Whether we like it or not positive attitudes and negative attitudes do rub off on others. I never really thought much of it in the past. Just the other day I was confronted with this reality. Admittedly, I didn't have the best attitude, and it was rubbing off on others. The stresses of my life and business were coming out in the way conducted myself with others. In the past, I would have never realized what I was doing to others. I would let someone else's bad attitude rub off on me, and I would, in turn, let my bad attitude rub off on someone else.
Just how negative attitudes are contagious, so are positive attitudes. Trust me; I am not a motivational speaker. What I can tell you is that I have experienced the power of having a positive attitude in my life. Believe it our not; there is always something good in everything that is bad. When we have a bad attitude, we are too distracted by our frustrations to see what good is there.
Getting mad does nothing for you. Sure you relieve a little frustration, but then you feel guilty afterward. You might even get yourself more worked up in fact. Having my own business helped me develop a bad attitude. My lack of faith in God kept me blinded from what was happening. Instead of focusing on God's will, I would focus on having things my way. When things do not work out your way, you get mad. One of the best ways to solve problems is through Biblical lenses. I missed many solutions and opportunities over the years because I was too caught up in a negative attitude. Positive attitudes through trials in my life would have certainly harnessed different results.
When we win with a bad attitude, we lose.
Winning by being angry or having a bad attitude gives you a small victory at the time, but causes you to lose in the long run. Nothing is resolved by getting mad. We either scare others into submission, or we cause our problem to become dormant for the time being. When the issue flares up again, it hits us with tremendous force. The second go round with a bad attitude is always more aggressive than the first.
When we have positive attitudes, we permanently put to rest flare ups. Our positive attitudes should be God-centered. When we see our situation through Christ-like lenses, we have an entirely different perspective.
Positive attitudes build others up.
I have noticed a huge change in my life by being positive. When others around me are more engaged, the conversations take a different direction. Instead of dwelling on problems, I look for solutions. Having positive attitudes makes you more approachable by others. It is hard to be an effective leader if you are negative. People are instantly turned off when someone has a bad attitude.
Having a positive attitude makes our spiritual walk easier as well. God is good, and all things good come from him. So if we surround ourselves with a bad attitude, we are in essence surrounding ourselves with things counter to God. When our attitude is in tune with God, we will bear many fruits. Negative attitudes are fruitless and show where we are at in our spiritual walk.
John 15:1-2 NASB “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.”