"You are not here to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget that errand." – Woodrow Wilson

From the core of our being, we need to develop the right attitude toward life. The simple fact that attitude "makes" some while "breaking" others is a significant enough reason for us to explore how it works and how it is cultivated. How a person defines life's events will do more than anything else to determine his or her potential for success in life. You do not have to be gifted or exceptionally bright to employ these truths in your life, but you must be willing.

We have to retrain our eyes. The reason is this: whatever we are looking for is what we will see. If you are not looking for what is good, then even what good there is present will be difficult to recognise. One way to cultivate staying power is to change your definition of an event or circumstance. After all, the way in which you define your circumstances will determine, to a large degree, how you will respond to that event.

Cultivate a spirit of gratefulness, regardless of your circumstances. Take the time to appreciate. Learn to enjoy the ride called life. There are going to be challenges and mountains to climb on this journey. That is a given. Once you know that mountains and trials will always be there, you will be able to expect them and no longer be surprised by them, which will free you up and enable you to enjoy the ride. You will be pleasantly surprised how a new perspective will help you to develop an attitude that attracts friends, laughter, joy and success!

Realise that you can change your future and make a difference but only if you interrupt your present comfort zone. Mine your history for all experiences, not just career. You will see the hurdles you overcame and you will realise your own resilience, strength and gifts that will form your path.

Look at your situation now. Are you working but bored? Are you unemployed? Are you depressed? Are you in pain? Be introspective to determine whether you are equipped to follow your dream. Do you need more knowledge, skills, or qualifications? You must have a crystal clear picture of where you want to be. If you can visualise your future, you can get there more easily. There will always be curveballs and you need contingency plans to prevail.

The brain is a curious thing. The minute you write something down rather than just listen, the brain knows you are being serious. Write down your objectives, successes, and plan. You can have all the plans and strategies in the world, but if you do not act on them, they will remain a document that does not come to life. That is the magic of waking up, it is the action.

Pay the price to build character. The deeper your character, the easier it will be for you to develop an attitude of excellence. In fact, if you wish to experience success and fruitfulness in life, character is a necessary foundation. Without it, you will never survive success. Character does not come cheap. It comes at a price – the price of digging your knees into the carpet, the price of studying, the price of suffering and the price of going through trials and discipline. We must be willing to pay the price.

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