Is it really true that a certain attitude can affect our lives in a significant way? Let's think of it as a scientific study. Say we hypothesize that a positive attitude deems success and a negative attitude deems failure. We could stratify the study -- see the differences between men and women, old and young -- but is that really necessary, aren't we just looking at the obvious? Success is definitely more of a mental attitude -- it's not how much money we make, if we're male or female, or how skinny we are -- it's our perceptions, how we see ourselves fitting into this world. Rich people are not always at peace, beautiful people are not always happy, and why is that? Think of Victor Frankl and the Pursuit of Happiness -- the incredible trials -- but yet he still found peace amidst the unbelievable circumstances he had to endure.

Let me share a true story to illustrate my point -- one that a good friend shared with me. My friend was browsing in a bookstore one day when in walked two women. One was absolutely stunning -- you couldn't help but stare. Her features, manner, and clothing were swiped off the cover of a glamour magazine. Next to this beauty was her friend in a wheelchair -- kind of plain looking, maybe a little chubby, and with no real amazing sense of style. My friend thought they were an odd pair to be out together, but didn't think about it anymore and went back to her browsing. A few minutes later, she could hear the pair talking in the next aisle. One was gently coaxing the other. It's just your attitude, you can do anything you set your mind too. Life is wonderful, it's all about how we choose to see things. My friend was transfixed, the words and the voice were so powerful that she almost believed them. I mean, she was listening to the words of an obviously beautiful, successful woman. But then my friend snapped back to reality, almost slightly angry. So easy for her to say when she has everything. My friend rounded the corner and stopped in her tracks. The encouraging voice, the powerful positive message, came from the woman in the wheelchair. That story has always stuck with me and illustrates my point perfectly.
So how does an attitude really cause our success? Here are some pointers.

• Gratitude: When we are able to be grateful for even the smallest things, our thoughts and actions focus on the good of the situation.
• Grounded: If you don't allow the craziness of everyday ups and downs get to you -- remain gracious and kind, focusing on the good -- you will better be able remember your priorities and work towards achieving your goals.
• Attraction: As we are gracious and grounded, we attract other positive people. Put simply, do you prefer to hang out with grumps or happy people?
• Opportunity Knocks: Your mind will be clear, and negative thinking won't affect your perceptions so you're better able to recognize an opportunity that aligns with your goals in life. And many times those opportunities may come in the form of happy, successful people that you've attracted into your life.

So to answer our question at the beginning -- yes, our attitudes can significantly affect our lives. Just as we focus on the positive aspect of life, focusing on the negative can have the same effect in the opposite direction. We'll attract negative-like minds. But we must remember that living in a fantasy bubble with our blinders on is almost as bad as wallowing in our pessimism. So as in everything, life is about balance. Let's have a good attitude, but be aware with our eyes wide open.

Jaycee's articles focus on subjects which help in the pursuit of achieving a balanced life. If you're interested in the many resources in helping to achieve that balance -- even Jaycee's recommended books on attitude adjustment -- then check out Jaycee's website at www.jayceeliving.com