Help For When You Need An Attitude Adjustment

Yesterday was rough. As the day went on, it got rougher. My self talk was stinky. My perspective was a little like Eeyore’s. And my attitude tanked after a number of unpleasant circumstances. There was no doubt… I needed an attitude adjustment.

But, I really didn’t want one. It was one of those I-knew-I-needed-one, but-did-not-want-one type of things. I didn’t like feeling in a funk, but this pity party had already started and I was the guest of honor at the party. The thing about pity parties, though, once you’re the guest of honor, it’s difficult to leave. Plus, the longer you linger, the more consequential and influential the party becomes. We can’t help but influence others to join us in the party, right?! I knew I didn’t want to do that to my poor husband just walking through the door after work.

I desperately needed to adjust my attitude.

Ever been there? Maybe you’re there today. Maybe you’re dealing with some stinkin’ thinkin’ and you know it. You’re miserable and the misery is spreading. You know it’s time for an attitude adjustment.

So, what do you do? How does one go about adjusting one’s attitude? Do we just wish it to happen? I’ve found five ideas that help me. Maybe they’ll help you, too.

5 ideas to help when you need an attitude adjustment:

1. Write it down.

Take out a piece of paper and write down everything you’re feeling. Every word, every thought, every emotion. Get it all out on the paper. Feel yourself emptying it out of our heart, your mind, your body. After it’s all out, flip the paper over. Then write down what you’d rather feel, think, experience, etc. As you read those words, feel yourself filling back up with what’s positive, life-giving, and true. This is a great way to effectively adjusted your attitude!

2. Invite God in.

I realized I needed help yesterday with my attitude adjustment, so I invited God into my situation with something like this:

Father God, you know where my mind is. You know I’m struggling here. I’m not glorifying You with my stinkin’ thinkin’, and I’m sorry. I know I need to change my attitude, so will You please help me? Help me see things from Your perspective. Transform my thoughts, which transforms my words, which transforms my actions. I give myself and my attitude to You today. Amen.

It’s amazing what happens when we invite God into our situations!

3. Leave the pity party.

Give yourself 30 more seconds in your pity party, then visually draw a line in the sand. Step over the line and leave the party and walk away. Stop the stinkin’ thinkin’ as you change your thoughts to something creative, helpful, and beautiful. The apostle Paul said it like this:

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Philippians 4:8 NLT

It’s hard to stay in a pity party when we think of things worthy of praise.

4. Get active.

Take a walk. Pull weeds in your garden. Go for a bicycle ride. Run around your house a few times. Exercise releases endorphins in the body which helps lift our moods, it triggers positive feelings in the body, and it aids in giving us an energized outlook on life. Not only will you feel better physically, but you’ll also be adjusting your attitude at the same time.

5. Help someone else.

Something as simple as helping another can greatly affect our attitudes. Mail a greeting card to someone who could use some encouragement. Bake your neighbor cookies just because. Call your mom or a friend you haven’t talked to in awhile. Do something nice for your spouse. When we put the focus on someone else, our attitudes adjust all on their own.

Join the discussion below: How do you go about changing your attitude when necessary? Which one of these ideas appeal to you to use the next time you could use an attitude adjustment?

After inviting God in to my situation, I went out to my flower garden and spent some time pulling weeds. By the time my husband arrived home from work, my attitude had already changed. Whew!

You know? It’s a good thing when we recognize our attitudes need some adjusting every now and then. Once our attitudes get adjusted back to their normal, easy-going state, we find ourselves happier, our steps lighter, and the world a little brighter. Others around us will likely experience this, too!

So glad we’re in this life together friend. Thank you for hanging out with someone who needs an attitude adjustment every once in awhile! You are a blessing!