Your attitude is contagious . . make it worth catching!
Have you ever noticed that one person's attitude can change the atmosphere? For good or bad, energy is contagious.
Last weekend my husband and I went cycling off-road, soaking up the gorgeous weather. Everything was fine until about halfway in, when the trail suddenly disappeared. Some trees had fallen and were completely blocking the trail.
The way forward wasn’t obvious. We couldn’t just hop over; we had to hike around, climb under branches, jump down an embankment, and find the trail again.
If my husband had groaned about it, gotten frustrated, or doubted whether we could continue, it would have been easy for me to do the same. It would have been easy to feel discouraged or give up and turn around and find a different (less fun) route.
But instead, he stayed calm, positive, and even had a laugh about it — treating it like a fun challenge, not a setback. And because he stayed upbeat, I stayed upbeat. His attitude gave me confidence that we would find a way through, and we did.
His attitude set the tone not just for himself, but for me too.
Setbacks are inevitable - our response is a choice
Life will always put fallen trees in our path:
Unexpected challenges at work
Changes in relationships
Personal setbacks in health, finances, or plans
We can’t always control the obstacles. But we do control the atmosphere we create around them.
Our attitude, whether it’s calm and resilient, or anxious and defeated, doesn’t stay contained within us. It spills over onto those around us: our partners, our workmates, our kids, our friends.
Leaders aren't always the loudest person in the room
Leadership isn't about titles or who's in charge — it's about who sets the tone when things get hard.
A steady attitude in uncertainty can anchor a family.
A positive outlook in tough work projects can inspire a team.
A simple "we'll figure it out" when plans fall apart can turn a stressful day into a funny memory.
Your mindset matters, not just for you, but for the environment you create for others.
Next time you have a "fallen tree" moment...
Ask yourself:
Am I making this harder than it needs to be?
What atmosphere am I creating right now?
What tone do I want to set for the people with me?
You never know - your calm, hopeful attitude might be the thing that carries someone else through their tough spot too.
Are you ready to build the mindset and the momentum to move forward with confidence? My 6-week self-guided course is designed to help you find direction, get unstuck, and create positive change, one intentional step at a time. You can learn more and sign up here.
