Do you have the magic?

Be aware, your attitude is showing.

Our attitude creates the feeling nature people respond to.

Attitude emits a presence and is like an atmosphere that surrounds us. It colours the things we do and affects our success.

Have you ever been in a room full of people when one person walks in and the energy of the whole room changes, either for the positive or the negative? I sure have.

Our presence is felt by people, and is either an attractive or a repulsive force.

Most of us have people we love to be around, and those we choose to avoid. When we think about it, it’s their attitudes, or presence we’re responding to.

When it comes to human relationships, it’s not so much about what we know or say, it’s about how we make people feel.

We may not even be consciously aware of why we’re attracted or repelled by another. It might just be that somethin’-somethin’ in our Spidey-senses that tells us to move closer or to back away.

These senses are worth listening to.

Someone may be absolutely brilliant, full of facts and knowledge, but if they’ve got a negative way-of-being, their brilliance may never be revealed because people back away.

Every human interaction is painted with the colour of our attitude. It’s the way we interact with the world.

Attitudes become a way of being. We can either fill people up, or be a drain with our prevailing nature. The choice is ours, and a negative attitude can always be changed.

I recall a special second-year student, Craig. He arrived at my office door, excitedly telling me he’d already received a job offer for when he graduated. He was confused because he had two more years to complete his degree. He wasn’t on the honour roll, but was a good student.

I smiled because I could see what Craig couldn’t see; it was his rare attitude and way of being the manager wanted to hire.

I told Craig, you can teach anything to most anybody, but you can’t teach them attitude. His attitude was priceless.

Many years later, I fondly remember Craig, now a successful nurse. I remember him for his special way-of-being.

Attitude determines our altitude.

It’s not so much what has happened to us in life that matters the most, it’s what we do with it.

Life presents challenges and is often painful. Bad stuff happens. We often can’t control these things. But we can control our attitude.

One special woman in my world is Mona. Upon meeting her, I knew she was a rare gem. She’s inspiring, engaged in life, and rather cool. Mona’s an attractive force. People are drawn to her.

Mona’s way in the world doesn’t reveal the fact she’s experienced big challenges and losses in her life. Mona’s able to feel her feelings, to be present to what’s happening, but she doesn’t let life’s events define her or affect her attitude.

Instead of keeping her focus on what’s been lost, she remembers the importance of her role as the matriarch of her family. She’s present and caring to those around her.

Because of Mona’s presence, she’s able to attract the love and support of those who care for her, even as she experiences difficult circumstances.  She has the magic ingredient in her presence.

I know people who try to do all the right things to make themselves attractive and remain confused when people back away, and their success is limited. It’s not so much about what we do, but ‘how we be’ that matters the most.

Our being, or attitude, is what enhances or takes away from all that we do. It’s our attitude that people feel.

When I reflect on what I want my life to stand for, what is of value to me, it’s not so much about what I know, do, or have that matters to me.

What’s of value for me is how I touched others’ lives and how I made them feel.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.