How attitudes affect you

Lal Fonseka Productivity Consultant, Brandix Lanka Limited

In the simplest sense, attitudes could be said that an attitude is some state of mind about an object, fact or situation which is how it is defined in the American Heritage Dictionary. Since attitudes are depicted through our behaviour, our conduct let others know our state of mind. Attitude is the key for your educational success during school years.

It was once believed that attitudes were difficult to change, once they are acquired.

As a result, we were stuck with them. Now we know this is a myth. Psychologists say that we tend to do what we tell ourselves to do. Therefore, if we have bad attitudes, these minus attitudes affect what we expect of ourselves, which in turn affects all we do in our studies.

For example, those with the negative attitude that they cannot study under science stream are almost assured of trouble when attempting such subjects. A negative attitude limits performance, saps motivation and inhibits learning.

However, please do not think that you will automatically be able to do well in science through eliminating a negative attitude about the subject.

One student who has got through grade five scholarship examination with high marks and subsequently ordinary level examination with all ‘A’s, who has not done well in A-L in spite of two consecutive attempts is completely demoralized and is trying to give up his studies, due to negative attitudes. He intended to be an Engineer.

Although, results he achieved recently could still qualify him for University entrance to study under the Physical Science stream, he is frustrated with all he was able to achieve in the past and regrets not being able to do better. Luckily his negative attitude could be reformed. Now he is in the university studying Physical Science.

All that was required was to inhibit attitude of failure and instil in him the thought ‘in the past I may have not done well in the examination, but I can do well in the future and obtain a class in Physical Science to do better in the future.’ This removed self-imposed limits. This more positive attitude created the opportunity for learning and motivation that leads to success in Physical Science regardless of past performances.

By changing this negative attitude into positive, the door is opened to the possibility of not only learning subjects leading to a degree in Physical Science but becoming superior at it. Positive attitudes erase frustration from self-imposed limits on your potential.

The basic premise underlying any teaching is that the pupil has the capacity to learn and change and wants these things to happen regardless of past performance.

Negative attitudes discourage, limit and even prevent learning, positive change and growth.

What are your attitudes about learning, teachers, certain subjects, or becoming a better student? What effect have these attitudes had on your potential to learn and earn excellent grades? Changing attitudes is not difficult, for which you must be willing to admit and face the truth about yourself like the student in our example. Admit and face the truth about what you are willing to change. One model for doing so is presented below. Complete the following exercise and see how you can replace negative attitudes that may have limited your success at school.

Steps

1. Identify a negative or limiting attitude you have about something related to college and write it down. It may be academic, personal or social. It is important to do this because unless you identify what it is you want to change, change is unlikely to occur.

Negative Attitude

2. Tell yourself that you want to change. In this step, 1) write down a statement that reflects your intention to change the negative attitude above. Also, re-word the negative attitude from step 1 into a positive statement and write it down in 2). It is important to do this because you tend to do what you tell yourself to do and what you tell yourself to do is influenced by your attitudes.

1) ______________________________

2) ______________________________

3. Name three people whom you believe currently have the positive attitude you recorded in Number 2 above. For each person, include what he or she does that communicates that he or she has this attitude. This is important because we tend follow people we admire.

1) ______________________________

2) ______________________________

3) ______________________________

4. List three different behaviours or actions you can carry out that could lead others to believe you have this new attitude. By practising the expression of your new attitude, you create the opportunity to become better at it and see the results. Positive results speed habitualization of desired attitudes.

1) ______________________________

2) ______________________________

3) ______________________________

5. Describe three situations in which you commonly find yourself where you could practice the 3 behaviours or actions listed above. We tend to do what we practice and what we practice often enough becomes habitual.

1) ______________________________

2) ______________________________

3) ______________________________

6. List three people you could talk to about changing and becoming more the person you want to be. We tend to do what we tell others we intend to do.

1) ______________________________

2) ______________________________

3) ______________________________

7. List three times during the day when you intend to visualize what you will be like and how you will feel once you acquire this new attitude and master expressing it. We tend to do what we visualize ourselves doing.

1) ______________________________

2) ______________________________

3) ______________________________

1.Write down at least one way to reward yourself for acting in a way that demonstrates your new attitude. We tend to repeat those behaviours and patterns of thinking for which we are rewarded.

Life is full of impediments and problems. That may be why humans developed such a complicated brain; to solve problems that ultimately lead to success and survival.

Each problem is an opportunity for success. In fact, many believe solving problems is the only way to be successful. How you approach life’s problems, which are your opportunities for success, is largely dependent on the attitudes you choose to keep or acquire. How quickly you become the person you want to be is your choice.