Mind Capsules: Antidotes For The Right Attitude

By Moira Aboagye

What is your attitude about time, discipline and other people?

Your personal development hinges on your attitude towards these things and many more. Attitude matters! It is not enough to be successful.

When you strive for success alongside self-improvement, you are bound to get to the top and stay there!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Moria Aboagye
• Release date: Jun 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9781802275421

Book preview

Introduction

‘The last of human freedoms is the ability to change one’s

attitude in a given set of circumstances.’ – Victor E. Frankl

In this profound statement lies the emphasis of this book. Something important I noted in Victor Frankl’s statement is that we have the ability, that is, the potential and means, to change our attitude. It is very encouraging that we have it in us to navigate how we want our lives to go, regardless of what we are faced with. Throughout life, we learn and experience things that form our belief system. These beliefs influence our decisions and how we view ourselves and others. They impact our perspective on life, and how we manoeuvre our way through life’s issues. Therefore, it is important to find ways to affect how we perceive and understand things in order to influence how we live, behave and respond.

Where the mind goes, the man follows. – Joyce Meyer

Once you accept something as true in your mind, you practice it! Your behaviour is in exact correlation with what goes on in your mind! To make changes for a better you, a better life and better relationships, you must be willing to learn new ways of doing and responding to things. Be open to unlearning ways that do not benefit you and are not yielding the results you want. In order to change your attitude, you need to change your mindset.

This is where I derived my inspiration to title this book, ‘Mind Capsules’! It is important that you discard negative self-destructing beliefs and develop constructive thought patterns – on purpose! In turn, your attitude and your ability to engage with others will improve. These should always be a ‘work in progress.’

This book is an expression of how I learnt to develop an estimable character. Most of my training ground was like that of a bar of silver being refined in a fiery furnace! That is actually how we grow – through challenges, difficult times, pain, betrayal and trials. Don’t let such situations turn you into a cynic; instead, be inspired to develop a life that exudes a good attitude in both good and bad times. Aspire to turn the ‘not-so-nice’ situations around to be good for yourself and others.

When self-improvement becomes one of your main goals, subsequently, you become better, and everything around you improves. Personal growth [who you become] is of more value and has a longer-lasting impact than what you own or accomplish. It is what undergirds and sustains your success.

If life is for living, then I believe it should be lived well! This is living in a state of harmony with all that comprises your immediate environment! YOU control the final outcome of whatever situation you find yourself in by the attitude you CHOOSE to have. Over time, you will either create a life that you want or a life you would prefer to trade with someone else!

To Begin, Begin!

I am sick and tired of being sick and tired!

Wow! Does this sum you up right now? Let’s talk about getting rid of that overwhelming feeling that makes you blurt out these words! If you really are sick and tired, the chances are that you realise you weren’t born just to pay bills and die. Perhaps you are yearning for a boost to get you going, or maybe you no longer want to remain in your ‘comfort zone.’ This ironic name for ‘confinement area’ should be changed for you to realise exactly how constricted you are and that you MUST move on from being fed up to actually doing something about it!

A starting point to consider would be to ask yourself what your life purpose is. Having a purpose is key to living a fulfilled life. Purpose motivates you to get up each day; it gives you the desire to pursue greatness and it is the main driving force in never giving up. Can you picture what you want to become or achieve? In your picture, be sure to include plans for good health, thriving relationships, service to others, education, adventure and financial stability. (There is more you can throw in there)

I have heard these statements quite often:

Discover what you are good at, and you can turn it into your purpose.

Find a need in the market. When you meet that need, you identify your purpose.

Your challenges, misfortunes and shortcomings will become your life purpose.

To tell you the truth, all three are possible but are not true for everyone. It depends on each individual. For example, some people carry on a legacy while others start something entirely new. So it would be worthwhile pursuing your own God-given purpose, tailor-made for your unique talents, personality and experiences.

Now, what would it take for you to get started? Motivation is essential to get started but most importantly, self-motivation! You will definitely need this on a regular basis after you begin. You cannot rely entirely on people for encouragement, applause or approval. They don’t always come through, especially when you need them the most. The best motivation is from within! Most people are motivated to start their journey to creating their ‘best life’ by the allure of the rewards. Rewards are great; they give you something to look forward to and spur you on to reach the finish line.

However, as you begin, aspire to gain internal rewards more than just external ones. When you strive to become the best you can be, that is, when you do things like learn new skills, give to those in need, build genuine relationships, etc., you are focusing on internal rewards. When you aim to become famous, gain more money and material possessions, your focus is on external rewards. It is good to gain both, but very gratifying to be motivated by the internal rewards. The internal outweigh and outlast the external rewards and they enable you to maintain them too.

When you discover your place in the tapestry of life, begin your journey with confidence and conviction! It starts off shaky at times, especially when you are pioneering something. Conditions will not always be favourable but if you want to develop your full potential, accomplish greatness and live your best life . . . begin!

Dreams won’t work unless you do. – John C. Maxwell

Another challenge you may face when you decide to begin is seeing people do what you desire to do, and they seem to do it so well that they make it look like there is no room for anyone else in that same market! Well, in a race, you have individual lanes, and each athlete focuses on the finish line, right? It should be the same with your focus. Start your race [your very own] without feeling intimidated by anyone. The size of your dream and that of someone else’s is never in equal proportions, so be confident in your own pursuits.

Take that all-important initial step! Results from one courageous step will motivate you to take the next. Make that phone call, register that company, start jogging, start saving! You know what you NEED to do, so decide without waiting for your feelings to back you up. Feelings are very fickle, never use them as a yard stick to determine the right time to do anything. Be moved into action by the courage of your conviction.

Allow yourself to keep dreaming and imagining how far you can go. Stir up the passion for your vision and find ways to keep it burning. The truth is, once you start something, no one else will share your passion. They may not fully comprehend your vision and for that reason, are unable to help you fulfil it.

Remember, you are not getting any younger; times and seasons of life change. Your strength will not always be the same and doors of opportunity seldom swing open every time you decide to stop hitting the snooze button! See in your mind’s eye the new YOU, the new or improved career, the completed project, the mended relationships, etc. Pen this inner picture of the new life you desire, start working towards realising it, then take a little step every day in pursuit of that dream, but now BEGIN!

Mind Magnet

You gravitate toward what you fixate your mind on.

What you focus on becomes your reality! The life you live can be attributed to an invisible engine room that influences your focus, motives, feelings and decisions. That engine room is your mind! As I mentioned earlier, your life is derived from the type of mindset you have. The mind undeniably governs the quality of life you get to experience and, more specifically, the subconscious part of your mind. This is the part of your mind that you need to pay attention to. It soaks and chews over information and stores experiences, memories and ideologies.

"Your subconscious is the part of the mind of which

one is not fully aware but which influences one’s

actions and feelings." – Unknown

The way you act or react is due to the beliefs locked up in your subconscious. It may be thoughts embedded from childhood all through to your adulthood that have festered, waiting for something to trigger them into action. It may also be thoughts that you allow to run rampant in your mind on a daily basis that stir up your emotions and