Fill in the Blank

“Life is hard. Life with a bad attitude is harder.” ~ Unknown

When I first saw this quote, I chuckled. Then, as I thought about it, I found myself nodding in agreement. The word life encompasses everything, so I tried it out in other areas.

Working out is hard. Working out with a bad attitude is harder. 

Waking up early is hard. Waking up early with a bad attitude is harder.

Cleaning is hard. Cleaning with a bad attitude is harder. 

Wow. It rings true, right? Try it with anything you find difficult. Fill in the blank:

_____ is hard. _____ with a bad attitude is harder.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, attitude refers to “a settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person’s behavior.” So, if attitude is reflected in behavior, and we have a bad attitude about having to engage in a task we find difficult or unpleasant, it will inevitably be harder.

Of course, there is such a thing as toxic positivity—we can’t just will ourselves to enjoy a task we do not like. So how do we maintain a good attitude? Many people find it helps to focus on the outcome, to keep grounded in why we are doing the task and what the result will be. Others find it helps to have something personally enjoyable to look forward to when the task is over. And the Mayo Clinic finds that the answer might be in self-talk. 

What about in the realm of our profession?

Teaching is hard. Teaching with a bad attitude is harder. 

The statement rings true again.

The reality is, teaching hasn’t gotten easier in our post-pandemic world. Isn’t it good to know that there are things we can do, ways we can think, and moves we can make that will help draw our spirits from the difficulty to the inherent beauty, even in the things that are hard?

Set the tone for the rest of the year with these three tips!