“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” –Zig Ziglar

You may have heard the sayingthat “attitude is everything.”

Whether you want to go that far or not, attitude is pretty damn important.

I really doubt you’ll find a happy and successful person out there with a poor attitude.

This is because attitude is directly related to whether or not you will live a happy, meaningful, and energized life.

Think about it, would you rather be thecomplainer who is down on their luck always focusing on the negative, or the person always finding new opportunities and looking at the bright side?

A positive attitude can completely change our life!

When we have a positive attitude we can deal with problems more effectively and will end up bouncing back more quickly from mistake and setbacks.

So, learning how to manage your attitude is crucial if you want to improve your life.

I know it isn’t easy to manage our attitude, and frankly it takes hard work.

So, here are six strategies to help you develop more control over your attitude.

1. Your attitude is up to you

First thing first: You are responsible for your attitude. Your attitude is an an inside-out job. It doesn’t come from your circumstance but insteadfrom how you interpret your circumstances. You are in charge of how you respond to what happens to you. Start taking full responsibility for your attitude today.

2. Your thoughts are your reality

Many people don’t realize that how they think about something is ultimately how they will feel about it. In the words of supercoach Micheal Neill, “we don’t feel our environment, we feel our thinking.” If you want to control your attitude you must be aware of how you are thinking about your situation. If you focus on the negative things are going to suck! Keep things in perspective and stop only focusing on the negative!

3. Gratitude is the key

I know there are things to worry about and sometimes we really need to deal with problems. But if we aren’t careful our problems can become consuming and we forget about the good stuff. We all have things to be grateful for even when problems occur.We can still find ways to enjoy life even if things aren’t going our way.Focus on what you are grateful for. Literally make a list of five things you’re grateful for right now!

4. Avoid negative news

If you want to stay positive be aware of your surroundings.Avoid negative news and stay away from people who bring you down.Be conscious about spending time with encouraging people and taking in positive information from books, podcast, or blogs. Put yourself on a negativity diet. Just like you would be aware of what you feed your body, pay attention to what you feed your mind.

5. Look for the lesson

There is always something we can pull away from a bad situation. It may not be clear at the time, but there is always a lesson to be learned. What can you learn from a difficult situation? How can you use the situation to help you become a better person? Remember that life is a journey and we are always growing and learning.

6. Keep your eye on the prize

Keep the big picture in mind. Learn to focus on the long-term results you want instead of short-term emotions. Every day you have a choice to make positive decisions. Don’t let yesterday’s mistakes get in the way of what you want. Keep your vision in mind and focus on how you will feel when you reach your goals.

“Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one.” –Hans Selye