one can control or take away from us: our attitude.Our attitude is the soul of our being. It can change how we look at ourselves, how we look at our environment, how we act and how others perceive us. Attitude can affect our health, our goals, and how we deal with successes and failures.Attitude is the difference between just existing in life, passing one day at time, or delighting in life, savoring every moment. Why do most of us neglect to develop this life-changing tool?You hear it every day from at least one person: "I hate my job;" "There is nothing to do here;" and "I can't wait until I'm out of here." Do the people who say these things seem happy? Do you enjoy working alongside them? Are they successful and fulfilled?You own your attitude, so you can control it. The first step is to acknowledge that you can take charge of your attitude.Second, determine what your attitude is now. If you could be a fly on the wall and overhear a conversation by people describing your attitude, what would they say? How has your attitude made a difference lately, good or bad?If the result of this reflection leads to a plan to make changes, perhaps the following tips will help. Read some books on attitude. "The Power of Positive Thinking" by Norman Vincent Peale and "Attitude is Everything" by Keith Harrell are my favorites.Here are some pearls of wisdom from these authors.Program your attitude with positive internal dialogue. Remember what they say in the computer world, "garbage in, garbage out." The next time you make a negative statement, counter that with a positive one. For example, list what you would count as a blessing.Change your perspective. The grass is not always greener on the other side.Not knowing what your purpose in life is can lead to a negative attitude, and while being in the Air Force or associated with the Air Force may not be your ultimate goal, for the time, you can focus today on your purpose in defending the constitution of the United States.A huge area that can help or hinder how well you manage your attitude is your relationships. The Air Force provides an environment to accept others unconditionally, to earn trust by being trustworthy, to do nice things without expecting anything in return, to be loyal and to understand other viewpoints.Not everyone you encounter will appreciate these positive attitudes, so stay away from them if you can. These are not the people you want as your closest friends. They will defeat your potential. Stay focused on your goal of being positive and joyful.Owning your attitude is easier said than done. After all, we are just human and we get buffeted daily with events that can bring us down. Some tips to staying motivated are rest, exercise and diet. Set aside time for yourself and with your family and that new set of positive friends you have.Volunteer to help others, remembering that you have been the recipient of help at one time and that you will be blessed when you pass this along.Reflect on your specialness. What have you done that was recognized? What is it that you do well?Finally, feed your spirit daily with motivational tapes and books.Publisher, psychologist and author of motivational books J. Martin Kohe once said, "The greatest power that a person possesses is the power to choose." You own your attitude. Choose to make it work for you, not against you. (Courtesy of Air Combat Command News Service)