Discipline and Attitude Essentials for Difficult Times

Maintaining the right attitude requires discipline and it is this discipline that determines our success and satisfaction in life. It is important to remember that discipline, like attitude, is 100 per cent within our control. Maintaining a positive attitude and discipline requires us to truly believe in ourselves and our capabilities; it also strengthens our most important relationship - the one we have with ourselves. Believing in ourselves requires us to believe that we are each here for a reason. It means having the faith that every (seemingly) unfortunate event we encounter is occurring for a reason - whether building our characters, giving us a reality check or getting us back on the track where we belong. Believing in ourselves, moreover, means having the confidence that we can face our daily and most severe challenges, secure that we can eventually overcome them. Whether it be the loss of a loved one, bankruptcy or loneliness, maintaining a positive attitude and upholding our discipline at all times is crucial for survival and the realisation of our dreams and goals.

It's important to recognise the extent to which our thoughts have the ability to influence our actions and our future. If we think about losing our jobs, we may actually increase our chances of it happening because what we think about is often what we attract. As the economy erratically makes it way through a downward spiral, people's attitudes are following with the same downhill motion. Their pessimistic mindsets cause them to waste time thinking and talking about the things which are beyond their control, instead of investing their energy on things which are under their control.

What we think about, what we say to ourselves and the manners in which we act are all part of the law of attraction. To maintain a positive attitude, we need to become aware of these thoughts, dialogue and actions and how they affect our overall wellbeing. We need to catch ourselves during acts of self pity, self criticism, jealousy or anger and then eliminate them by replacing them with optimism.

As we become aware of potential obstacles during challenging times, it can be helpful to create contingency plans. The advantage of such planning is that should a potential obstacle become a reality, it won't instigate a sense of urgency because the contingency plan can be quickly implemented.

With the right attitude and discipline, realistic goals can be outlined, planned, implemented and accomplished. Being optimistic and consistently responsible can help us endure adversity, hardship, setbacks and ultimately to achieve success in every area of our lives. These qualities keep us in control in the midst of trouble and heartache by allowing us to see the ‘bigger picture' without losing sight of our goals and future. Having the right attitude and discipline means that when others criticise us - we listen, but refuse to allow their opinions to dictate our thoughts or direction; it means we accept full responsibility for all of our actions. It means we know who we are.

Difficult and challenging times offer the perfect opportunity to define what we want out of life. They encourage us to look in the mirror and, often, reconsider where we want to go, who we want to be and what we really want to do. They encourage us to regain control of our life and attitude, whilst refusing to allow ourselves to become victims of circumstances. Moreover, these testing times remind us to define our life goals and make them happen.

Above all, we have to remember that we alone are responsible for making a difference in our own lives. If that means a shift of attitude, acquiring some discipline and becoming self aware - isn't it worth adopting these positive habits in order live the life we crave?