6Adopting Positive and Productive Attitudes

An attitude is a state of mind and a predisposition to actions based on what you tell yourself.

Attitudes precede actions; positive attitudes lead to productive actions; negative attitudes lead to unproductive actions. Adopt and encourage positive attitudes.

LET’S SAY YOU’VE BEEN INVITED to a meeting which you really don’t want to go to but for obligatory reasons you must attend. You don’t have a choice of whether or not to accept the invitation, but you can choose your attitude regarding it.

By attitude, we mean a state of mind—an emotional and intellectual inclination—and a predisposition to actions based on what you tell yourself. In the case of the meeting, if you were to choose a negative attitude, ...

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