Attitude

More often than not, we hear this word being mentioned whenever there is a discussion about human behaviour. It has a definition in the dictionary, and many have debated on this state of mind. All agree and recommend that one should have a positive attitude.

Being humans, we use our mind and body sometimes together, and sometimes mind alone through our thoughts, good and bad. Similarly body acts in a gentle and violent way as well. As you age, the body does not coordinate well with the mind. We are all well aware of these simple facts of human mechanism.

Yet, it is the attitude of the person which is the focal point and an origin for actions and reactions.

For a moment, let us look at the issues, be it political, economic, social, and personal confronting the law abiding citizens.

It is the political leaders who create major issues that affect the lives of their countrymen. We find these leaders totally greedy after power. In their quest to be “a Messiah” they bring untold misery and destruction, which becomes extremely difficult for reconstruction after their leadership. Iraq, Iran, Zimbabwe, the Americas, the Asian nations all have these leaders indulging in this mindless aggression.

What is their Attitude? How do we view them? The sycophants call them persons of great vision, and the subservient media echoes it. These leaders choose ‘enablers’ to spread their dictates. The poor citizens are confused whether to adopt a positive or a negative attitude towards them.

So, the attitude becomes subjective and could be adopted as the situation demands.

Indians, in their struggle for independence, adopted the ‘Satyagraha Movement’ to achieve it. In their view, that was a positive attitude, but in the eyes of the British rulers, it was a negative attitude. This is just an example to emphasize the view that “The end justifies the means”.

In the Corporate world, the buzz word is to have a positive attitude to be adopted by the employees. In other words the leadership encourages enablers, so long they are in power. This is all fine and understandable if their approach to issues brings in peace, prosperity, and ultimate satisfaction to the subjects.

The world is passing through a period of ‘Reforms’. We see political reforms, economic reforms, technological reforms whose aim is to improve quality of life of the underprivileged. In the process of bringing about this change, an attitudinal approach is essential on the part of the leaders, the administration, and the people.

Contrary to this approach, what we see is an autocratic, dogmatic leadership, and an executive administration which has contempt for established procedures that exist in the constitution of any country for implementing such reforms.

We see this happening in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

There was an excellent editorial in The New York Times under the title “Just What the Founders Feared: An Imperial President Goes to War” penned by Adam Cohen that was published on July 23^rd, 2007. It’s Link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/23/opinion/23mon4.html?ex=1186200000&en=702a28fdff9784be&ei=5070

A few days ago, Sen. Barack Obama, a Democratic presidential candidate was criticized for views on his preparedness to meet unconditionally, leaders of knave nations to solve issues; and on invading Pakistan with troops to finish Islamic extremists, if Pakistani President, General Musharraf does not do on his own. Now, his approach to those issues reflects his mental attitude. Some would say, he has been provoked, and others point at his inexperience. The reality is- he is yet to occupy that post to take those decisions.

The above examples are being highlighted as they are happening around us. The environment in which we live does influence our attitudinal approach. Under the circumstances what is the attitude of a law abiding citizen in conducting himself or herself or as a community in leading a quality life?

Here comes the attitude of an individual. His/her total upbringing shows him/her the path to tackle and solve a problem. With a positive frame of mind, self confidence comes, and the adopted approach gets the co-operation of the people.

Courtesy begets courtesy. An element of fairness is required when taking a decision.

I would list out the following points as desirable for a good attitude.

• Constantly analyse your actions and reactions to problems, issues you have faced and whether their solutions brought happiness or not to you and to others.
• Have an open mind to admit mistakes, and draw lessons from it. Repeat Pleasure and avoid pain, is the psychologists’ advice. The idea is to convert those failures/pains to success/gains.
• Negative thoughts are as real as positive thoughts. Negative thoughts bring only stress and destruction. Treat them as uninvited guests, and brush them aside.
• Aim at attainable goals, and do things that bring you joy.
• Believing in your abilities and doing things to your liking generate positive thoughts, and spur you to do more that brings satisfaction.
• Live in obedience and pray god. He is the one who will give you strength.
• Develop value systems and abide by the rules of the land.

Yet, we do wonder why some people in the society behave and act the way that is unacceptable to the large sections of the same society in which they live. We can firmly believe that these incorrigible people have their minds filled with incurable thoughts, and god who also created them, has set a time limit for their end.

We, as humans, must believe in co-existence together, constantly learning and correcting each other’s mistakes. That would be an acceptable attitude.