What makes you cheery, grumpy, friendly, or withdrawn? You would likely say it is circumstances or the people you are around. Though this seems true, it is not the whole story.
The reality is that the you ultimately determine if you are cheery, or grumpy, or friendly, or withdrawn. Circumstances present a stimulus, and you respond to that stimulus. What you may not realize is that there is a moment between the stimulus and the response when you choose your attitudes and actions.
When you choose the same response repeatedly, it becomes a habit. Habits feel normal because they are familiar. When you choose an unfamiliar response that is not your habit, it feels uncomfortable. Most people want to be comfortable, so they choose what is familiar and reinforce their current habits.
Today, you will likely face a challenging situation. You can choose your response. If you choose better attitudes and actions in that moment, congratulations! You have taken the first step onto a new path that leads to a better outcome. If you persevere and practice these new choices, these responses will become your “new normal”.
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