Category: Attitude

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Attitude children cartoons motivation

When Did You Find Out You Were the Problem?

Cartoon of girl and teddy bear. Girl says “I don’t like your taste in television.”

Frequently, we blame others for the problems we are facing. We think life would be perfect if only that person got their act together. We believe we are helpless to change circumstances and if only that person did their job correctly, things would be perfect!

It never occurs to us, we may have the solution. We are like the girl in my cartoon. She believes her teddy bear is keeping her from her favorite TV show. When she realizes she can change the channel, she may be in a much better mood.

If you are going through a challenge today, consider if you have more control than you realize. At the very least, we have control of our own attitude. If you are allowing someone to get under your skin, reconsider why you are giving that person that kind of control over your emotions. You have more choices than you realize.

Have you ever had a challenging time that became better once you realized you had more control than you thought? Share it in the comments.

Cartoon of girl and teddy bear. Girl says “I don’t like your taste in television.”
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Attitude

Driving and Mouthing Off

Illustration of a guy driving a car with no mouth

There are times I wish we had mouth restraints as well as seatbelts for safety devices. every time a speeder blasts past me on the freeway, I am tempted to utter some sort of judgement about the driver’s mental health and their obvious anger issues.

But is it my place to make judgments about someone I don’t know? Maybe they are driving at an unsafe speed. But could there be other reasons for the driver’s recklessness?

  • Could the driver be in the middle of an emergency?
  • Could it be the police or another first responder?
  • Could it be a new dad rushing to witness the birth of his baby?

I have this tendency to rush to judgment when I should give others the benefit of the doubt. It is really none of my business as long as the other person isn’t harming me or others. I’ll let the police take care of it (if he or she isn’t one of them).

Perhaps I need to keep my shut. It goes without saying.

Have you ever made a judgment you realized was way off? Feel free to leave a comment below.

Illustration of a guy driving a car with no mouth
Categories
Attitude

Why we Can't Stand Grinchie Porch Pirates

Cartoon of a policeman interrogating Santa Claus. Santa says, "But you have to believe me! Santa is not a port pirate!"

Santa Claus is the antithesis of porch pirates. We love the story of Santa Claus because he gives presents. Porch pirates, on the other hand, steal them. A study shows as of this year, (2019) over a third of Americans have had delivered packages stolen from their front porches.

Cartoon of a policeman interrogating Santa Claus. Santa says, "But you have to believe me! Santa is not a port pirate!"
We believe you, Santa. You are nothing like a porch pirate!

It is much better to be a giver than a taker. That should go without saying. Yet, when I get into a scarcity mentality, it can be easy for me to think of what I can get instead of what I can give. If I start to believe there is only a limited amount of resources, I begin to get selfish. It happens to all of us.

That’s when I remind myself it is much better to give than receive. It is much better to be a blessing than to make it all about me. It’s much better to have an abundance mentality and to give freely.

May you be blessed this Christmas and be a blessing to others. No porch pirates allowed!

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Attitude motivation

How About Some Good News?

Cartoon of two cups. One is a styrofoam cup and says, "The news doesn't bother me. I'm very insulated against the world."

There are some days when it seems the best way to stay positive is to shun any news program or alerts and flee to a forest guaranteed to have no cell signal or wifi. I’ve found checking the news in the morning is the worst. Was the world really that bad while I slept? It makes me yearn for some refreshment.

Good news from far away is like cold water to the thirsty.

Proverbs 25:25 NLT

Seek some good news today. If you are in a place where Daylight Saving Time is observed, celebrate you had an extra hour to sleep in this morning. Spend time with someone who is positive and makes you feel alive. Create good news by being generous or doing a kind act for someone.

Too often, we gravitate towards bad news. It generates fear and dread. Seek some good news and be refreshed as you start a new week and month. After all, in the United States, November is a good month to focus on gratitude.

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Attitude motivation

Each Heart Knows Its Own Bitterness

Cartoon of a woman and guy with a turtle shell in a restaurant

Empathy is hard. Nobody truly knows what another person is going through. We can’t fully know a person’s past. We can’t fully know what a person is going through at home and what events have shaped their view of the world.

Yet, empathy is so crucial because it gives us a moment to consider the other person isn’t exactly like you. Otherwise, it is tempting to write off a person. If we don’t consider the other person’s point of view, we can think they’re being unreasonable and silly.

Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can fully share its joy.

Proverbs 14:10

No person is truly like me. I come from a small hometown. Only three other people grew up in the same household as me. None of them went to the same college, lived in the same places and worked at the same workplaces. Nobody else has had the same lovely wife and kids. My life and experiences are unique, and so are yours. So how can I expect you to see things exactly the way I do?

Empathy is difficult. But it is so key in getting a glimpse of how the other person sees and reacts to the world.