40: Positive Attitude for Positive Living (Part 2)
[Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)]
Recognizing the fact that ...
- people with a positive attitudes rise above their circumstances, while people with negative attitudes remain victims of circumstance
- our attitudes are actually reflections of ourselves in the mirror of life
... we need to seriously evaluate our life attitudes.
Among major Life Attitudes are ...
- Attitudes towards one's self
Remember that your attitude towards your self affects all your other attitudes.
Self Esteem - A healthy self-esteem is characterized by accepting responsibility for one's actions, being respectful towards one's self and towards others, by living a life of integrity, being capable of handling praise and criticism, seeking the challenge and stimulation of worthwhile and demanding goals, and taking command and control of one's life while striving for excellence in every endeavor.
Self-Respect - If the Golden Rule is to love for others what you love for yourself, then it is essential that you care for and respect your self. Self-respect is the forerunner of all respect. There is a Spanish proverb that states, if you want to be respected you must respect yourself. Note that "Of all the judgments we pass in life, none is more important than the judgment we pass on ourselves." [Nathaniel Branden, renowned author and psychologist] - Attitude towards one's faith
Your Attitude towards your faith affects your relationship with God (Creator) and with the world around you. It determines the principles you live by.
Faith in Action - The best manifestation of the viability and veracity of faith is in the actions of those who proclaim it. Remember that faith must be manifested in actions. Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) said that "Faith and actions are partners. One is incomplete without the other". Prophet 'Isa/Jesus(pbuh) is reported to have said: "What good is it if a person proclaims faith but has no deeds" [James 2:14]
Is religion manifested in the faith we profess or the life we live? Of how much significance are the thoughts we think, the laws we impose and the morals we proclaim in relation to the consequences of what we do? Buddha said: "However many holy words you read, however many holy words you speak, what good will they do if you do not act upon them?" Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) said: "Surely Allah does not judge your appearances nor your physicality, but rather considers the sincerity of your hearts and your actions." - Attitude towards the world around us
Your attitude towards Creator and towards creation determines your character and your personality.
Kindness and Compassion are integral parts of any good character. Each person has the potential for compassion and every occasion is an opportunity to manifest our love and kindness. Prophet Jesus / 'Isa (pbuh) referred to the greatest commandment as being the one that states, "Love God with all thy heart and all thy soul and love thy neighbor as thy self." Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said ... "Love is the foundation of my existence." The Prophet also said: "Allah is kind and loves kindness in every matter." - Attitude towards Time
Your attitude towards time indicates your value of the capital of life.
We must realize that time is the measure of life, time is an amaanah / trust, time is a gift from the Creator and its proper use will determine our outcome for eternity. Since we are born in time, live in time and die in time (Qur'an 64:11); time is the ambit within which we operate (Qur'an 103). What we do with time is what we do with our lives (Qur'an 67:2). Each one must realize that every moment that passes by is an opportunity gone, used or abused; never to return. Soon time will be up and we'll have to leave this physical world (Qur'an 3:185). The more we remind ourselves of the responsibility of the present the better we get at living the moment and the better we live the present moment the better the consequence for the future (Qur'an 59:18).
"I expect to pass through this world but once; any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again. [French Quaker, Stephen Grellet] - Attitude towards the Future
Your attitude towards the future influences your mind-set towards the rest of your life. Being positive about your life ahead is among life's greatest motivators.
Hope - This is the best attitude towards the future; this realistic expectation that something good or better could/will happen if only we continue doing the best we can. "Men and women are not (so much) limited by the place of their birth, nor by the color of their skin; but (rather) by the size of their hope". [16th century English composer, John Johnson]The thoughts we hold in our mind over time become our attitudes and these attitudes become the blueprint of our experiences in life. Successful living most often emanates from having a positive attitude. Be positive and go as far as you can see and as you move forward you will be able to see further. Part of our daily muhaasabah (critical self-evaluation) should be the assessment of what we are aiming for in life, why we are aiming for it and how we are moving towards it.