I saw this quote by Oprah today:

“The greatest discovery of all time is that a person can change their future by merely changing their attitude.”

I don’t like this quote. It is true that changing your attitude will change your future. But attitude isn’t enough, and quotes like this make it seem like it is. I particularly don’t think the word “merely” is used well here.

Choosing a certain attitude is like planting a seed. It contains potential which can be brought to life over time. However, you can’t merely plant a seed and expect to have a forest one day. You need to plant the seed in a good spot with good soil and access to plenty of sunlight, then water it. Every day. If you want to take it to the next level, keep planting new seeds and watering the old ones every day.

Change your attitude, but don’t stop there. Cultivate it every day. Don’t sit at home with a positive attitude and expect good things to happen. Allow your positive attitude to drive you to make decisions about more than just your attitude.

Do you want a small plant or do you want an entire forest? Attitude is merely the beginning. Don’t forget to be consistent.

 

Photo by Evan Kirby on Unsplash